Horse - Geraldine Brooks

I've read other books by this author; March, about the Little Women's father, People of the Book, and Year of Wonders.  She weaves historical facts into a fictional account of the times and people in her stories. 

In this book she tells the life story of the most renowned horse from the late 1800's. Throughout his life he's accompanied by his trainer, Jarrett, a slave who we're introduced to at the birth of the horse and who is with it throughout the trials and triumphs of the horse's life.  The book is really about the cruel life of slaves in years before the Civil War contrasted to the daily life of a Nigerian student struggling in modern day U.S.

I enjoyed the book as I have the other stories by Brooks.  And of course, there was a DNA twist.  The modern day scientist examining the skeleton of the horse uses advanced DNA techniques in her work.

Characters:

Henry - Jarrett's freed slave father

Jarrett- the trainer of Lexington

Lexington - the horse

Theo - the Nigerian thesis student

Jess - anthropologist and Theo's girlfriend

Published: 2022  Read: April 2025  Genre: Historical Fiction

In My Time of Dying - Sebastian Junger

 Tucson has each spring the "Festival of the Book" -- the 3rd largest book fair in the U.S.  It's held on the University of Arizona campus over a weekend.  Each day there are authors speaking every hour in multiple venues on campus on every topic imaginable.  The mall is lined with booksellers, eateries, activities and exhibits all focusing on education and reading.  My kind of heaven!

This year I listened to Sebastian Junger speak about his near-death experience he shares in this book.  I know, my first thought is it's some mumbo-jumbo about the afterlife.  On the contrary, it's both an objective analysis of near death experiences from multiple scientific disciplines and a subjective first-person account.  I bought the book and thoroughly enjoyed his perspective and thoughtful insights. He did not "see the light" but instead shines a light on our attitudes toward death.

Quote:

"We assume that life is the most real thing we will ever experience. but it might turn out to be the least real, the least meaningful.  The idea that you will appreciate life more after almost dying is a cheap bit of wisdom easily asserted by people who have never been near death.  ...we are really talking about an appreciation of death rather than life."

Published: 2025  Read: March 2025  Genre: Memoir

Tell Me Everything - Elizabeth Strout

 This was a fun re-visit to previous characters by this author.  Olive Kitteredge reappears in Maine, a curmudgeon in her old age, observing, advising and consoling her neighbors.  It's not so much a story as a chance to walk about a group of people in their town going about their daily lives.  

Quote:

 "He had told this story to [his wife] when they first me, he had also told his first wife, Pam Carlson, and they were both kind about it but it was one of Bob's adult understandings:  People did not care, except for maybe one minute.  It was not their fault, most just could not really care past their own experiences."

Published: 2024  Read: March 2025  Genre: Fiction