Horse by Geraldine Brooks

 

    For those that love historical fiction, I have the perfect book for you. Horse by Geraldine Brooks is based on a true story about a thoroughbred horse, Lexington, trained by an enslaved Black man during the Civil War. The story drifts between a present-day Smithsonian scientist who is studying the genetic lineage of this record-shattering race horse, the trainer himself as he fights for his freedom while staying with an animal he loves deeply, the artist who painted a piece of tradition-defying artwork of Lexington and his trainer, a present-day art historian that’s looking for that story behind the portrait of them, and the many people woven into the history of it all. Brooks does an impeccable job of switching from different timelines, showing the advancements and changes in our society while highlighting our shortcomings that we still need to work on. 

    The characters are so beautifully developed. You will find yourself on the edge of your seat rooting for the underdog, holding your breath when trouble comes their way, and sighing with relief at the close calls and lucky breaks. I find that the story hopping back and forth in time makes it more engaging. I was quickly flipping through pages, eager to get back to the previous storyline, only to be caught up in the current one as well! She is a master. There is a cinematic quality to it, painting vivid images of fancy horse races, exciting escape routes through woods and fields, bustling Victorian cities, all the way to modern day academia. This book surely is a whole lot more than a story about a horse. I can’t recommend it enough.