Horse: A Novel


Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
198
Narrator
67
Release Date
June 2022
Duration
14 hours 6 minutes
Summary
“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.
Reviews
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Anonymous

The story about the horse was fascinating - Theo's demise was an unfortunate add-on.

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Laurie S.

The story is based on fact and though its a good one, the writing could be better. There are several narrators and some are plodding.

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Scott K.

Book was great but the culmination of connecting plots was a bit weak.

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Anath W.

I came so close to being 100% about “Horse,” totally held by its characters, eras - and LIVINGSTON. However, near the end, the author’s choice relating to Theo felt obvious, almost as if she was trying too hard to be timely. This disappointed me in a book I otherwise admired very much.

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Cindy S.

Great novel- cruelty factor made me put it away once or twice

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Anonymous

I am a tough critic and this book was captivating and varied and touching and real. Such a clever interweaving of several themes.

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Anonymous

Out standing writer!!

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Robert R.

Great listen!

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Rea B.

The best thing I can say about any book… I learned something. I learned about horses, horse racing, American genre painting, zoological archaeology. But most of all, I Learned how deeply racism is embedded into our history and culture. It was disturbing, but I appreciated the awakening.

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Adelle G.

I was fascinated with and gripped by this book. I loved how it all wove together.

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Anonymous

This was an enjoyable book, written by someone who knows horses. As a horsewoman myself, it's difficult to read books involving horses written by authors who don't know their subject matter. It was an interesting history of American south & culture as well. Something I'm less familiar with. The interspersed time frames makes for a good story. The sprinkle of politics can be ignored- although she does have some very good points about black life in America.

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Susan R

I enjoyed the story overall, but I felt like I could tell which parts were based on fact and which were just made up for interest. Therefore, it kindof fell flat for me.

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Elizabeth C.

I love her writing and this did not disappoint. I was drawn in immediately, the deft way she ties in generations, culture, art, history, prejudice and makes every piece so alive.

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Heather N.

Stunning and captivating! One of my all time favorites. Brilliant narration.

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Marcey G.

Enjoyed the story

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Jennifer H.

I thought the book and the stories within connected very well. I applaud the author's ability to show us exactly how lethal racism exists and affects people daily in the US through Theo's story. My favorite aspect, however, was the relationship between Jarret and Lexington-absolutely beautiful and totally realistic.

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Anonymous

Gripping story; the various narrators were all excellent.

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Anonymous

Pulled you in instantly and kept you wanting to find out century to century Geraldine Brooks is a marvelous storyteller basing her books on the foundation of truth and reality Horse was just another Geraldine Brooks masterpiece

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Anonymous

I enjoyed the book all along but felt the choice for Theo’s character was a predictable modern twist on the oppression of blacks in America.

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Barbara U.

This truly a great read. - wonderfully written about a myriad of topics.

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Maureen R.

Always enjoy Geraldine Brooks!

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Anonymous

there aren't any words for this one it was awesome capital letters awesome that is the best book I have read this year. please make it into a movi

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Judy P.

I wanted to love this book so much and I know I will if I read the book. I just couldn’t get pass the narrator’s voice. It bothered me because I had a hard time understanding her.

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Maureen R.

I came from a background with horses and my father trained Thorobreds. This was a very accurate portrayal of care and training of blood horses. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. When I read of the struggles of blacks in the south and enormous injustices they suffered, it reminds me of how fortunate i was by being born white, born in the west, into the family that i had even though we struggled at times, and especially born in the era that I was. That said, we all still have a lot of work to do as humans… A very well done book.

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