.:EQUUS:.

Now this book has taken me awhile to get through.  That is solely due to a list a mile long of things I need to do (as opposed to want to!) and a lack of hours!  I received Belladonna by Mary Finn in the post at the same time as Ghetto Cowboy.

I absolutely love the unique subject matter that this story is worked around.  A fan of the anatomical equine paintings of George Stubbs, Finn has created a wonderful story that weaves English and French history of the 1700s in amongst the lives of a 15 year old English boy and the young French girl that he stumbles across.

Going by the name of Ling, the young French girl is in dangerous territory in the town of Horkstow, England at a time when the French and English are at war.  She is desperately searching for her beloved Belladonna, a white mare with a mane and tail the colour of barley.

Finn writes in such a way that the reader is able to imagine what the characters look like, can picture the countryside and the incredible events that befall the pair.  A more in depth review can be found as usual with my other reviews at Suite101.

Author: Mary Finn
Fiction: Historical, 11 years and up
In my library? A resounding yes.  I really enjoyed this novel, finding it a delight to read and an incredible telling of how the works of George Stubbs could have come about.

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Mary Finn, Belladonna

So I must say, these are the first young children’s books that I’ve received in the mail to review - and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them and looking at the pictures! 

I was kindly sent along the first in the series, Quincy Finds a New Home, which was released in 2009 as well as Quincy Moves to the Desert, a 2011 release.

Aimed at 4 - 9 year olds, these stories are interesting, educational and with some gorgeous illustrations by Michelle Black.

Having a nephew that is almost two, I can definitely imagine reading these books to him when he’s a little older and later down the track, can see him delighting in being able to read them by himself!

Quincy Finds a New Home provides children with the important message that to be loved and be a friend is all that is ever needed.  Quincy Moves to the Desert educates kids about some of the states in the USA, as well as variations within horse breeds, how they look different and are made for different jobs or disciplines.

Both books are around 40 pages in length and tell a simple story from the point of view of Quincy, the ‘little read horse with a coat the colour of a new penny’.  A more in depth review can be found along with my other articles at Suite101.

Author: Camille Matthews
Fiction: 4 - 9 year olds
In my library? Definitely!  I’m delighted to be able to have some stories for younger children that will encourage a love for reading and horses.

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Camille Matthews, Michelle Black, Quincy Finds a New Home, Quincy Moves to the Desert

So!

In the mail this week I’ve received two books that I’ll get read and reviewed as soon as possible.  They are:

• Ghetto Cowboy, G. Neri
• Belladonna, Mary Finn

I’m very much looking forward to reading these and wish I didn’t have to juggle doing so around work / study / house stuff!  But, there’s always time for a good horse book, right?

I’ve also received an email from Camille Matthews and should be receiving in the mail in the near future a couple of childrens horse books that are part of the Quincy series.  Stay tuned!

A month or so back I was catching up with a friend who was visiting from interstate and as we were having a coffee and a chat, she handed over a book that she’d bought for me.  Only a short story, the book was made up of two things that are very important to me - horses and faith.

Needless to say, it didn’t take me long to get stuck into this analogy that compares the life of a horse confined within a dark and foreboding stall, with the bondage that people can live in on account of fear and past hurts.

Author Danielle Silvestri does a wonderful job of detailing how Christ in our lives can result in the key being found for the locked stall and freedom being offered.

Quite short in length, Dancing Hooves is a great read that will help to open the eyes of those suffering from being trapped within their own fear and bondage.  For the horse lover especially, this analogy may touch a cord with regards to oneself of another in your life.

A more detailed review that I have written can be found amongst my articles at Suite101.

Author: Danielle Silvestri
Fiction
In my library? Definitely.  A great read and a wonderful analogy containing the most beautiful of creatures that should always be running free.

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Danielle Silvestri, Dancing Hooves

So!  This morning I finished this wonderful book that had been sent to me by Gigi to review.  I’ve very much enjoyed reading Chancey of the Maury River, finding the story to be delightful, interesting, showing depth and entertaining for any equine enthusiast.

Gigi tells the tale of the outcast albino Appaloosa gelding, Chancey and his years in a riding school.  A dependable horse, Chancey is often overlooked and never appears to be a favourite to any of the rider’s he so dutifully teaches the basics of horse riding to.

Years progress and as the albino gelding finds himself in the latter stages of life, he starts to question if he’ll ever be the extraordinary horse that his dam predicted when he was a young colt at her side.

Being pale in coat and skin colour, Chancey is at risk of health issues that other pigmented horses are not.  As his age progresses, so does wear and tear on his body.  His dependability however, does not diminish.  If anything it increases as it is consistently put to the test.

A tale of second chances, trail rides and a love of the blue mountains and great outdoors, Chancey was a delight to read and will no doubt be the same for future readers.

Author: Gigi Amateau
http://www.gigiamateau.com/
Fiction
In my library? Absolutely!  This is a wonderful novel that due to being told from the point of view of the main equine character, reads like Black Beauty.  A charming read that would have any young horse lover addicted.

“Whoever said that money cannot buy happiness didn’t know where to buy a horse.”

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Gigi Amateau