Dennis Fuentes Fuentes itibaren Juquiá - SP, Brezilya
I really enjoyed this book. It held my attention and provided insight into a period with which I was not previously familiar.
Book #21 o 2009 What can I say... I was reading the book and enjoying it and then I just had to go on Amazon to see what the other reviews said and once I read those, that's all I could think about when I went back to reading it. But - what I did like: the imagery. Chapter after chapter I could picture the horses, the barns, the riding lessons, the tack room, the stalls... I even imagined the trainer to look like the one I had in High School. In one of the chapters, describing a riding lesson, I could totally see myself on the horse, trainer walking beside me, telling me to post on the opposite diagonal. It was all familar to me, and so very easy for me to imagine. What I wasn't so fond of: The main character is a bit annoying. She had an accident at 18 which pretty much defines her life for the next 20 years... she continually runs from the reality of what happened and from having to move on from that. And... she really screws things up about 1/2-3/4 way into the book. And then that part is a struggle to get through because, but the end does get better. All in all, not a bad read, and enjoyable for me if for no other reason than it takes me back to my days of riding when I was in High School. I own this book
If I could hang out with any fictional character for a day, I'd have to pick Agnes Browne. This Irish widow has just lost her S.O.B husband, and she's delighted that he's gone. She's now off to raise her brood of children solo. The juxtaposition of Agnes's progressive self-image against her actual niavety brings the character to life. While you're reading this laugh-'til-you-cry book, you'll fall head-over-heels in love with Agnes, whose constant shananigans are a hoot! Enjoy the ride. And if you love it, you'll be happy to hear that there are two more books in the series.