Rating: 
Summary: Love the horse! Love the people! Love the writing!
Review: To the people already working on a film from this book: STOP! There's no way a movie can be as good as the book. Seabiscuit is as superb as entertainment can be.It was extraordinary serendipity that brought the right owner, trainer and jockey together to unleash the champion in Seabiscuit. The same benevolent fate brought Laura Hillenbrand to her subject and her wonderful book to us. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand is an extraordinary pairing of subject and style. Hillenbrand writes in cadences that imitate the rhythms of the thoroughbred horses she loves. Sometimes gamboling, sometimes cantering, then galloping and thundering to smashing climaxes. Her descriptions of races will make you want to rise from your seat and shout. Her reports of loses and calamities are equally charged, but never syrupy. The chapter on the match race with War Admiral is magnificent. A model of perfect writing. It is almost like a film. It begins with extended scenes of race preparation and the actions of several characters. As the event approaches the scenes grow shorter and the momentum more concentrated. Hillenbrand shifts from crowd scenes to close-ups which lend emotional impact as she builds suspense. For the race itself Hillenbrand unleashes her most descriptive writing-short sentences full of color and energy. And if you don't already know who won (as I did) the suspense is deliciously unbearable. Then, she de-accelerates, restores peace and finishes up with a grace note that will put a lump in your throat if there isn't one already there. Whole movies, whole novels even, don't pack the punch and exercise emotions the way this one chapter does. Along with the magnificent horse we also three fascinating men: flamboyant and sentimental owner C.H. Howard, impulsive and intellectual jockey Red Pollard, reticent and sly trainer Tom Smith. They and their wives are good people you will enjoy spending time with as you read and will remember them fondly after you are finished.
Rating: 
Summary: Sea Biscuit: An American Legend
Review: As a native of the city Bay Meadows is locted in, I couldn't wait to listen to this story on audio tape. It was recommend by two people. The music teacher at Hillsdale High School and my daughter who absolutely couldn't put the book down. Both people recommended the book highly. I was eager to read the book because my Aunt, Texana Cullen Guidry Sisson was a cook for the Kine family, early owners or top management at Bay Meadows and my mother did laundry for the many Black grooms who came to the track in the late 30's and early 40's, Laundry's would not do Black people's clothes in many instances. I got the book and was absolutely anxious and excited to listen to it until the reader said and repeated several times that the racetrack was just 10 miles from Tanforan which was located in San Bruno. For the rest of the book he indicated that the track was located in San Francisco. The track, which will be torn down soon is located in the city I have had the pleasure of being Mayor in and that city is San Mateo, CA. Other than that the book was wonderful. I wish I had gotten an unabridged version. I would have given the book a 5 rating, but placing the track in San Francisco rather than San Mateo, tore my heart out. Other than that the book was wonderful. Each mention of San Francisco was like sctatching on a black board. Ugh! Claire Mack
Rating:
Summary: Great Suspense
Review: Even though you know at the beginning who won, the description of the big race, plus many others, had me sitting on the edge. Great writing and wonderful subject!!
Rating:
Summary: As long as you don't hate animals, you will love this book!
Review: In addition to being a "ripping yarn", this book is a delightful social history, beautifully written and heart-warming. I can't imagine anyone who has ever had any kind of relationship with an animal not loving the story of the little racehorse, even if it was only a pony ride at the carnival.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Read
Review: Buy the book. You won't regret it. It was a great read and quite heart rending. You'll love this horse.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional
Review: This book ignited a passion in me for Thoroughbred racing. I knew very little about the sport as I cracked the first page but felt like a scholar when I closed this magnificent book. I could hear the announcers of the Great Depression as Seabiscuits' hooves pounded the turf........the feeling was amazing
Rating:
Summary: Best Book of the Year!!
Review: I absolutely loved this book. It was interesting to get to know the players (owner, trainer, & jockey) but it was even more interesting to get inside the heads of the horses. I always knew they were smarter than given credit for. I read each race while sitting on the edge of my seat. I wept when Seabiscuit lost and I wept when he won. When he and War Admiral finally raced I was filled with anticipation - I felt like I was there watching it myself. What a beautifully written book. You do not have be a racing fan to enjoy this book but you will be a fan afterwards!
Rating:
Summary: The Little Horse That Could . . . With Expert Help
Review: Before I read Laura Hillenbrand's outstanding SEABISCUIT, I knew nothing about professional horse-racing and thought that "C'mon, Seabiscuit" was just an irrelevant cliche from the past, like "23 Skidoo" or "Solid, Jackson!" But this marvelously researched and even more marvelously told account of a "runty" horse's rise to national fame is, to me, the very best nonfiction book this year, and I don't expect to find better any time soon. It's hard to paraphrase SEABISCUIT without lapsing into cliches; but truly the horse was the exquisite result of just the right combination of a wealthy owner, an intuitive and risk-taking trainer, a nervy and talented jockey, an intriguing bloodline, and the social/political context of America during the twilight of the Great Depression. At one time "Seabiscuit" had better name recognition than Fascist dictators and royalty--I doubt even today's media-obsessed society could be so preoccupied with one athlete, human or equine. Compelling is the word for this book. Through Hillenbrand's outstanding narrative the reader will, along the way, effortlessly aquire much of the technical vocabulary of horse-racing and an understanding of how it has fascinated for millenia and still fascinates. I'm not kidding--I couldn't put SEABISCUIT down. What a tremendous book!
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent book
Review: If you're a racing fan read this book. If you're not a racing fan read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Story-Telling, Fantastic Read!!
Review: I got this book as a Christmas present and, frankly, wasn't all THAT excited to read it (shhhhh, don't tell my husband)! I had never heard of the author nor anything about the book. I love horses, but am really on the fence (har har) about horse racing. A book that dealt with the dubious sport was not top on my list. So, it sat and gathered dust for several months before guilt made me pick it up and give it a try before I donated it to the library. Well, I almost missed out on the most well-written book I have had the pleasure to read! I loved it so much that, when I lost my 1/2 finished copy on a business trip, I couldn't wait until my replacement copy arrived!! All of the characters, human and animal alike, are so well developed that you feel as if you know them and you REALLY care about them. I would consider myself a "quiet" reader, but I found myself laughing, gasping or crying out loud frequently; that is how involving this story is! When I put the book down for the last time, I felt as if I was saying goodbye to some very, very, very dear friends! Thank you, Laura Hillenbrand, for such an awesome book! Please, please, please write more!!
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