horse book review

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“Brooks’ chronological and cross-disciplinary leaps are thrilling.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Horse isn’t just an animal story—it’s a moving narrative about race and art.” —TIME

“A thrilling story about humanity in all its ugliness and beauty . . . the evocative voices create a story so powerful, reading it feels like watching a neck-and-neck horse race, galloping to its conclusion—you just can’t look away.” —Oprah Daily

Winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award · Finalist for the Chautauqua Prize · A Massachusetts Book Award Honor Book 

A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, a Pulitzer Prize winner braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history

Kentucky, 1850. An enslaved groom named Jarret and a bay foal forge a bond of understanding that will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South. When the nation erupts in civil war, an itinerant young artist who has made his name on paintings of the racehorse takes up arms for the Union. On a perilous night, he reunites with the stallion and his groom, very far from the glamor of any racetrack. 
 
New York City, 1954. Martha Jackson, a gallery owner celebrated for taking risks on edgy contemporary painters, becomes obsessed with a nineteenth-century equestrian oil painting of mysterious provenance.
 
Washington, DC, 2019. Jess, a Smithsonian scientist from Australia, and Theo, a Nigerian-American art historian, find themselves unexpectedly connected through their shared interest in the horse—one studying the stallion’s bones for clues to his power and endurance, the other uncovering the lost history of the unsung Black horsemen who were critical to his racing success.
 
Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, Horse is a novel of art and science, love and obsession, and our unfinished reckoning with racism.

From the Publisher

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books (January 16, 2024)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399562974
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399562976
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.04 x 0.95 x 7.72 inches
Reviewer: Bonnie Brody
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Beautiful Novel - Literary and Historical Fiction
Review: Geraldine Brooks has written a resounding book about American horse racing in the deep south, 1850-1861. The narrative goes back and forth in time from the 1800's to the present and encompasses many themes - slavery, art, love, and horses.In the present time, Jess, an Australian osteologist, finds the bones of what she thinks is the greatest race horse of all time, Lexington. She is able to identify the horse because of its stature and an unusual bone growth on its head. Jess meets Theo, a Nigerian-American, who is studying the art of horses as his PhD dissertation. He finds a painting of a horse in his neighbor's trash which turns out to be an important piece of art. Slowly, Jess and Theo form a friendship that becomes a romantic attachment.In the 1800's, Jarret, a slave on a large southern plantation, becomes very close to a newborn foal who later turns out to be America's greatest race horse - Lexington. Jarrett is raised with his father but later sold to a very manipulative slave owner. However, throughout his life, and Lexington's, they remain bonded.Jarrett becomes a 'sort of' assistant to Thomas Scott, a painter, who does several portraits of Lexington and Jarrett. They form a friendship of sorts though it was unusual in those days for a white man to befriend a black slave.Meanwhile, in the present, Martha Jackson, an art gallery owner, comes into contact with a painting of a horse. Her gallery is known for showing contemporary painters like Jackson Pollack and horse portraits are not really her thing. She says she'll evaluate the painting as a favor to her house maid.All these people and themes are interwoven in 'Horse' and the narrative is fascinating and beautifully written. It was sad to read about the conditions of slavery and lack of any agency a slave had. I also was saddened about the way some horses were treated by their wealthy white owners who cared more about making money than caring for the health and well-being of their race horses.This is a book to savor. It blossoms as it moves into the second half. I rooted for Jarrett the whole time I was reading it and loved the characters of Theo and Jess. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who treasures literary and historical fiction.

Reviewer: Sheila UES
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Sleep deprived it’s so good
Review: Every part of this book is a masterpiece—captivating, deeply moving, and impeccably researched. This author is truly in a class of her own, delivering a story that lingers long after the final page. Be sure not to skip the afterward; it offers a heartfelt message of gratitude and a fascinating glimpse into the book’s origins, providing the perfect closing note to an unforgettable read.

Reviewer: KAUI78
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Wonderful ride through history
Review: As a horse person and fan of thoroughbreds in particular, I enjoyed this telling of the story of Lexington. I love how Brooks brought in multiple timelines, talking about the art and the finding of the horse's skeleton, introducing us to a few characters from history. That said, I think the modern story felt a little stilted, especially at the end. The relationship between Jess and Theo never really grabbed me or held much weight for me, so when events in the novel turned against them, I didn't feel as invested as I should, and it wasn't as powerful as it really could have been.Where this novel really shines for me is the historical story of Lexington and his groom. Brooks captures a lot of nuance in Jarett's choices, along with the complicated history of America's Black horsemen, and how some Black slaves and freemen alike could command respect in that world. Having felt close to horses in my life and knowing that strong connection, it was a joy to see the relationship between Jarett and his horse (it was HIS horse in the novel - ownership papers be damned) develop and continue. It's a very sensitive portrayal, and Brooks handles it with aplomb. After reading many novels with southern Black characters (particularly historical ones) written by white authors, something I've grown to loathe is the almost caricature of their language and accent - authors sometimes try to hard to recreate accents in a way that detracts from what characters are actually saying and thinking. While Brooks does use phrases and terms that a real Jarett might have used, she doesn't go overboard here, which I appreciate.I appreciate as well that Brooks brings some discussion of horse care, what can be seen in the bones, and even horse dentistry to the masses. I looked up photos of Lexington's skeleton and was astounded at his clear dental problems - the horse must have lived in a lot of pain his last few years, unable to chew properly in addition to his blindness. Her ability to add those details and educate within the flow of the story was appreciated.There's a number of reviews claiming that Brooks is bringing too much politics into the story, or being too "woke" in how she handles the modern story - but I think what she tried to do is important. The echoes and reverberations of the past live on today, it is just the sad truth of the matter. Racism, of course, played a central story in the lives of Lexington and his fictional groom, how could it not also play a role in the story of our modern protagonists? That said, I do feel some of this was a little contrived, as if Brooks perhaps did not know how to move the relationship of her characters forward. But she doesn't let her white characters off the hook when they "don't know what they can say anymore" or give up and leave under the weight of what they are experiencing. This calls out inaction or ignorance, and I find the "woke" comments in these reviews a neat encapsulation of this very thing. "I didn't read this book for politics" kind of fits the exact point she was getting at, I think (and it's impossible to tell the story of an enslaved man, the civil war, the obscenely rich, and the American art world *without* the politics - politics played a central role in all these world, why wouldn't it in this novel?). Brooks forces us to sit with this discomfort a bit and think about the role we play when we "don't want to hear about politics."Lastly, if the subject of Black horsemen, their dominance in racing, and the way in which racism pushed them out is of interest to you, Joe Drapes' "Black Maestro" is a fascinating read that I would recommend. It is a biography, not fiction, but perhaps an even wilder story than a fiction writer may have dreamed up.

Reviewer: Tredies
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Enthralling read that intertwines the race issues of the US of today and 19th century with the extraordinary life of Lexington, a race horse that had an extraordinary life, racing and stud career and became one of the most important foundational sires of the modern US thoroughbred. Beautifully written, with complex, compelling characters - poetry for all those that love horses.

Reviewer: Kindle Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I'm not sure how best to describe how good this book is. I chose it because I love horses. I didn't expect too much from it as I'm not a fan of horse racing. It's about so much more than horse racing. The book is extremely well written and researched. I've learnt a lot about American equestrian art, the American civil war, anatomy and more. The book gives an insight into the injustices and cruelty of slavery and modern day racism. It also draws the reader to the ethics of horse racing today. It isn't a quick easy read. There is so much to absorb. Having said that the story rattles along at a great pace and had me sitting on the edge of my seat at times. Some of the descriptions off horse racing may be upsetting for some people but it's well worth reading.

Reviewer: Janet Sterritt
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A truly wonderful book which in parts brought more than one tear to my eyes. Gillian Brooks tells the story of the love between a young groom and his horse, the backdrop being the American Civil War. It provides valuable insights into this antebellum culture, horse racing in particular. She cleverly uses a painting of the horse to catapult us into the 21st century. The tender flower of a mixed race relationship is crushed by the ever present racism in today’s society.I would definitely recommend this book - real gem!

Reviewer: Stéphanie R
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Je n'étais pas du tout intéressée par le thème des courses de chevaux, et pourtant, on se plonge tout entier dans le sujet tant il est construit de manière intelligente et captivante. En suivant le parcours des différents personnages qui le composent, dont Lexington, son héros emblématique, on navigue dans deux contextes historiques, celui des années 1850 dans les Etats du sud (esclavagistes) des Etats-Unis aux années post Trump d'aujourd'hui. Le tout est très bien documenté et servi par une belle plume. A lire !

Reviewer: Cliente Amazon
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A gripping narrative of race and horselore in America from civil wartime enslavement to contemporary police targeting of young black men, told from the perspective of its protagonists who are not always given a voice. The harsh reality of the lucre that drives horse racing runs parallel to the story of an incredible relationship between a champion thoroughbred and his gifted young black trainer. The contemporary scene lays bare the painful awareness a young woman gains of her own fears and prejudices which are the result of systemic racism in America. Despite the tragedies, this novel is also a beacon of hope, for the possibility of love and of positive societal change. A final observation: the technical detail honed for describing the world of horses, and the study of art and anatomy is truly impressive.