Rating: 
Summary: Amazing Vision
Review: To find this subject matter, and to tackle it so brilliantly, readers must credit author Laura Hillenbrand with amazing vision. She has unearthed a point on the American timeline, dating back to the Depression era, which virtually had been forgotten.Yet Hillenbrand's account is so vivid that the reader gets caught up in the excitement of that moment long past. Her research is breath-taking, and her prose is lively and elegant. She tells this story well enough that the book reads like fiction. And, for the span of this account, one truly can understand the frenzy surrounding this racehorse which was so improbable in its success; in fact, the broken-down horse becomes almost a metaphor for the broken-down spirit of the nation in those difficult days. At his height of glory, Seabiscuit was as important to American pop culture as J-Lo and Britney are today. The vision of the book extends to the film. It is rare for movies to equal, or exceed, the books from which they are adapted, but SEABISCUIT is one of the most visually beautiful movies ever made, much to the producer's credit. Take a break from the bad news of the moment and enjoy the history of the horse that had delighted America during those grim days of the Depression.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Dumb compared to my novel
Review: Hey who cares about some stupid biscuit-- Sea or otherwise -- if I were you I'd purchase my novel about the most interesting person who ever lived -- MYSELF! Read MY FRACTURED LIFE, read MY FRACTURED LIFE, read MY FRACTURED LIFE
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Dumb compared to my novel
Review: Hey who care about some stupid biscuit-- Sea or otherwise -- if I were you I'd purchase my novel about the most interesting person who ever lived -- MYSELF! Read MY FRACTURED LIFE, read MY FRACTURED LIFE, read MY FRACTURED LIFE
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary subject matter........
Review: The story of Seabiscuit is a quintessentially American one of come-from-behind, underdog perserverence and triumph. Having seen the PBS documentary (outstanding), the movie (less so), and, finally, having read the book, it's hard to imagine any non-fiction story containing such a classic mix of dramatic ingredients. Laura Hillenbrand, in Seabiscuit: An American Legend, has presented us with a fast-paced, easily consumed rendition of the legendary Seabiscuit which, while providing excitement and suspense, misses the mark just slightly somehow. While she should be highly commended for exhuming this heroic Depression-era tale for a modern-day audience, I can't help but wish that her book would have furnished the true glory and drama such a story deserves. Indeed, as I read, I kept rooting for her to do better. But, so enamoring is the subject matter, I found it eclipsed her attempt to present it. Don't get me wrong. Hillenbrand has written what I consider a solid 4-star book. But, one would think, a story this grand, this enchanting, this utterly wondrous, might to some extent write itself. Seabiscuit: An American Legend fails to inspire a 5-star rating because the horse, the owner, the trainer, and jockey deserve a richer, more eloquent effort. I've added a quadruped to my short-list of heroes, however, and extend Laura Hillenbrand warm thanks.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I have read in years!
Review: How can a previous reviewer say all that it was about was one race after another? Indeed, I don't think he/she was paying much attention. When I started reading this book, it just got better and better. I thought "this is such an interesting story, if I didn't know it was true, it would be an interesting fiction"...but it was true. How this writer was able to capture the feeling of being on a horse's back in a thoroughbred race is absolutely amazing, but you feel like you are in the race riding Seabiscuit. Also, the development of Seabiscuit's personality is very inspiring., i.e., that he when knew his picture was being taken, he held his head in a certain way for best effect. And that he loved to compete and hated to be out-run..., etc. The story of the jockey, Red, and his great courage and determination was not developed as well on screen, as it was in the book. The movie is good, but the book is much better. An excellent writer and an excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: Love, Pride and Devotion
Review: Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand is a wonderfully colorful novel that sweeps through the courses of several different lives. There is the owner, a rich man yet also a man with a void in his soul. There is the jockey, a talented man, but a man with a void in his soul. There is the trainer, an intuitive and almost supernaturally gifted man, but a man who also has a void in his soul. In each other, somehow they are able to fill those voids, and the result is family, belonging, love and loyalty. A truly touching and tear-jurking novel. A drama that is not only funny at times, but one that will also make you think. I also recommend Lucky Monkeys In The Sky by Michele J. Geraldi. It is a novel much different from Seabiscuit, but with similar values and lessons.
Rating: 
Summary: Will the races ever end?
Review: There was so much hype and publicity surrounding this book, I was excited to get my hands on it and find out was everyone was talking about. I started reading, and I was a little dissapointed that the beginning didn't immedietly grab my attention. I kept reading because I heard from a few people that it's a little slow to start. So here I was reading and reading, and waiting for it to get exciting. Pretty soon I had finished the book, and I hadn't discovered the exciting part. The story of seabiscuit is much better suited to a movie, or a story told around a campfire. It just didn't work as a book. The only thing that ever happens to Seabiscuit is that he runs in race after race- he runs in so many races I was sick of it by the end. Nothing significant ever occurs during or between the races, he either wins or looses, and moves on to the next race. I thought that for sure something would have to happen to make this story a bit my dynamic, but the races just keep on coming. I don't know what the American Public saw in this book, but whatever it was, I missed it. Probably because I was drowning in race after race after pointless race...
Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding Book!
Review: I just finished reading Seabiscuit. I had great difficulty putting it down, finishing it in just 4 days. I have a little fondness for horseracing having been to Bay Meadows many times since I was a child. I did not realize there were so many subtle nuances a horse can communicate during a race such as the ears being pinned back (meaning the horse is focused), or the ears turning (meaning the horse is fooling around). I also didn't realize that horses actually stare each other down during the race and can actually break another horse's spirit by beating him. The insights into the minds of horses was probably what I found most fascinating about this book not to mention the great storyline surrounding the rise of Seabiscuit from obscurity. The additional information regarding the minds of horses makes the story all the more richer. Hillenbrand has an easy to read style of writing and you get the impression that it was impossible for the author not to be inspired and moved by the story of Seabiscuit.
Rating:
Summary: A Legendary Horse
Review: In the captivating story Seabiscuit, written by the compelling author Laura Hillenbrand, A half-blind jockey and a small race horse overcome amazing odds to become a legend of the racetrack. This is a great novel because it is a touching story of rooting for the underdog and overcoming amazing odds. Charles Howard, a self made man who climbs to riches by controlling the new booming auto industry, thought the automobile "was the future of America" until his 15 year old son Frankie dies in an automobile accident on his way to go fishing. Later, he went to Tijuana, Mexico perhaps to avoid the grief of his son and his failing marriage and starts getting into horse racing. To get into the sport he needed a trainer so he hires Tom Smith, a lone cowboy living at the racetrack, to start training his horses. Tom then picks out the wild horse Seabiscuit to be the horse to train and race. After seeing the passion of a beaten jockey, he also adds Red Pollard to his race team. Together Red Pollard, Tom, and Seabiscuit overcome great handicaps to become perhaps the greatest known team in the horse racing world.
Rating:
Summary: Exciting Tale of Four Unlikely Heroes
Review: The lives of the historic horse, Seabiscuit, and the people supporting him unfold in this epic tale as they overcome the odds and reach their spectacular goals. Charles Howard, a wealthy man deeply depressed following the death of a beloved son, took a chance on some underestimated talent. Firstly, he discovered an excellent trainer named Tom Smith who was ignored due to his perpetual silence. Together they found an ill treated horse with great potential. Despite his vision problems, Red Pollard proved to be the perfect jockey to soothe the horse's temper. Once training was complete, Seabiscuit proved his worth to millions. It was absolutely spectacular to see how many setbacks (injury, defeat, and unfavorable weather conditions) they encountered and still became known as the greatest racing team of all time. I cannot recall a more trying challange or sweeter success than the ones in which they obtained throughout this exciting tale.
|
