Oh wow, this just goes to show how much we differ in our likes/dislikes in literature. I HATED the Mountain’s Callo. Thought the writing was silly and insipid, very elementary. I was very disappointed as it definitely sounded promising.
Some that haven’t been mentioned:
Jane Smiley’s Barn Blind. I actually liked this a bit better than Horse Heaven, but I loved that one, too.
Someone mentioned Mercedes Lackey’s books, the Valdemar series. I’m pretty picky about my fanstasy novels (the writing is so often incredibly POOR), but I thorougly enjoy each and every one of her Heralds of Valedemar books.
Someone also mentioned Jody Jaffe. I love mysteries, and these are great fun! I wish she’d write more.
I can’t remember who wrote the latest Seabiscuit (something-Hillebrand, was it Lauren?), but her writing is wonderful. Her prose reads like a good non-fiction tale.
Although a lot of people didn’t like it, mostly because the book is about his adoration of his blonde, ex-model wife who cleans up at the lower levels of eventing and they have unlimited funds to pour into her sport, Michael Korda’s “Horse People: Scenes from the Riding Life” was very entertaining. I loved his description of his first time foxhunting, and all the drama surrounding the Claremont Stables in NY.
“Show Stopper” by Mary Monica Pulver is a pretty decent horsey mystery. Deals with show Arabs and a murder, and for the most part, the details are quite accurate.
“Beautiful Jim Key” by Mim Eichler Rivas is good if you liked Laura Hillebrand’s “Seabiscuit”. It’s non-fiction, about a former slave, Dr. William Key and his horse, Jim, who could read, write, spell, and do math. The way he loved his horse is very touching.
There’s another book called “In the Presence of Horses” by Barbara Dimmick that’s pretty interesting - not a must-read, but if you come across it, worth picking up. You want to shake the main character, though, for her wallowing in self-pity.
Wasn’t there sort of an anti-Black Beauty story called “Sweet William”, or something like that, by John Hawkes? Features a crotchety old horse telling the tale of his life. Pretty well-written.
Oh, and I, too, loved “Lord of the Flies”, love Dickens (don’t care much for Jane Austen, although I love the movies made off her books), love “Light in August” by Faulkner, once I was mature enough to understand it, love anything by Steinbeck (even the Red Pony, but I had to forgive him for killing it off), and my favorite author right now is Amy Tan, if that gives you any idea of my taste in fiction.
I protest that I don’t usually buy them unless they actually look good.
