The Horse Whisperer

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Summary: Plot-driven, formulaic romance . . . Montana is lovely.
Review: Savvy horse people will be pleased with some of Evans' descriptions of horse behavior, at least until he steps over the line into anthropomorphism and tries to infuse extra doses of mystique into the "horse whisperer" mythology. (Horse whisperers are simply very talented trainers, empathetic animal behaviorists who take the time to truly understand, love and communicate with their subjects. They are special, but not that rare; I know at least three.) Unfortunately, Evans seems to fathom the character of horses better than the character of his characters, who are mostly two-dimensional and predictable. The deus ex machina ending is disappointing and improbable, and several major conflicts are left unresolved (perhaps on purpose, to make the story more "real" in its ambiguity.) Montana is beautifully drawn; I'd move there in an instant.

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Summary: Quite the pageturner...until
Review: I loved the first 2/3s of this book! It really gave me the feeling of being in Montana and sharing the emotions of Tom, Annie and Grace. I bought a copy for a friend before finishing it, thinking he would enjoy it too. Now that I have completed it, I wonder if I was right. The ending felt wrong in many regards, particularly a senseless suicide that didn't scar the witness, particularly Grace who was so changed by previous events. That and the very end, which I thought a bit weak and contrived. I had high hopes for this book and felt disappointed by the ending (can you tell?)

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Summary: Great escape from reality!
Review: Evans paints a beautiful image of life in Montana. A life filled with nature, animals and simple living. However, no matter how calm life may seem, human nature causes us to make waves, whether in love, family or friendships. This book is no exception as all the characters are so engaging and real that it leaves you asking yourself if you would do the same thing if you were in their situation. Evans captures the characters' feelings quite vividly yet leaves some details out which I was hoping to witness on my own rather than read a third person account, after the fact. All in all, it's a quality novel, perfect for quite nights at home when you're looking to escape reality.

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Summary: Book was a disappointment
Review: This book has a promising title, but the content is that of romance novel that went astray. The ending is a cheating heart and the death of the Horse Whisper what a lame way to end the book. Not only sad but senseless. I give this book a 5 based on the fact I read it to the end but it never panned out its promises of interest.

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Summary: "Black Beauty" Meets "The Bridges of Madison County"
Review: Need I say more

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Summary: Major tear-jerker!!
Review: This book successfully and emotionally uses the capabilities and observations of the horse whisperer as excellent symbolism of what real human life is all about (or should be). It is a fantastic book for horse-lovers, nature-lovers and people who need to become more introspective in life. Loved it!!

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Summary: Rates up there as one of my all time favorites.
Review: This book gripped me right from the start. Reluctantly put it down to go to work. Cannot wait to read further offerings from the author. Moved me to tears at the finale

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Summary: I did not like this book
Review: Is the theme of this book to always act upon your desires? When Annie commits adultry we are told that she feels absolutely no shame or guilt; is that a good thing? She goes to Montanna to "save" her family and after her stay there decides to divorce her husband with the casual thought that her daughter will learn to live with it. This book bothered me on several levels. Annie was a selfish bitch at the start of the book and she basically remained that way at the end. There was no redemption here. And the self-sacrifice of Booker was a quick device to end the book. I think it made no sense whatsoever. I do not recommend this book.

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Summary: Listen and Imagine
Review: This has to be my all time favorite book. I have bought it for all my friends and family and recommend it to everyone. I listened to the book on cassette, and the voice of the reader brought Tom Booker to life in a way I couldn't have imagined. His gentle style and easy manner were given life. The characters are believable and you find yourself believing in miracles and hope again. It explores the bonds of marriage, love, and faithfulness. I couldn't bring myself to initially read the book after it was recommended to me, so I borrowed the audio from our library. I have since purchased and read every single word again.

Rating:
Summary: Good Book!
Review: I enjoyed the book very much. I felt for the horse, the girl, the mother, and the horse whisperer. They were all wonderful characters. My love of children and animals made this book hard to put down. I just had to see how it ended! The book was easy and fast to read and wasn't too complicated. I recommend it