Horse

A Novel

By: Geraldine Brooks

Narrated by: James Fouhey, Lisa Flanagan, Graham Halstead, Katherine Littrell, Michael Obiora

“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.

Great story but be forewarned about some political slants

This was recommended as the top pick for the season by someone I know and respect. I enjoyed the story. All the main characters in their time periods were interesting, and their stories were good. Talking about race and slavery made sense in the Civil War era story and in the later subplots related to that, but…SPOILER alert (a little) here: it was too orchestrated to insert a BLM-type incident-inspired event into one of the modern-day storylines. So obvious. Not necessary to the story. Also the gratuitous reference to Covid 19 near the end was stale and added nothing. And there were some gratuitous slams of and lectures about American conservatives and Americans in general as racists. The story should make its own point about slavery. We don’t need additional lectures about it or throwaway comments about Americans she characterizes as conspiracy theorists and election deniers. Omg. Hated to have to pause to roll my eyes a few times because the story is otherwise good and engaging. I listened to it in Audible. Excellent performances

Story and writing were great, but….

The ending suddenly turned to formulaic social virtue signaling. The author’s message about race were clear and well told. She didn’t have to hit us over the head with it again. The readers aren’t dummies. And then what the heck with the animal bones having sex and somehow that’s art with a message. Really?!
She’s a great writer. I hope her other books aren’t so heavy handed.

Superb Novel

This book was reviewed on NPR. Being a horse person, I was intrigued & decided to listen to it on Audible. Intriguing story on so many levels. True characters are interwoven in the racing world of the 1800’s, Civil War, 1950’s & Contemporary times, as well as issues. Racial prejudice is explored up close & personal. Outstanding Novel & topics explored.

Pulitzer got this one right

Story takes place in three timeframes over 170 years… each connected by a magnificent horse and his legacy. Each is engaging and relevant. At the end of each chapter I was so sad to switch to a new story in a new timeframe because I wanted to continue the storyline that had so completely captured my imagination, however within a couple of sentences I was completely engrossed in the new timeframe and story and happy to keep listening.

Be sure to listen to the author’s notes at the end about which parts of the story are based on real people and events.

Some reviewers have criticized the racial aspects of the book. Calling it “woke” because race is one of the perspectives of a story set on a plantation before the end of slavery seems a little silly. Had this been a story told from the perspective of the white owners of the horse, it would not have had much heart. For them, Lexington was only about the money/fame the horse could bring them. Telling the story from the perspective of the groom/trainer who loved the horse allowed you to emotionally connect with greatness of the horse. Race is a relevant part of all stories set in the US and stories are richer when they embrace those perspectives.

Wonderful book!

As a fan of all things Thoroughbred, this book is simply grand. It is at once beautiful and heartbreaking, a tribute to the magnificient horse Lexington and those cared for him. I love how the author wove his story and the events of his day into the events of today, but it is sad how those events show how little things have really changed in America. Jarret is lovely, and Theo breaks my heart.