Horseplay : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Why Women Love Horses: The Answer's Here
Review: For anyone who has ever loved horses, or wondered why it is women love horses, HORSEPLAY is a must read. Judy Singer's style is fresh and new, and so funny that at times I had tears running down my face. The characters brought back my own not-so-distant stable days, when horses and trainers and competitive riders (and nasty Jack Russell terriers!) in a dusty barn made up the only world that mattered. Especially enjoyable are the relationships between the women and the closeness they develop over time. A German horsetrainer everyone fears and adores, the three Helgas, the phony tea-leaf-reading countess, and of course, the horses, make this world dimensional and real. And I have to say again--the Jack Russell terriers--she got them so right! There's some romance here, but what I loved the most was the women. Hurry up and write another book, Judy!

Rating:
Summary: Contrived
Review: I agree with the review of nakaj1. This was just a so-so book, nothing outstanding. Rather contrived and silly-- I found myself disliking the main character because she didn't really DO anything. The "horsey bits" were interesting and informative. The phonetic spelling of "Churman" accents (et al) got annoying. Not the best, but certainly not the worst. Worth a library read.

Rating:
Summary: A good read? Neigh..........
Review: I am not exactly sure how this book has received so many positive reviews. I think it's safe to leave it on the library shelf unless you will read absolutely anything of an equine nature. For starters, the plot started out as somewhat original and then quickly progressed from predictable to downright ridiculous. Judy leaves her wealthy husband and runs off to become a groom on a horse farm. She then takes an apartment with 3 other women ala Sex in the City commune style. It only got worse from that point on. Judy falls for a wacko neighbor who engages in horse rituals with some sort of coven. She ultimately ends up with a local doctor. Incredibly predicable in nature, poor character development, and bizarre interludes that do not add to the plot of this novel are what I based my 1 star review on. I think that the author should stick to writing horse stories and steer clear of trying to incorporate them into the modern chick lit genre. The two just do not mix. That's just common horse sense!

Rating:
Summary: poorly written
Review: i seem to be the lone dissenter here but i wouldn't recommend this book to anyone unless they were very into horses. sure it's a light read, if by "light" you mean trifling & unbelieveable yet still completely predictable. this book tried way too hard to be click-lit witty &, as a result, all the dialog feels forced & false. plot-wise, there are many absurdist elements yet all of them culminate in trite, predicatable ways. the most compelling parts involved the descriptions of the horses & their personalities, & i'm not even a horse person. perhaps this shows that the author is, since she was clearly more comfortable writing those passages.

Rating:
Summary: Must read for "real" horse fans
Review: Ignore the negative reviews, they are judging this book too critically. Its ment to be humorous and light. Unfortunatly, I believe some of the charm of this book will waisted on those who don't have the life experiances to appriciate it.

It is a must read for "real" equestrians, those who have broken out of the ranks of snooty rich hobbyists and petty social climbers. Those rare few who have access the underworld of the equine kingdoms will be able smile at this book.

Never have I seen my life layed out before me like this in the pages of this book. Every detail is a mirror of my experiances. And for doubters, the strange events of this book are not farfetched. The people I have encountered growing up amungst the secret inner ranks of the kingdoms of equinedom are as colorful and strange, if not more so then the characters of this book. And the experiances I've racked up after only 19 years on this earth are more then most people will have in 2 whole lifetimes. And my list is growing exponentially as I get older and have access to the more exclusive "adult only" areas of equinedom.

Anyone who has lived in the inner circle of the equine world will be able to relate to this book as I have. Despite being a light read, it still brims with charm and insight into the world of the horse and the people that participate. It is sure to rouse a chuckle and a a smile form every horse person of any age.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Judy Reene Singer has written a book to appeal to horse lovers, dog lovers, romance lovers, comic situation lovers...anyone who's ever had a relationship go bad or a horse do something unexpected will LOVE this.

It's a quick and compelling read (I finished it last night in a bout of insomnia). The characters are fully formed, clever and witty without being tiresome, and the plot just zips right along. There's enough honest-to-goodness dressage know-how that serious riders won't get bored (although I'm sure they will quibble a point or three - but isn't that true of any horse-related subject?) and neophytes are given enough to help them understand without being inundated by obscure terms. As others have said, you'll feel sad to finish it, because the women who make up its core (not to mention the horses) are just the sort you'd want to hang out with in real life. I picked this up without much expectation and felt like I'd hit the jackpoint. More, Ms Singer, more!

I am recommending this to my bookclub.

Rating:
Summary: Horseplay
Review: Judy Van Brunt did not just leave her husband, she drove through several states to escape his cheating ways. Although older and slightly heavy, she took a huge risk and became a working student for Kat Rheinboldt, an Olympic contender. Before her new life started, she auditioned on the very temperamental Warm blood Ivan. Even landing on the ground, she impressed Kat enough to take her on.

Judy moved above the boarders' barn with an interesting blend of women, including a teenage daughter. She worked hard and spent many hours in the saddle as the months went by. Despite being a busy woman, she found time to interest a man. However, as time continued, Judy pondered her heart. After all, her first husband cheated on her.

Judy Reene Singer certainly knows the field of horses, writing about the rough but satisfying life. She also manages to find humor in the world, including the fact that most horse people own Jack Russell Terriers. She displays how both level and rank define a person, especially to the wealthy boarders. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, laughing and wondering along with Judy as she struggles with her new life.




Rating:
Summary: A great light horsey read
Review: Loved the lightness and tempo of this book...very easy reading. I'm a horseperson/dressage rider and would have liked even more detail related to the dressage, but realize that would turn some off. THere are some VERY funny moments in this book, but also some very unrealistic ones, but forgiveable. The ending touched me more than I thought it would and was actually very sorry when I was done reading it as it was so enjoyable. The characters are so colorful and defined that I've been having fun casting the movie...Julia Roberts as Judy, Antonio Banderas as the Latin "horse whisperer," etc, etc. I'm looking forward to her next book and hope she keeps it in the horse/dressage world!

Rating:
Summary: Loved It!
Review: This book is a quick read which is disappointing because you will want the book to go on and on. It's funny and the dialogue is witty. It will make you laugh and cry. It's everything a book should be. I only hope Ms. Singer writes a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: excellent horsey farce
Review: This novel is smart, funny and a wonderful light read. I think of it as farce because some of the events that happen are somewhat unlikely, but the setting and the horse activities are very realistic. I enjoyed the various relationships between the women and the very sharp dialog. You don't have to be a horse lover to appreciate it, but anyone who likes horses or Jack Russell Terriers absolutely should read this book.