Horsepower: A Memoir

by Annette Israel

Description

He was just an aged Belgian draft horse, left alone in a pasture to live out the remaining days of his twilight years. He spent his time drooling and swishing flies. But one day the old horse stepped out of a wobbly wire fence, and into a new life. He became useful again, as a horse, when he teamed up with the author, who had always wanted a Belgian draft horse. He immediately began to subtly influence her and other people who crossed his path. The horse weighed one ton and was physically show more strong. He was also kind and gentle, with an uncanny manner of getting involved in the lives of the people he met. Through trials and good times, through laughter and tears, this grand old horse conveyed many messages about life. Horsepower - A Memoir; is a true story. It's a passionate, warm and humorous portrayal of an old horse's life as told by his last owner and friend. Richly enveloped in a series of nostalgic flashbacks, you will find yourself laughing and crying, sometimes both on the same page, as you read about his escapades, and ponder your own experiences. show less

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TimBazzett 1,727 reviews

Although HORSEPOWER, Annette Israel's sweet memoir about a beloved horse, is a slight little book, it packs quite an emotional punch. I suspect it might appeal to ordinary people, and not just to the horsey set, or the "horse sect," as Israel calls them, but to pet lovers everywhere who have loved a pet deeply and then, inevitably, had to deal with losing it.

Not too long ago I read another book about a horse named Snowman, a book that climbed all the way up to the NY Times list of bestsellers. But personally, I found the story to be flat and unengaging. Not so with HORSEPOWER. It grabs you because the author, not a professional writer, had so much invested in it. Israel's deep love for horses, and particularly for Ren, a Belgian draft show more horse she kept for five years until his death at the very ripe old age of thirty, is obvious throughout the book.

Her narrative, while sometimes marred by awkward constructions and tortured metaphors, is earnest and sincere, which is what saves it. I'm not a horse person particularly, but I do love animals. Having lost two dearly loved dogs in the past year, I could relate to Israel's story. I'll give it three and three-quarter stars. And will recommend it highly to those who fall into that "horse sect". show less

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