Under a Different Sky

Rating:
Summary: new twist on very old theme
Review: Although at times, the story strained credibility, the first chapter was written so gorgeously and flawlessly, that I stuck with it to the end.

It strongly reminded me of "One On One" by Tabitha King, only that book I would describe as R-rated. Both were similar, however: delinquent, wild child girl with artistic aspirations meets nice sensible boy who's trying to find an escape hatch to progress beyond his humble origins. While I felt the author did a good job with Ben, at times I felt that she didn't have any more of a handle on Lara than the Lara character herself did. Though this may, of course, been intentional.

A few things bothered me: Was it really necessary to make such a point of saying that Ben had no tack? Nothing in the way she presented the riding school people led me to believe that they would care if he simply borrowed some (surely they need it for the riders without their own mounts?) Nitpicking? Perhaps.

Also I wish the writer had bothered to nail down what time period this story took place in. Going on the clothing and speaking style, I assumed it was in the present, and (guess I'm getting really nitpicky) I couldn't figure out why Lara wouldn't use the Internet to track down her birth mother.

Then and again, I think way too much about these things, and I liked the book.

Rating:
Summary: beautiful
Review: I picked up this book on a spontaneous library visit, and I read it in one day. I was completely awed by the character of Lara McGrath... I saw myself in her and everything she did. Ben was noble to fall in love with someone like her, who is so hard to love. But "Under a Different Sky" gave me hope that people like Lara and I aren't in fact hateful creatures. We are people that can be loved.

Rating:
Summary: Under A Different Sky
Review: Is a great book. I felt connected to it oddly enough. Savage writes in with such good description and feeling yet it feels like your always missing one little detail. I felt as if I knew who Lara and Ben were and how they looked, even though the author gave vague descriptions. I have never read a book like this and I think it is truly wonderful

Rating:
Summary: Hackneyed and lacking in credibility
Review: My 13-year-old daughter and I often read books aloud. Both horse lovers, we started on this one with pretty high hopes, but disappointment set in before we finished chapter one. The author clearly knows little about real horses and riding. The whole idea that some lad could watch a couple of videos and from them learn competition-level dressage riding, even though he lacks a saddle and proper arena, is utter nonsense. His "being at one" with his stallion hints [badly] at the erotically horrific (but masterly) "Equus" (Peter Schafer)...or maybe it's just very purple prose. The whole idea that boy and horse think in unison seems pretty dodgy. At the end of chapter one, without mentioning my own reservations, I asked my daughter what she thought. "It's pretty over the top and not very realistic is it? Let's read something else." I guess that about sums it up. (We did try chapter 2, but won't go beyond it; the book doesn't get better. That said, some of the early dialogue is fairly well written...)

Rating:
Summary: Hackneyed and lacking in credibility
Review: My 13-year-old daughter and I often read books aloud. Both horse lovers, we started on this one with pretty high hopes, but disappointment set in before we finished chapter one. The author clearly knows little about real horses and riding. The whole idea that some lad could watch a couple of videos and from them learn competition-level dressage riding, even though he lacks a saddle and proper arena, is utter nonsense. His "being at one" with his stallion hints [badly] at the erotically horrific (but masterly) "Equus" (Peter Schafer)...or maybe it's just very purple prose. The whole idea that boy and horse think in unison seems pretty dodgy. At the end of chapter one, without mentioning my own reservations, I asked my daughter what she thought. "It's pretty over the top and not very realistic is it? Let's read something else." I guess that about sums it up. (We did try chapter 2, but won't go beyond it; the book doesn't get better. That said, some of the early dialogue is fairly well written...)

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: This book, the first I have read by Deborah Savage is one of the most beautiful, touching stories I have ever read, and trust me, there have been ALOT of books I have read.
The characters, are lovely and rather enjoyable. Even Lara, who is extremely complicated in so many ways.
My favorite character was Ben, who I think is a lot like me (even though I HATE horses).
Unlike a lot of books these days, Savage ends this story in no way disturbing or questionable. When you finally put it down, you feel refreshed and like you actually KNEW the characters. I love this book. That's exactly why I gave it 5 stars.