Rating: 
Summary: A Heart-Wrenching Story That I Couldn't Put down
Review: I thought the book was excellent. It played out real-life situations, both trajedy and celebration, with an irony in having the celebration borne out of trajedy. I could really relate to Annie's situation as she lived her life through her work albeit unhappily. When she finds another life so "full of life" (sorry for the redundancy but couldn't think of better way of saying it) I immediately could relate and felt so happy for her. From start to finish, The Horse Whisperer "spurs" emotion. You'll love it!
Rating: 
Summary: Bravo Bob Redford for making the characters full and deep!
Review: I was totally immersed in this book from start to finish...and felt slapped in the face by the ending. Tom Booker would never have ended his life that way, and when I saw the movie I was totally satisfied. The urgency of Tom and Annie's affection for each other was intensified by the lack of sex, and the way Tom urged her to make the "right " decision at the end was a furthering of his strong sense of integrity. The descriptions in Evan's book of the scenery, the character's feelings, the timing...all came to life in the pages AND in the movie. What a lovely cooperative effort. Art truly reflects life.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the 400+ page effort
Review: I'm only 13, and some people (okay, LOTS of people) say I don't know what "good" books are yet, but I really liked. I think Robert's character could have been less shallow, and Grace shouldn't have been so mean to her mother (even though I can see why she was), but other than that it was definitely a good read. It got me hooked right away with Grace's accedent and then I couldn't put it down. I think I liked Diane's character the best, even though she was so mean to Annie. Over all I thought it was great and now I can't wait to see the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Please spend some money on a good editor!
Review: I finished the book, which I believe is a tribute to my own desire for completion, not to the writer. Why did the author take so long to say so little? I thought no one was paid by the word anymore. I actually found myself skimming for interesting passages to read - a rarity for me, I assure you. The story does hold together somehow, though, and you do want to know how it ends. But then, I want to know how "The Brady Bunch" episodes end, too. Sorry. Another unusual thought: I bet the movie is better.
Rating: 
Summary: Elegant prose wasted on unsympathetic characters
Review: I found the writing to be quite engaging. I had solid visual images of all of the locations described in the novel. Interestingly enough, the author's physical description of the characters was somewhat less complete. However, much to the reader's detriment, the author's description of the character's personalities was not. As described, I found the main characters completely unsympathetic, ridiculously introspective (with the exception of Robert who was just plain oblivious) and altogether unbelievable. I have trouble identifying where I suspect the author is trying to show us that Annie has become less self-centered. The daughter, "tragically" adored by two wealthy and educated parents shows no appreciation for all that is hers. And finally Tom. What initially looks like a little fire, a little chutzpah when he takes down the sadistic teenage horsekeepers at the beginning of the story, turns out to be the summit of his emotional honesty. His actions at the end are just plain wimpy. At that point, I was hoping the mustang did step on him again. It may be refreshing to some that a male author chose to portray almost all of his male characters (including the horse!) as single-dimensional and weak.After rereading my own vitriol, the rating of six seems unjustified but here's the rationale: Most of the book was good but the final score comes from bitterness at the end which left me flat. Annie was still self-absorbed, Robert was on his way back, and Tom sent his girlfriend away and then bailed out on life itself.
Rating: 
Summary: A Bunch of Horse Manure
Review: What a waste of time. I'm sometimes skeptical of the "merits" of books that reach number 1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list and my suspicions were not unfounded in this case. Thank goodness I checked it out of the library rather than spend money on it and waste some precious bookshelf space that could be better used on books that are more worthy. The plot is incredibly predictable, the dialogue corny and the descriptions tedious not to mention the obligatory sex scenes that were just downright DUMB. Many people have likened this book to The Bridges of Madison County. There are several similarities (infidelity, brooding man, supressed woman) but Waller at least had the good sense to pen a book that's only 171 pages versus Evans' 400 pages of drivel. I got to the point where I chose to read this book as a comedy rather than a serious love story. Reading seems to have become more popular lately. It's unfortunate that unsuspecting people are seduced into reading trash as The Horse Whisper. In the meantime there are many gifted writers who may never get a manuscript printed since publishers are too busy lavishing 3 million dollars on junk like this.
Rating:
Summary: This book is a waste of time.
Review: I never had any interest in reading this book, but when a friend I was visiting insisted I take it home with me, I felt compelled to read it. I thought this was supposed to be a story about a young girl and her horse instead of the trials and tribulations of her mother who is so obviously fashioned after Tina Brown. The book is so predictable, the affair was ridiculous and selfish and the end was not to be believed. The idea that Tom sacrificed himself like that made no sense to me and I can only feel sorry for Annie's husband who was a wonderful guy. I am glad to see that so many others thought this book was a sappy sham!
Rating:
Summary: Great romantic lovestory - unique
Review: "The Horsewhisperer" is definitely the BEST book I ever read.Never before have I enjoyed a book as much as I enjoy this one.To all the the people who wrote so many negative things about the book and who compared it to "Bridges of Madison County" I just can say: STOP IT!!! It`s not your task to criticize someone!It`s a fantastic story with depth and feeling.It makes you think about life,relationship,friedship,love and trust.There`s so much to learn.Evans portrays his characters vividly so that you can easily identify yourself with them even you didn`t experience anything like that.The most exciting point is the developpment of the characters - they become new individuals! - in which Annie goes through the grassest and most imposing one... Just read the story! Become part of the plot! Experience it!!! Dani from Germany
Rating:
Summary: One More Comment:o)
Review: Ok This is my second time writing but I see some of you wanting it to be more about horses. I thought it was a lot about horses but not really. It's about the HORSE WHISPERER. Not The Horse Pilgrum. The book showed you the perspective of the horse and showed that it's like a human and can lose it's trust. The movie on the other hand didn't show much of that, instead it was more of the horse went insane. I recomend seeing the movie first then reading the book because once you read the book your expecting to see it all come real and actully SEE Grace's struggel in her colma (wich in the move wasn't a struggle at all). The book also decribed Grace as a equestian..but..I can tel Scarrlet(Grace) in the movie wasn't an equestrian at all! But watch the movie before reading the book!
Rating:
Summary: Very well put together and interesting, very.
Review: The one I read was in the Readers Digest Condensed Book, volume 1, 1996.I had a hard time putting the story down. I had to tear myself away from it everytime I picked it back up from doing my chores.The story kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what was going to happen next and to whom.I felt the story was very well put together and I wished the ending was longer. I would like to know what happens to Grace and what she does with her life.
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