Wednesday Book Review
Bless her little bookworm heart, Erin McCabe has been reviewing one book a week for us since HN first emerged from its virtual womb. And yet, she’s hardly made a dent in her to-read list. Can anyone help her whittle the thing down?
From Erin:
Book Review Endurance Test Fail
Last night, while desperately trying to finish reading Something Most Deadly so I could write a scintillating, revealing and amusing review (even if it was composed at 3 a.m.), a terrible thing happened. No, I didn’t have to rush out to the barn to mix up Clue’s Colic Cocktail. No, Sadie didn’t push through the fence trying to scratch her itchy, hive-y self. And no, Lindy didn’t break the water pipe to the horse trough and drain the well. In fact, this terrible event had nothing to do with my horses at all (what?!?).
I fell asleep.
It turns out this book-a-week reading schedule I’ve been trying to maintain is pretty grueling. Which is to say, this is not a scintillating, revealing or amusing review of Something Most Deadly. The fact that I fell asleep, Kindle on my chest, reading lamp burning into my shoulder, should also not reflect poorly on Something Most Deadly, a psychological thriller set in a dressage barn. According to Kindle, I’m 32% of the way through the novel and still haven’t gotten to the thriller part (I have gotten to the stalker horse-girl tailing her Special Ops former crush, but that was in the first chapter), but I can see the thriller-ness lurking off in the distance. Meanwhile (when I’m awake) I’m enjoying the ride getting there.
But wait! I don’t want to half-review a 32% finished book. So, next week I promise a full review of Something Most Deadly. In the meanwhile, might I suggest that anyone who likes to read into the wee hours of the night while other family members may (or may not) be sleeping right nearby should probably invest in the Mighty Bright Light. It clamps onto a book. It clamps onto your Kindle. It doubles as a flashlight when you can’t find one. It’s surprisingly sturdy (mine spent time as a baby toy and lived to tell about it). It’s really bright but you can direct said light exactly where you want it thanks to its flexible “neck.” It comes in GREEN (and other, less exciting colors). And, when you fall asleep and accidentally leave it on, it’s not nearly as annoying as when you fall asleep without turning your bedside lamp off.
And, finally, Horse Nation, I’d like to solicit your opinions. Which of the following books on my mental “to read” list would you be most interested in me actually reviewing? Or, which of the following books sounds least likely to put me to sleep?
Non-Fiction:
Finding My Distance: A Year in the Life of a Three Day Eventer (Julia Wendell)
Chosen By A Horse (Susan Richards)
Renegade Champion: The Unlikely Rise of Fitzrada (Richard R. Rust)
Horses Never Lie: The Art of Passive Leadership (Mark Rashid)
How Good Riders Get Good: Daily Choices that Lead to Success in Any Equestrian Sport (Denny Emerson)
Fiction:
A Good Horse (Jane Smiley)
The Dressage Chronicles (Karen McGoldrick)
Under Orders (Dick Francis)
Riders (Jilly Cooper)
- Send an email to wylie, the author of this post at wylie@horsenation.com
I vote for A GOOD HORSE by Jane Smiley. I’ve read half of what you have on your list, and I liked Jane’s A DAY AT THE RACES so I suspect that I’ll like the other book, unless you say it sucks. My horse library is mostly non-fiction, so a fiction choice might be refreshing.
I read some very snarky things about an interview Jane Smiley gave and her “true” feelings about horses, which makes me curious about this book (which is what got people all upset in the first place).
I’m a big nonfiction fan–I’d be crazy about anything on your list. I’ve been meaning to read Denny’s book for a while but haven’t gotten around to it.
I’m definitely going to read the Denny book at some point. Gotta find out why I’m not “good” yet!
Chosen by a Horse is a quick read and I loved it. I’m one of those readers that once I start a book I can’t put it down. I bought this at my daughter’s request and had to read it before I passed it on to her. Great Read!
Chosen by a Horse and Finding My Distance are both great books! Chosen by a horse appeals to a wider range of people and is one of those books I read over and over again! Finding my distance is quite the undertaking because it’s soooooo long, but I remember really liking it when I read it two years ago.
ALL of the books under Non-Fiction are AWESOME and worth every late night reading. If you’re going to be up all night better make it worth it!
Read both of these: Chosen By A Horse (Susan Richards), Renegade Champion: The Unlikely Rise of Fitzrada (Richard R. Rust), and they’re AWESOME! Susan Richards’ other book “Saddled” (I think that’s the whole title?) is also wonderful! Jane Smiley is always a great read too. But honestly I can’t wait to read the review on each and every one of those on your list!!
Thanks so much, Celeste!
You MUST read Mark Rashid. It will completely change your perspective on horses and horsemanship.
definitely read Horse s Never Lie! offers a new perspective
Liz and Sarah– I’m a big fan of Natural Horsemanship type principles, so I’m really looking forward to reading /Horses Never Lie/.
Riders will definitely keep you awake! And there’s a cheesy 80′s mini series that if you can find a copy of is horribly great! There’s nothing like horses and soap opera like smuttiness!