Horse - Geraldine Brooks ------------------- 4 Stars

I appreciated the tip from a coworker to check out Horse by Geraldine Brooks. While a very well reviewed book, I'm not sure I would have picked up this gem from a few years ago. A multi-generational novel with the through-line of horses, it probably wouldn't be my first choice but really glad I picked it up and was able to enjoy it.

As I mentioned, this book covers 3 time frames - Kentucky in the mid-twentieth century, 1950's NYC, and Washington DC in modern times. All three stories were connected through different aspects of a horse(s). Of course, there is so much more to it, but to see these different strands all come together as the novel grows was truly satisfying. Making it even more rewarding was learning after that nearly every historical character was based on a real individual. Most of them were connected to the growth of horse racing in the mid 1800's along with the focus on perhaps the greatest racehorse ever - Lexington.

If you are like me, you most likely have never heard of a horse named Lexington. Secretariat, sure, of course you know that one. Man O' War, probably aware of that one too. But Lexington, I doubt it. Well, Lexington perhaps was the greatest ever. Racing before the Kentucky Derby even existed, he won six of the seven races he participated in (before retiring due to blindness). He was also the most dominant sire to exist. He led the US with 16 years of being the lead sire of winning horses. His bloodline is so successful that nearly every major thoroughbred is somehow related to Lexington. 

Even if you are not a horse racing fan or even slightly interested the book is still a wonderful read. Yes, it indulges deeply in the glory that is equines, and if you don't have an interest in horses, it's hard not to finish the book and appreciate their grace, beauty, effort, and importance in American history. The book is also about aspects of slavery, art, and a love story (numerous types of love).

Of course, there are some aspects that I didn't enjoy. Like any book that covers so much ground with three story lines, I found some aspects overly detailed and unnecessary. There is also an odd "wokeness" to the story. I appreciate the author's efforts to highlight certain aspects of race and gender but found many of them came of as awkward and flat.

Overall, the book is a good read. Of course, if you are lover of horses or horse racing, this book will likely agree with you more than the average reader but I think there is a lot offered here for anyone interested in a great story of historical fiction. And, if you are like me. you might even learn something from it.

London Falling - Patrick Radden Keefe ----------------------------- 4.5 Stars

Well, this is my 5th Patrick Radden Keefe book in the last 6 years, and he continues to deliver every time. London Falling, which just came out was another page turner that I had to slow my self down on to relish so I didn't read it too quickly.

This book is new and recent, and I mean that in two ways. First, the book just came out so I felt lucky to get an early copy from the library (think the wait is much longer now). Second, the book is about an event that only happened a few years ago. I find it rare to find non-fiction books that are so quickly written (and written well) and published . Besides making it more topical in reading, it's nice to enjoy and not feel like it was from a bygone era that has nothing to do with the modern life we're living now.

This book is about the mysterious death of a young man who jumped to his death in 2019. While it seems like a clear suicide on the surface, as the author peels back the MANY layers of the onion of his life, acquaintances, and family, there's clearly much more than meet's the eye. 

Like all of his books, Radden Keefe does an incredible job truly investigating every aspect of the story and delivering to the reader and organized, thoughtful, and fascinating account of all the varying pieces. Slowly, the reader is able to put the puzzle together to fully understand each complexity and nuance to make deep meaning of them all. And, collectively, they tell one heck of a story.

Based in a variety of spaces in England - privilege private schools, corrupt police offices, criminals hideaways, rich foreigners residencies - each page felt like I was learning more about a part of the world that I truly had no sense of. A pessimistic read of the book is that it followed too many loose ends and really doesn't have enough substance to be a full book. Some would say that the original full article from the 2024 The New Yorker is sufficient. Well, I would strongly disagree with those people. Sure, it goes down pathways and stories that don't always complete the final conclusion of the book but, as the reader, it feels like you are part of the investigative team working in real time to figure out this mystery.

As you can see, I was truly enamored with this book and did my best to savor each page. While the conclusion that was realized may not feel totally satisfying to some (including myself), this no book of fiction. Just like real life, sometimes things don't always get tied up in a nice, neat bow and that is both the frustration and fascination with real life stories.