Customer Reviews:
EX-RACETRACKER.......2006-01-08
The perfect ride is a very well written book about the life of one of our greatest riders. Gary has the ability to describe a race to bring the rider alongside his horse and experience the race in one's mind. He aparently has the touch it takes to have a horse do what the rider wants it to do without unessary force but with a tender hand. He also goes into great detail about things the general public would not be aware of but he explains in terms a layman can understand. I would recommend this book to any horse lover or anyone interested in reading a really good book.
Average.......2006-01-07
I've been a Stevens fan since he brought Thunder Gulch home at 24-1 in the 1995 Derby. This book however, is just average at best, even for a Stevens fan. Sure it details his rise to the top of the industry, but it just doesn't flow very well and doesn't have much personality.
recommended reading.......2005-11-20
I remember seeing Gary ride back at Longacres. Some of the people and horses he talks of in this book were jogged to memory. There's an incredible story of the reality of race riding, and the business, that Gary tells as if sitting across from you. Some of the greatest names in Thoroughbreds and the incredible highs and lows that come with "the game" are there on the page. He doesn't assume the reader knows terminology but doesn't talk down to the reader either. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would definitely encourage racing fans especially to get this book.
Perfect ride not perfect read.......2004-02-26
I admire Gary Stevens as a world class jocky, but world class writer he is not. At times he comes across as quite cocky, maybe he has reason to be proud of his success but he sounds conceited more then proud. Often he writes as though he knows more about the horses he rides then the trainers or owners, that he is a better judge of their capabilities then either of the others, and he has been proven wrong on that score. He also seems to be trying to give us a smattering of his philosophy on success and I think he fails. What has worked for him, a God given ability to ride horses well and an incredible tolerance for pain can not be applied to the rest of us. I have to say, I hope Stevens does not follow this book up with any others. He is a much better jocky then writer.
The Perfect Ride: a perfect read for racing fans!.......2004-01-10
I have long held a great measure of respect for Gary Stevens as a professional racehorse jockey. I've watched him ride some great races on television (having grown up in an area with almost no horse industry at all, I have not had the fortune to see one of his races live). My respect for the man only grew when I saw the movie Seabiscuit (where he plays jockey George Woolf, who rode Seabiscuit in his famous match race with rival War Admiral) and realized he had a bit of acting talent as well. So when I saw his autobiography in the store, I snatched it up right away and am certainly glad I did. Reading it, my estimation of this great athlete went even higher.
Stevens begins with his early childhood, living in Idaho. His father worked with Appaloosas, then moved on to Quarter Horse racing, and later to Thoroughbreds. Gary's older brother Scott began a career as a jockey, and Gary soon followed in his footsteps. He was riding Quarter Horses in races (under Scott's name) before he was legally old enough to obtain a jockey's license. The boy fell in love with the sport, and soon made the switch to riding Thoroughbreds. At seventeen, he left home for California, rode a dismal season, and returned to Idaho. There he got married, and over the next few years his career began to take flight and the book describes all his significant wins, losses, and other experiences.
Though his career soared over the years, Stevens talks of his constant battle with pain. A series of riding accidents over the years left him with terrible knees, requiring frequent surgery. He endured many breaks from riding in order to undergo rehabilitation, and often returned to the track prematurely, riding despite the pain. He even retired for a short time and tried his hand at training, but found he just couldn't stay away from riding. Stevens' frank discussion of his pain is one of the most inspiring things I've ever read. No matter how much he was hurting, he kept pushing forward, and made more than one amazing comeback in the sport.
In addition to race riding, Stevens discusses other major events that helped shape his life - his children, his divorce, his remarriage, and the death of a fellow jockey and close friend, Chris Antley. He also talks of his relationships with various trainers and jockeys; how he makes decisions on which mounts to accept, how to ride his races, and what directions to take with his career; and he evaluates some of the great horses he has ridden, including Thunder Gulch, Point Given, Winning Colors, Serena's Song, Silver Charm, and others. He talks about his struggle with weight, and how he has managed to stay in shape for riding. Stevens has ridden in the United States, Hong Kong, and Great Britain, and he compares the atmosphere and racing procedure in these very different places. All in all, this book is an excellent inside look at the life of a top racehorse jockey.
The epilogue touches briefly on Stevens' acceptance of a role in Seabiscuit, the new movie based on author Laura Hillenbrand's best-stelling book. He mentions a few things about the early stages of filming - what it was like to act for the first time, to work with co-star Tobey Maguire, to see an inspiring true horse story come to life on film, etc. My one criticism here is that he does not tell us enough. I really wish he had delayed the publication of this book another year so that he would have been able to include more about his work on the movie.
A few reviewers here have commented on a lack of accuracy in the book. Stevens himself tells us early in the book that his accounts are based largely on his own memories, which are fallible. He acknowledges the fact that he may have made some mistakes in his recollections. I don't really hold this against him. I suspect that any autobiography will contain some inaccuracies. The author is relying largely on personal memory, spanning a very large period of time. Stevens' goal here wasn't to provide us with a data sheet on the races he's ridden; he wanted to share the experiences of his life - to show us what's brought him to where he is today. And I think he's done an excellent job at just that. Having a date off by one year here, or not being entirely clear on the legalities surrounding building rights on a certain racetrack there don't detract from the messages the book has to offer. I would highly recommend this book to any horse racing enthusiast.
Amazon.com
The Horse Whisperer is a story made in Hollywood heaven. The novel was written by a first-time author, and the film option was snapped up by aging heartthrob Robert Redford for 3 million smackers. Why take such risks on a brand-spanking-new author? The answer becomes clear upon reading the touching tale.
One morning while teenage Grace Maclean is riding Pilgrim, her goofy, loveable pony, she has a horrendous glass-shattering, bone-splintering, ligament-lynching meeting with a megaton truck that leaves her and her four-legged friend damaged in mind, body, and spirit. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, her jaded, brilliant, bitchy mom, Annie Graves (Kristin Scott Thomas in the 1998 film) is working out a wrinkle in her self-absorbed existence when she gets a call at her plush, Manhattan office about Grace's accident. Racked with guilt, Graves makes it her calling to find the mythical horse whisperer, an equine Zen master who has the ability to heal horses (and broken souls) with soothing words and a gentle touch. Just when it seems he can't be found, what do you know, she finds him. He arrives in the form of Tom Booker-- a rugged, sensitive, dreamy cowboy who helps Pilgrim and Grace repair their fractured selves. To add more mesquite to fire, Booker has a way with not-so-injured, attractive, married women--like Annie. As the plot thickens, so does the familial strife, which threatens to undo Booker's healing work.
Like an expert cinematographer, Evans deftly crafts each scene with precision and clarity, sprinkling in ominous signs and foreboding images. For example, in the opening paragraphs, as Annie starts out on the tragic ride, she comes across a bloody bird wing that seems to have fallen out of nowhere. The weight of impending doom is further strengthened by the truck driver's bad luck--he has a run-in with the highway patrol just moments before his meeting with Grace and Pilgrim. These not-so-subtle subliminal messages are masterfully stitched in throughout the story and may compel readers to act as if they were watching a B-grade horror movie, shouting aloud, "Don't go there!" However sentimental, The Horse Whisperer is an engaging read, sort of like a finely tuned, well-edited film. --Rebekah Warren
Book Description
A forty-ton truck hurtles out of control on a snowy country road, a teenage girl on horseback in its path. In a few terrible seconds the life of a family is shattered. And a mother's quest begins -- to save her maimed daughter and a horse driven mad by pain. It is an odyssey that will bring her to...
The Horse Whisperer
He is the stuff of legend. His voice can calm wild horses and his touch heal broken spirits. For secrets uttered softly into pricked and troubled ears, such men were once called Whisperers. Now Tom Booker, the inheritor of this ancient gift, is to meet his greatest challenge.
Annie Graves has traveled across a continent with her daughter, Grace, and their wounded horse, Pilgrim, to the Booker ranch in Montana. Annie has risked everything -- her career, her marriage, her comfortable life -- in her desperate belief that the Whisperer can help them. The accident has turned Pilgrim savage. He is now so demented and dangerous that everyone says he should be destroyed. But Annie won't give up on him, for she feels his fate is inextricably entwined with that of her daughter, who has retreated into a heartrending, hostile silence. Annie knows that if the horse dies, something in Grace will die too.
In the weeks to come, under the massive sky of the Rocky Mountain Front, all their lives -- including Tom Booker's -- will be transformed forever in a way none could have foretold. At once an epic love story and a gripping adventure, The Horse Whisperer weaves an extraordinary tale of healing and redemption -- a magnificent emotional journey that explores our ancient bonds with earth and sky and hearts untamed. It is a stirring elegy to the power of belief and self-discovery, to hopes lost and found again.
Customer Reviews:
Beware: child's edition.......2007-08-23
Was not aware the edition would be children. Good to know when ordering in the future.
what rubbish..........2007-08-22
cant believe this went to be a best seller....the writing is terrible, the characters unlikable, and Evans resorts to the same drivel that most romance writers on adulterous affairs use ie. it is beyond their control, meant to happen, etc. etc. BUT, the ending is such that it always remains bitter sweet, with no regrets, no guilt! The fact that this many people actually liked it says something about our morality as well as our literary sense.
OK.......2007-04-14
A great beginning and a great climax, it was the in-between that I found to be a little tedious at times. The stand out sections are the action and relationships between the horse Pilgrim, his 13 year old owner Grace and Tom Booker the "Horse Whisperer". I found the romance annoying.
It wasn't a bad read, but I don't see myself reading any more Nicholas Evans at this stage.
The book and the movie are two entirely different things.......2007-04-05
I had mixed feelings about "The Horse Whisperer" by Nicholas Evans. No matter who you are, the story invokes such strong feelings. I got to the point where I didn't want to read the book anymore because certain parts drove me to tears; yet I find myself constantly rereading it. The story is a good one, and there are many things you don't see coming. Also, keep in mind that this is not a book for children (has a couple sex scenes).
I read the book before I saw the movie (The Horse Whisperer). This was probably the right choice. However, if you haven't read the book, and have only seen the movie, you must be aware that they are completely different. The endings in particular.
Overall, I'd recommend this book, but be sure to tell them to be prepared. It's an emotional rollercoaster ride. If you're looking for more a book for a younger audience about horses, check out Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Or a more mature audience might enjoy The Black Stallion by Walter Farley.
great.......2007-03-20
could have done without the ending, see the movie if you want a diferent ending, but still an amazing book.
Book Description
Jerry Bailey has been called "the Michael Jordan of racing." One of the greatest jockeys ever to break from the starting gate, Bailey has won every major race-and then won it again. He's set earnings and stakes records and entered the Hall of Fame. In the sport of kings, Jerry Bailey is the king of jockeys. But first, he had to beat his own personal demons.
Against the Odds vividly chronicles Bailey's years of drinking, cruelty, anger, and despair, the moment of truth when he decided he wanted to live again-and his astonishing rise to the top. As thrilling as the stretch drive, it's a fiercely candid autobiography of professional racing's greatest jockey and his most exhilarating victory of all-against himself.
Customer Reviews:
AAA Review.......2007-09-06
Book is mainly about his personal battle with alcohol and his resulting "wondeful" family life.
Would like to have seen more racing industry insights and information!
A true champion.......2006-08-09
Bailey tells the story of his sometimes rocky rise through the ranks of the jockey colony to become the premier rider in the world. He doesn't hold back any in discussing his battle with alcoholism and how it nearly ruined him and his family. It's an honest self appraisal by a man with an enormous talent for his craft, yet glaring weaknesses that almost denied racing fans the opportunity to watch his genius at work.
I'd congratulate Jerry.................2006-07-22
....but he does so much of it himself. I've always admired Bailey for his professionalism as a jockey and applaud his having overcome addiction, but was put off by his repeated blowing of his own bugle, so to speak. I cringed at times. It might have been better left to a biographer, with quotes from Bailey relative to his recovery from alcoholism.
On another front, I do think that Jerry Bailey does a nice job as a television commentator.
P.S. Still not buying the excuse for his Belmont tactics with Eddington.
JOCKEYS ARE SUPERB ATHLETES!.......2006-07-11
I gained a brand new respect for the jockey profession after reading Bailey's book. They are superb athletes and deserve every bit of the money they earn. That being said, I also lost a lot of respect for the horse racing industry after reading this and another top jockey's biography. The use/abuse of the thoroughbred & quarter horses as a means to an end to line the human pocketbook with riches is really undefendable. The book makes clear that these amazing equine athletes are given the very best of care right up until they drop dead on the track from ruptured lungs or shattered cannon bones. Sorry, my concience was pricked & my heart broken in the course of reading this and Gary Steven's biography, and not for the owners, trainers, handicappers, or even so much the jockeys, but for the horses. You will also get your eyes opened as to how self-serving these people are and how ruthlessly they behave toward one another. If this is the "Sport of Kings" I'm glad to be a commoner.
A brutally honest autobiography.......2005-11-02
Now that Breeders' Cup 2005 is in the books, 48-year-old jockey Jerry Bailey can claim 15 Breeders' Cup wins, which are the most ever for a single rider. Yet he has been talking very seriously about retiring, possibly within a few weeks.
So far, Bailey has come through this very dangerous business with relatively 'minor' injuries (broken jaw, broken collarbone, smashed ribs, etc.) He has also won over $22 million in purse money, has won every big American race there is to win, not to mention four editions of the Dubai World Cup Classic. He is in the Hall of Fame and is widely recognized as the greatest jockey of the last two decades. It is a joy to watch him ride. He is one of the few jockeys that I can recognize in a race by his classy, quiet, straight-backed crouch, the tip of his boots barely connecting to his stirrups, his horse positioned exactly where it has to be in order to win. And win he does---an incredible 25% of his races.
Maybe it 'is' time to get out while he can still walk, can still enjoy life.
Now that I've read "Against the Odds," I have to worry about what this thinking-man's jockey is going to do with himself after he retires. Much of his autobiography is about his fight against alcoholism. He can count the years and days since his last drink. But what is going to happen when he no longer needs his extraordinary reflexes and his ability to guide a thousand pounds of thundering horse past, around, and sometimes through its hard-galloping rivals? What happens when the euphoria of winning is replaced by a less adrenaline-soaked lifestyle?
I wanted to read "Against the Odds" as a celebration, and instead I ended up worrying about the author's future. This book is about Jerry and his struggle against alcoholism, his struggle to keep his marriage together, his struggle to conceive children. Only about a third of the text concerns his brilliance on the race track.
I was expecting a slightly different story--something a bit more prettified, with more about the great horses that he has guided into the winner's circle.
Cigar is the only Thoroughbred Jerry admits to falling in love with, and what a ride they had together! He was aboard for 15 of the 16 races that tied Cigar with Citation for the greatest number of consecutive wins.
I'll only read Jerry's brutally honest story once, but I'll never forget it.
Amazon.com
An inspirational tale that was nearly buried beneath the detritus of time (namely floods and fires), Beautiful Jim Key recalls the remarkable life of a remarkable horse at the turn of the previous century. Revered not for his speed on the track, Beautiful Jim Key was instead a cerebral celebrity who electrified fairgoers from St. Louis to Boston with apparent feats of mathematics, reading, and writing, even making change for a dollar. But as might be expected, author Mim Eichler Rivas's story is about much more than a horse from Tennessee imbued with a staggering intellect. It's also about Jim Key's equally remarkable trainer, Dr. William Key, a black man and onetime slave who narrowly survived the American Civil War, prospered against all odds, and emerged as a wealthy inventor, self-trained veterinarian, and community pillar. Dr. Key's use of kindness and patience to train Jim, rather than the de rigueur tactics of beatings and intimidation, gave way to fresh thinking about animal husbandry at a time when animals were considered virtually inanimate. And then some: "The horse and the man from Tennessee had not only helped pioneer the humane movement but had, over the past seven years, in direct and indirect ways, changed the face of popular entertainment. [Suddenly], the big-budgeted theatrical productions began adding nonhuman cast members to their shows." The author provides ample scene-setting color, especially when describing the various exhibitions Jim Key headlined, and does a reasonably good job of footnoting her various claims about Jim's mental prowess, though occasionally the reader wonders how, exactly, she decoded the horse's thought process. Her writing style is also somewhat tepid, but still, there is no doubt that Jim Key was an exceptional horse in an exceptional era guided by an exceptional man. Thanks to Rivas, Seabiscuit must now share a posthumous marquee along with Beautiful Jim Key. --Kim Hughes
Book Description
For close to a century, a majestic chapter of American history has been buried in an obscure grave in Shelbyville, Tennessee. BEAUTIFUL JIM KEY, the onetime ugly duckling of a scrub colt that became one of the most heralded and beloved heroes of his day, was famous neither for his beauty nor his speed but instead for his exceptional intelligence. Said to have an I.Q. equivalent to that of a human sixth-grader, Jim exploded on to the national scene in 1897 by demonstrating inexplicable abilities to read, write, spell, do mathematics, tell time, sort mail, cite biblical passages, and debate politics.
For the next nine years, Jim performed in nationwide expositions and world's fairs to wildly receptive crowds, smashing box-office records, overcoming hurdles of prejudice and skepticism, all the while winning rapturous praise from the press and leaders such as President McKinley, Booker T. Washington, and Alice Roosevelt Longworth.
In this breathtaking saga, Jim's astonishing journey is coupled with that of his trainer and best friend, Dr. William Key, a self-taught veterinarian, former slave, Civil War veteran, prominent African-American entrepreneur, and one of the most renowned horse whisperers of his time -- a man who shunned all force in the training of horses, instead relying on kindness and patience.
Masterful storyteller and bestselling author Mim Eichler Rivas at long last gives two cultural icons their due, not only unraveling the mystery of their disappearance but examining how, thanks to the rare and intimate relationship between horse and man that was championed by promoter and humane activist Albert R. Rogers, a dramatic shift took place in the public mind that made kindness to animals a cornerstone of modern civilization and helped launch the animal rights movement. Unveiled against the backdrop of American history, BEAUTIFUL JIM KEY is their incredible tale.
Customer Reviews:
Study of times, people, animals and goodness.......2007-09-28
This story of a good man who made a good life for himself, his family and his animals, built from circumstances that were to say the least, less than the best, is a case study in human nature.
I cannot help but contrast Dr. Key with Michael Vic. Key was a man born into slavery and from that experience, chose to treat all life with respect. He and his horse became a catalyst for the change in public sentiment that came as a result of his goodness toward animals and activity the American Humane Movement. Michael Vic who, when also given a life of plenty, choose the opposite path. It seems to be a sad commentary.
I must heartily endorse the book. It is a good story and a good read.
Altruism or Commercialism.......2007-09-03
I found this story an interesting story about race relations and progress in teaching society about kindness to animals at the turn of the 19-20th century -- after I got through the heavy emphasis on commercialsim. However, the heavy thread of commercialism that ran throughout was very off-putting to me -- probably it was a big thread in the author's source materials. She tried to present the story with the exploitation of Jim Key's talents as a key to acceptance of kindness of animals in our society as a main theme -- but I saw that as more of a side benefit of the humans' desire to become wealthy -- a "gimmick" used to further the commercialization of Jim Key. To me altruism truly exists only where the primaries are not attempting to gain anything for themselves, whether that be money, reputation, or praise. Hence this story is about commercialization, not altruism. Now it is true that Bill Key highly valued kindness to animals and that he was uncompromising about the right of Jim Key to enjoy the wealth too -- and that was a great and unusual characteristic at that time (and probably still is today) -- but it does not change the fact that commercialization seems to me to be the main theme of the story. In fact the author seems to make more points about the promoter's innovative commercializations than she does about the progress of teaching kindness to animals.
Both Beautiful!.......2007-05-07
Both Jim Key and Dr. Key were beautiful! What a lovely story...even better because it's true. Mim Rivas' research is extensive and detailed. It's good that a documentary is in the works...so that others will know the story...and perhaps read the book.
Wonderful story--but poorly told.......2007-03-18
I am a longtime horse and animal lover, as well as a person with active interests in the humane movement. I was so excited to hear about this book--especially since I live in middle Tennessee and have been to Shelbyville numerous times and had never heard of Jim Key or the humans surrounding him.
However, I finished reading the book tonight and was left feeling terribly frustrated. The book was confusingly written--at times it seemed more like a stream-of-consciousness narration than a compilation or unearthing of a historical story. The author's lack of attention to timelines made it difficult to follow--a less interested reader would probably have put it down early on. In addition, there was such obvious and annoying bias towards A.R. Rogers and his odd behavior after Dr. Key passed--the flowery adjectives used to describe him are less fit for anything resembling history but more for one of the pamphlets he'd have written! Those are just a few of the flaws of this book, sadly obscuring a wonderful and unknown history.
I'm no great author, but I do love reading and good writing. This book was a terrible disappointment. That said--it is an amazing story that other reviewers have summed up nicely, and that alone garners the 2 stars.
A book well worth every word........2007-01-29
There are those who have horses, then there are those who love and live with them. This book will truely touch the heart of those whos' horses are part of the family, and not just an object to be sold when no longer usefull. Me and my wife have aquired 12 horses who are perfectly healthy, but other people tossed away as used cars. We have seen that even though they are not as intelligent as Jim Key they do possess the ability to think and act unlike what most give credit for. This story made me cry as well as smile and just admire this magnificant horse. Its so true today we need another Jim Key as animal abuse still runs rampit in our society, but thanks to him and his influence, many, many animals are spared and saved by our human societies of today. I also found the history of William Key very fascinating, bringing your mind insync with the way those lived back then and how both the man and his horse faced the same obsticles in early american society on two differant levels. This book is sure to open ones mind not only to the feelings and wellfare of our animals, but even those feelings of our fellow human beings, no matter what race or color they may be as horses of all colors can get along in a herd, maybe we should be learning from these so called "stupid animal" as so many portray them. I have since then payed a visit to the Jim Key memorial as I needed to see for myself, to be closer in body as the book took me there already in mind. I thank the author for her hard work and research for such a book which is already affecting us once again, even to the point that Breyer has released a Jim Key model and I only hope to see this story maybe taken further into a full length movie or film, another true story which will surely equal if not surpass that of our other famous equines who have etched thier names in the making and history of our own race.
Book Description
In this handsome volume, renowned photographer Hans Silvester points his lens at the famous horses of the Camargue region in southern France. Since prehistoric times, these rugged animals have run free in the vast swamps of the Rhone delta, where they have adapted to harsh conditions by banding together in small herds. Thanks to the remarkable ability of the photographer to gain the trust of wild creatures, we can observe the fierce white stallions as they protect their mares and foals and forage in their hostile but spectacular environment. This book offers a rare glimpse of wild horse behavior that will intrigue all horse lovers and fans of animal photography.
Customer Reviews:
Horses of the Camargue review.......2003-01-02
Horses of the Camargue is by far the best book of horse photographs I have ever seen.
Book Description
"Intricate and entertaining . . . A delicious puzzle." The Boston Globe
The murder is in America, but the call goes out to Scotland Yard superintendent Richard Jury. Accompanied by his aristocratic friend Melrose Plant and by Sergeant Wiggins, Jury arrives in Baltimore, Maryland, home of zealous Orioles fans, mouth-watering crabs, and Edgar Allan Poe. In his efforts to solve the case, Jury rubs elbows with a delicious and suspicious cast of characters, embarking on a trail that leads to a unique tavern called "The Horse You Came In On" . . .
Customer Reviews:
Not the Best..........2007-08-23
As a devoted Martha Grimes fan, I can find something to like about every one of her books - with this one I relied on the tried and true characters of Jury, Plant, and Wiggins to pull me through the morass of plot twists, mediocre supporting characters, and the downright dismal portrayal of Baltimorians (can anyone possibly be that pathetic? I guess so.) One refreshing twist in this one - Richard Jury is nearly upbeat! It's often painful to follow him into the vat of depression that he absolutely must slog through in order to solve a case. Melrose is brilliant, as usual, and Wiggins is Wiggins. Gotta love him.
KEEP JURY IN ENGLAND.......2005-05-04
I COULD NOT FINISH THIS BOOK. I HAVE GREATLY ENJOYED THE OTHER INSPECTOR JURY MYSTERIES AND WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED.. MY THEORY IS THAT THE FAULT LAY IN TRYING TO SET AN ENGLISH MYSTERY IN THE US. THE INTERIORITY AND SENSE OF PLACE THAT SO CHARACTERIZES ENGLISH MYSTERY DOES NOT WORK IN A SETTING LIKE THE US. FROM THAT
STEM ALL THE OTHER DIFFICULTIES WITH THIS BOOK-- FLOUNDERING AND LOST - BECAUSE THE CHARACTERS ARE NOT AT "HOME". AGATHA CHRISTIE COULD PULL IT OFF BUT WHEN POIROT WAS IN EGYPT, FOR INSTANCE, HE WAS SURROUNDED BY ENGLISHMEN WHO HAD IN EFFECT "BROUGHT' THEIR PORTABLE WC'S ( LIKE THE ENGLISH DID IN AFRICA) ON THEIR "SAFARIS". (sorry about the capitals - just noticed it)
Embarrassingly insecure/arrogant. Self-indulgent.......2005-02-22
A riddle: What could be more pathetic than Grimes' character Alejandro Vlasic? Grimes pours out the scorn, portraying this ridiculous figure in his ostentatious dress and preening, and laughable jealousy of his commercially successful genre fiction colleague. He sniffs arrogantly at her merely populist work, embarrassingly thrusting copies of his own justifiably ignored tiny single volume of pretentious poetry at anyone passing - all the while eating his liver in envy. We're left in no doubt that, unlike his colleague, he's a complete loser.
More pathetic than petty little Professor Vlasic? Well, how about a commercially successful genre fiction writer going to the trouble of carefully creating such a character? Really for Grimes to spend so much time glorifying a character, ahem, much like herself, and pillorying those who, it seems, she fears criticism from, is at best embarrassing for the reader.
Maybe I've started at the wrong end of her career - an amazon reviewer elsewhere recommended her `Man with a load of Mischief', but I found this later `Horse' at my local library instead. It felt really indulgent - many of the characters are writers, and Grimes just seems unaware that it's bad form for her to so unsubtly laud ones like herself. Moreover it feels like Jury and Melrose are supposed to be old friends - perhaps back for a last time reunion and we're just supposed to relish their presence. I don't even know if I would have, however, even if I had enjoyed them in previous books. It feels like those awful 'On Tour' TV episodes - you know, the Happy Days cast goes to Australia or something.
The detective story, at least, is engaging enough while it's there, but it's hardly central and driving. This is usually for me an attraction of a crime novel: I particularly enjoy ones that have enough going in character, humour and observation that they don't stand or fall on the plot - much as we can enjoy some of the ride when it's driving things. However Grimes' diversions generally don't grab me - particularly (did you get this) when she seems to be blowing her own trumpet (cf. Asimov's appallingly arrogant drivel in the last of his Foundation novels).
One of the worst books I ever read.......2004-04-26
Like other reviewers, I read the reviews on the back of the book that said that this was a great book. They were so wrong. I made myself finish the book - assuming that there had to be some clever tie-up of all these stories. But there isn't one. The murders and the solution are merely minor storylines in this book. And all the rest is annoying characters and talk, talk, talk. There are about 3 chapters AFTER you find out who the murderer is (an obvious murderer) and they serve no purpose except for more talk, talk, talk. This was the first book I read by this author and I won't be rushing to read others.
Balti-moran Pride.......2004-03-15
Having spent the last six years working two blocks from Cider Alley and Poe's grave, I found this book a very enjoyable read. I can imagine for some folks that this degree of familiarity does not apply, but I can say I've had a beer at the Horse You Came in On, and various other familiar stops that Plant visits with Hughie the hack.
I do feel that this particular edition of Richard Jury is not as satisfying or complex as some of the other mysteries and that the local color somewhat distracted from the plot. But, having said that, it was a good three hour light read that I did enjoy. Other novels Grimes of course rate much more highly with me, such as the The Blue Last, and The Grave Maurice.
Book Description
In this, the second book in the series, the heart-stopping adventures of the Black Stallion continue as Alec discovers that two men are after the Black. One claims to be the Black’s rightful owner and one is trying to kill the beautiful steed. An Arab chieftain proves his ownership of the Black and takes him away, but Alec is determined to find his horse again. Following the pair to Arabia, Alec encounters great evil and intrigue, as only a horse as spectacular as the Black could inspire.
Customer Reviews:
This book rocks!.......2007-04-24
In this book, the second one in the Black Stallion series, the Black Stallion's real owner comes to retrieve him. He returns to his homeland, Arabia, soon after.You follow Alec, Raj, Henry, and Mr. Volence in an unforgettable adventure through Arabian deserts, facing criminals and hunger.
This was the best book that I ever read! If I could I would give it 9 million star!
The Black Returns.......2005-11-02
Abu the Black Stallions ownerhad lost his horse by going on a ship to a country and the ship had started sinking.The Black had saved a boys life named Alec.Alec had thought that the owner of the horse was really dead but he wasnt,which Alec didnt know that.Well anyways Alec had took the Black home with him and put him in a stall and took good care of the Black.Well now Abu had been looking for his horse for a while now and so he had finally found out where his horse was and went to Alecs house and proved ownership of the Black.Then Abu had taken the horse back home to their country and then Alec was really upset that he didnt have that horse anymore so Abu said that he could have the Blacks baby that was born.
The Black Returns.......2005-11-02
Abu the Black stallions owner had lost his horse by going on a ship to a country and the ship had started sinking.The Black had saved a boys life named Alec.Alec had thought that the owner of the horse was really dead but he wasnt,which Alec didnt know that.Well anyways Alec had took the Black home with him and put him in a stall and took good care of the Black.Well now Abu had been looking for his horse for a while now and so he had finally found out where his horse was and went to Alecs house and proved
ownership of the Black. Then Abu had taken the horse back home to their country and then Alec was really upset that he didnt have that horse anymore so Abu said that he could have the first Blacks baby that was born.
As Great As The Last.......2005-10-07
This mysterious and enchanting book takes Alec and Henry to a setting far from the one in the previous book. In the barren deserts of Arabia, they search for their black stallion in his own home. A thrilling tale of survival, and just as vivid, with a race for high stakes and a horse to beat any of the same caliber all thrown in too make the story plot thicken.
This book had me turning the pages, never wanting to put it down. The story was very different from the first, but not as much as some sequels. Farley had a way of keeping his characters in prospective, and in turn, the story again took the readers on an exhilarating ride. A great piece of literature for young tweens to read, though the movie does have violence in it, but seems to make the story even more thrilling. An excellent book I will be sure to show my kids one day.
Bred for War--or for Racing!.......2005-09-10
After a mysterious attempt on the Black's life by an unknown one-armed assassin, Alec is shocked to meet an Arab sheik who claims to be the true owner. Regretfully surrendering the horse he has trained and loves dearly, Alec expects to spend a gloomy summer before his senior year. Conveniently for all concerned racing owner, Mr. Volence, agrees to take both trainer, Henry and the devoted youth abroad to seek better bloodlines for his stables--and incidentally search for the Black in distant Arabia.
Plunged into an exotic world of desert, treachery and bloodlust Alec and his party set out for a remote mountainous region where the Sheik reigns. Alec soon learns the price of betrayal, where blood demands blood, and the great race--held every 5 years--will soon be run. Befriended by a local orphan youth named Raj, Alec's party is abandoned to their fate in the desert, then rescued by a young but suspicious chieftain. How can Alex reach the elusive Sheik and convince him to sell
or gift him the magnificent Black? What will it take to end the bitter feud between rival sheiks? How can an American boy acquire the desert skills necessary to survive and win respect in a hostile environment? This sequel is every bit as exciting as the first book in the series, with hope for future stories, as it explores the wonderful and unique bond between boy and horse.
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Mosemans Illustrated Guide for purchasers of horse furnishing goods: Imported and Domestic
C S Moseman
Manufacturer: Crescent
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0517675757
Release Date: 1990-03-24 |
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Horses Make a Landscape Look More Beautiful
Alice Walker
Manufacturer: Harcourt
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Revolutionary Petunias
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Absolute Trust in the Goodness of the Earth: New Poems
ASIN: 0151421692 |
Amazon.com
However much we like Alice Walker's fictional characters, it's still a treat when she speaks in her own voice, whether in essays or poems. The poems in this work show the impressive range that voice has, from the outrage of "First, They Said," to the quiet and lovely "These Mornings of Rain," to poems about family. Walker makes a lyrical world big enough to seamlessly weave these disparate parts together.
Customer Reviews:
dull.......2000-03-30
I was rather diappointed in this collection. A few of the poems are very nice, but overall the work is bland and dull. The language is so pedestrian. This seems like a real half-hearted attempt at writing. I am sure Walker can do better.
Wonderful!!!!!!.......1999-04-16
All I can say is wonderful!!! This is one of my very favorite books. Being white,I have not always been as non-racist as I should have. This book will make you look at things in a whole new way, as Alice Walker explores her feelings of Africa, Love, Poetry, Predujust, and the leftover tears of blacks. Hold on. Surely the Earth can be saved for us who insist on love.
Customer Reviews:
An exhaustive reference book on a complicated subject..........2000-10-16
McBane has written an extremely thorough book which is of value to any rider who wishes to expand their knowledge of English tack and related equipment.
The book has the following chapters: Saddles and Accessories; Bridles and Bits; Training Equipment; Headcollars and Halters' Clothing; Protective Equipment; Driving Equipment; Care of Equipment; and a good Index. The book is filled with color photos as well as black and white line drawings so you know exactly what she is referring to. As well, she puts in sidebars which go over the reasons why or why not you might want to use a particular piece of tack. Included are some history on various types of equipment and techniques for using the various items correctly.
All in all this is a wonderful book for the English rider of any age or skill level. Don't hesitate to buy it.
Illustrated Guide to Horse Tack a boon to any horse person........2000-04-04
Susan McBane has a written a very informative and wonderfully illustrated book. This book has the ability to appeal to both the beginner and experienced horse person. It is a book that can span many age groups, easily understandable to all. This book will be a constant companion for many riding levels. The text and accompanying illustrations will aid even the most seasoned rider. It serves as a great reference guide as well as an instructional manual for beginners. The book answers many technical questions about saddle sizing, bridles design, and many more useful topics. As a horse person myself, I wouldn't want to be without Illustrated Guide to Horse Tack. It is a great reference tool.
Books:
- The Pony Club Quiz Book
- The Search: The Continuing Story of the Tracker
- The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere, 2 Vol. Set (Comstock Books in Herpetology)
- The Wolf: The Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species
- The Yearling
- Time For Kids: Bears! (Time For Kids)
- Travels in Search of Endangered Species
- Tree Houses You Can Actually Build: A Weekend Project Book (Stiles, David R. Weekend Project Book Series.)
- Veterinary Medicine: A textbook of the diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats
- Water for Elephants: A Novel
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