Book cover of Horse

Book description

"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 discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, a…

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Why read it?

30 authors picked Horse as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I love how the different time periods work, all connected to the real stallion Lexington and Jarrett, the slave who’s with him since the day he foaled (and named him Darley). Insights on slavery from slaves’ POV, the Civil War and Reconstruction, horse racing and the owners and plantations, horse art and a Smithsonian search—and more. Beautifully written.

This journey within two different times- wrapped up the life of a HORSE and its care-takers. The underlying themes of bigotry, and the culture of the black person in America made me want to sing this from the top of the mountain tops.... We still have a long way to go!

Geraldine Brooks is a rare thing- a literary author who writes compelling commercial fiction. I loved how she wove the stories of a Smithsonian conservator, an enslaved groom, a high society art collector and an art historian through the tale of the famous American racehorse, Lexington.

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Book cover of Blood of the White Bear

Blood of the White Bear by Marcia Calhoun Forecki,

Virologist Dr. Rachel Bisette sees visions of a Kachina and remembers the plane crash that killed her parents and the Dine medicine woman who saved her life. Rachel is investigating a new and lethal hantavirus spreading through the Four Corners, and believes the Kachina is calling her to join the…

I love to be pulled into the story and to learn at the same time. Horse by Geraldine Brooks, has fully developed characters, a strong storyline, and a dedication to history that immerses the reader into the worlds she creates.

How often do I get to learn about preparing skeletons for museum displays, Civil War history, one of the greatest racehorses ever, and the legacy of racism in the U.S.? I love this novel because Brooks intertwines modern and historic times, horse racing, art, and science in the story of a majestic horse and the people who dedicated their lives to him.

I loved learning more about the legendary Thoroughbred, Lexington. I admire the way this book echoes and reflects how racism is still embedded in our culture. It entertained me but also left me with a lot to think…

From Suzanne's list on animal books that inform and inspire.

As a horse person and former Kentuckian I loved the setting and the story of the Black jockey.

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Book cover of Blood of the White Bear

Blood of the White Bear by Marcia Calhoun Forecki,

Virologist Dr. Rachel Bisette sees visions of a Kachina and remembers the plane crash that killed her parents and the Dine medicine woman who saved her life. Rachel is investigating a new and lethal hantavirus spreading through the Four Corners, and believes the Kachina is calling her to join the…

All of the characters were finely drawn, and I found the relationship between the enslaved young man, Jarret, and the horse to be especially poignant. As Brooks follows the trajectory of the racehorse, we see how things do and do not change for Jarret through the course of the Civil War and afterward.

As someone who has written a dual timeline novel, I found Brooks's use of the painting of a horse to tie her three timelines together to be quite intriguing.

I found Horse, quite by accident -- this one a staff pick in a fun book store -- never imagining I’d find it so interesting. I’m not a horse-rider, knew virtually nothing about horses, nor did I share the fascination some women have for horses. But this book was incredible. By weaving a number of separate human stories around the individual horses that serve as the backbone of the book, Geraldine Brooks provides us with a fascinating and memorable read. She skillfully alternates interlinked present-day human stories -- featuring Americans (white and black) and Australians -- with those of…

I enjoyed what it showed about the history of horse racing in the US, and the people involved. All the characters were believable and relatable.

A horse lover, I found the story of Lexington, a thoroughbred who saves his devoted and enslaved groom Jarret during the Civil War, rich and compelling. The archivist who discovers the horse’s bones in the Smithsonian is on a thrilling journey, as we are when we explore a past event.

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Book cover of Blood of the White Bear

Blood of the White Bear by Marcia Calhoun Forecki,

Virologist Dr. Rachel Bisette sees visions of a Kachina and remembers the plane crash that killed her parents and the Dine medicine woman who saved her life. Rachel is investigating a new and lethal hantavirus spreading through the Four Corners, and believes the Kachina is calling her to join the…

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