Flying Changes: A Novel
by Sara Gruen
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Book Reviews of Flying Changes: A Novel
Book Review: Good yet annoying ...
Summary: 3 Stars
"Flying Changes" was a quick read that kept me turning the pages despite the fact that it annoyed me. The basic premise of the book was very good and the characters did have true=to=life idiosyncrasies, but I was annoyed by many of them.
First of all, if Eva is irresponsible enough to gallop a one-eyed-horse over frozen ground and try to jump him, then WHY would her mother assume she's responsible enough to compete? Second, as another reviewer pointed out, brindled horses exist (AQHA, mustangs, Pasos) but not in red-and-white stripes.
I will agree with a previous reviewer that Gruen doesn't seem to understand that there's a difference between eventing and jumping. My Arabians and I do double-duty 25-30 mile competitive trail and lower level dressage and THAT is very difficult. I can only imagine the effort and money that goes into Olympic level Grand Prix jumping and 4Star 3 day events. It just isn't realistic. Also, a junior rider would not have to wear a shadbelly and a top hat at a 2 star event.
Gruen made Smoky Joe unrealistic for me as well. I would give a Nokota an outside chance to be an excellent jumper, but to also do Grand Prix dressage maneuvers at 7 years of age wiht minimal training?! AND to jump fourteen foot spreads?! The horse is good at too many things for me to believe it. Also, how would Eva have the timing for 1-tempis and passage if she hasn't had that many dressage lessons?
Speaking of Eva, while painted as a very realstic character, I wanted to smack her. I know of toddlers with better manners and behavior than her. To me, she didn't deserve to compete, train with Nathalie Jenkins or be accepted BACK into her program. She's a spoiled self-centered brat, realistic but still irritating.
Annemarie I could actually tolerate. The owner of the place I board my horses at is a rodent-phobic, so I was mildly amused to see "her" as Annemarie. BTW, my vet also lives in a dilapidated trailer.
Overall, it was a decent read. It was fast-paced, quick reading that actually did make me interested to find out what would happen next, even if I didn't like the characters. I am curious if Gruen will publish more about these characters. Two wishes for this reader, though. 1. Read the USEF rulebook before writing about Olympic level competitions. 2. Eva needs to grow up.
Book Review: Nice Job Sara Gruen!
Summary: 5 Stars
I sometimes have a difficult time allowing myself to read fiction books. The worse part of choosing a book to read is not really knowing a lot about the story or the author or if in fact I will enjoy it. I really picked this book on a whim, after flipping through many.... My hopes weren't that high, that I had actually found something that I would enjoy reading and that would keep my attention.
The other night I took the book with me to a restaurant. I don't really like eating alone, so the book was my companion. I typically have a very hard time remaining focused on reading while in a place full of distractions.... but not with this book. All of a sudden I looked up and my meal had arrived. A strong sign of an engaging relatable story. Although, I should point out that I am a 38 year old, single mother of two girls that has a strong history of horses in my background (like the main character)... so perhaps that makes me biased.
Well, sad to say, I'm about 3/4's of the way through... and I have reached that point... where I want to know how it ends... but don't want it to end. I will definitely try another of Sara's books.
Pleased to meet you Sara Gruen!
Marika Hamilton
[...].
Book Review: Not good
Summary: 2 Stars
Although I don't ride them, I really love horses. For that reason alone, I thought I would enjoy this novel, but I was utterly disappointed. Annemarie, the main character, is such a wimpy, ridiculous person --a 39-year old woman who's still acting as if she were a teenager--that I had trouble caring about anything that happens to her, including the tremendous curb ball she's thrown at the end. Her reaction to her boyfriend's birthday party celebration is just silly; if I were the guy, I would have left to never come back.
But the main problem is that Gruen takes for granted that the reader knows about Annemarie's past. I was baffled by most of the references to her and her horse's injuries, and expected that an explanation would come at some point. It never did. Only after I finished the book, I realized that in a previous novel, Riding Lessons, Gruen wrote about Annemarie. I probably would have to read that book to find out what exactly happened to Annemarie, but I won't bother. Sara Gruen shouldn't expect the reader to do so much work to understand her characters.
Book Review: A Wonderful story woven around horses
Summary: 4 Stars
My friend gave this book for my birthday. We are both avid readers and she knew that I had read Sara Gruen's "Riding Lessons". I really enjoyed that book and I was delighted to receive the sequel, Flying Changes. With eager eyes I sat down that evening and read the book (well almost, I finished it up the following evening). It goes without saying that Ms. Gruen is a wonderful storyteller and she continued that ability in this story. I'm not expert on horses, but I thought that in this book she created a moving story with well crafted settings and high emotions. Annemarie, the single mother, pain is just one example. There are already excellent reviews posted and I won't go into detail and spoil the story for you if you haven't read the book. I will add that I found I could easily relate to the story and the characters. The ending wrapped everything with no loose ends and there's never a dull moment in this moving story.
Book Review: Water for Elephant lover
Summary: 4 Stars
I read Riding Lessons and Flying Changes because I was interested in Sara Gruen's other books after reading Water for Elephants.
As stated in my Riding Lessons review, I can't give these books 5 stars because I'm not a horse person and felt a slight disconnect with the storyline in that area, as well as when she was describing different horse and riding terms that I'm unfamiliar with.
That aside, I loved the characters and got lost in their stories. I read Riding Lessons in less than two days and hungrily craved every chance I could sneak a chapter or two of Flying Changes during busy holiday traveling. The storylines take dips and turns you aren't expecting, all while keeping you right in the character's head and emotions. They're really great stories and like Water for Elephants, ones I'd revisit again in the future when I start to miss the characters, as I sometimes do after great novels.