I have always though Geraldine Brooks' best book was The Year of Wonder, a story about the plague . I found that book fascinating and learned quite a bit of history from that novel. This time she has completely outdone herself with this new novel, Horse.
Horse is a novel whose plot seems to be the story of a racehorse who holds an iconic place in history. On he surface that is an interesting story in itself. But this book is so much more. It is a love story, between a trainer and his horse. It is the history of horse racing in this country at the turn of a century.
It is a history of slavery in the south and the beginning rumblings of the Civil War. It is the story of men dared to who stand up for what they believed in. This book also ties the past to the present. It brings the past to meet the present and show the race relations in this country are not solved.. maybe even more dangerous, because they are not as clear.
There is also a large element of the art of painting a horse and the restoration of its skeleton. All these added facets are so interesting. This is a novel to savor and enjoy as you read each page.
