The Hearts of Horses

A Novel

By: Molly Gloss

Narrated by: Renée Raudman

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

In the winter of 1917, a big-boned young woman shows up at George Bliss's doorstep. She's looking for a job breaking horses, and he hires her on. Many of his regular hands are off fighting the war, and he glimpses, beneath her showy rodeo garb, a shy but strong-willed girl with a serious knowledge of horses.

So begins the irresistible tale of 19-year-old Martha Lessen, a female horse whisperer trying to make a go of it in a man's world. It was thought that the only way to break a horse was to buck the wild out of it, and broken ribs and tough falls just went with the job. But over several long, hard winter months, many of the townsfolk in this remote county of eastern Oregon witness Martha's way of talking in low, sweet tones to horses believed beyond repair---and getting miraculous, almost immediate results---and she thereby earns a place of respect in the community.

Along the way, Martha helps a family save their horses when their wagon slides into a ravine. She gentles a horse for a dying man---a last gift to his young son. She clashes with a hired hand who is abusing horses in unspeakable ways. Soon, despite her best efforts to remain aloof and detached, she comes to feel enveloped by a sense of community and family that she's never had before.

With the elegant sweetness of Plainsong and a pitch-perfect sense of western life reminiscent of Annie Dillard, The Hearts of Horses is a remarkable story about how people and animals make connections and touch each other's lives in the most unexpected and profound ways.

©2007 Molly Gloss (P)2009 Tantor

sad for it to end

this was a wonderful romantic old book that any horse lover would get caught up in. I really enjoyed it and was sad for it to end.

Excellent for a Reading Club

I was attracted to this book because I am an Oregon native and the setting is Eastern Oregon during World War One. Although "Elwha County" is a fictional location, the descriptions of the Northeastern part of my state are vivid and true. I became very attached to horse whisperer, Martha, and loved the voice given to her by Renee Raudman. I believe this would make a great reading group selection because there are so many metaphors and so much interesting symbolism in the book.
I've listened to maybe 40 audio books and The Hearts of Horses is one of the top 5.

A book for horse lovers

I thoroughly enjoyed this book... until the end. Great story that was an easy read. The ending didn't tie off the book and felt rushed and uncharacteristic of the people you get to know in the beginning.

GREAT BOOK!!!

This book was great. It captured me from the very beginning and held me right to the end. I hated to turn it off. I love the innocence that Martha Lessons seemed to carry throughout the entire story. I wish I could find more stories like this one. ❤️❤️❤️

Early 20th century piece about a woman being true to herself, amazing

I love this book, it is a straightforward book about a young woman who still wants to be a woman, but wants to be her own kind of woman. She was a tremendous character and I enjoyed her so much. Loving horses all my life I truly understood how much she love them and also why she wanted to make them do what was right so that they had good manners and people would want to be around them. I think it’s one of the truest portrayals of Tough love and Goodcents mixed with humor and life’s pathos that I’ve ever read. It is a wise piece in a world where everyone thinks they have gender identity issues and they are unfortunate. You don’t have to be a homosexual to be a strong woman. You don’t have to be anything to be yourself. To quote a line from an Orphan X novel that says it best, “be yourself, because who else can you be?“. That’s how I see this book. A young woman in a time when women were beginning to really be strong and open about being who they were and not Who everyone else thought they should be. Thank you Miss gloss, the portrayal of the community spirit and the true life way that people live life and interact with each other in the country was phenomenal.

GREAT STORY FOR HORSE LOVERS

What did you love best about The Hearts of Horses?

TIPS ON TRAINING IN THE CONTEXT OF A GOOD STORY

Any additional comments?

AS A HORSE LOVER, I JUST LOVED THE STORY OF A PERSON WHO KNOWS HOW TO TREAT A BELOVED ANIMAL. I APPRECIATED THE STORY, HISTORY, TRAINING INFO . . . . . . LOVED IT ALL!

Fascinating story of woman training horses during WWI

If you’re interested in horses, stories about women, Americana from the “Great War,” or just good historical fiction, this is the book for you. A cross between Jane Smiley and John Steinbeck, this is a hidden gem of American literature.

Wonderful Story

A throughly entertaining book. I could not wait to listen. I wish it had been twice as long. A very good mix of history and fiction. You get involved in the characters lives as if they are your neighbors and friends. My only complaint is the ending seemed very rushed. It did not flow with the pace of the rest of the book. It was as if the author had alot more story to tell but was told to wrap it up quickly and did so. Their could have been so much more to this already wonderful book.

Must get if you love horses

What made the experience of listening to The Hearts of Horses the most enjoyable?

The story was wonderful from start to end....

Which scene was your favorite?

The end, it just was heart warming.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Warm hearted hirsesjuat love it and I'm looking for other like this book...

Interesting

A neat novel based in the past. A good western rustic romantic book. Not so much lovey dovey but in a matter of fact and Life