Painted Horses

Publisher's Summary

In the mid-1950s, America was flush with prosperity and saw an unbroken line of progress clear to the horizon, while the West was still very much wild. In this ambitious, incandescent debut, Malcolm Brooks animates that time and untamed landscape in a tale of the modern and the ancient, of love and fate, and of heritage threatened by progress.

Catherine Lemay is a young archaeologist on her way to Montana with a huge task before her - a canyon "as deep as the devil's own appetites." Working ahead of a major dam project, she has one summer to prove that nothing of historical value will be lost in the flood. From the moment she arrives, nothing is familiar - the vastness of the canyon itself mocks the contained, artifact-rich digs in post-Blitz London where she cut her teeth. And then there's John H, a former mustanger and veteran of the US Army's last mounted cavalry campaign, living a fugitive life in the canyon. John H inspires Catherine to see beauty in the stark landscape, and her heart opens to more than just the vanished past.

Painted Horses sends a dauntless young woman on a heroic quest, sings a love song to the horseman's vanishing way of life, and reminds us that love and ambition, tradition and the future, often make strange bedfellows. It establishes Malcolm Brooks as an extraordinary new talent.

©2014 Malcolm Brooks (P)2014 Blackstone Audio

Beautifully written

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It's a modern day western. While I don't usually read westerns, this book came highly recommended by the Arizona Republic. I liked the story line of city girl vs. cowboy.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Catherine! She's smart, educated, driven and stubborn. .

What about Julia Whelan’s performance did you like?

She did a good job of capturing the feel of the cowboys-this is an interesting talent for a woman to read a male cowboy's voice :-)

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved John H.

Any additional comments?

I must admit that I didn't like the ending. I won't spoil it for anyone because I really enjoyed the book-just not the ending.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Painted Horses Triumphs

Would you listen to Painted Horses again? Why?

This story sweeps across continents and time, with characters that are crisp, flawed and engaging. I loved every minute of it

What other book might you compare Painted Horses to and why?

Think Lonesome Dove, with a true love story at the centre of things.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I loved this book

Would you listen to Painted Horses again? Why?

I am not going into the correctness of the writing... I just know what I like... I read lots of books or listen in this case. I thought the book started out to be a good book and that was really all I expected but soon I realized it was not a good book, it was a great book. I loved darn near every minute of it!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Painted Horses?

Too many to name one.

Which scene was your favorite?

Again, many great ones.

Who was the most memorable character of Painted Horses and why?

John H. for me.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I liked it

I was really hoping for a different ending but maybe there will be another book

cant get through it, better to maybe read

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I'm having a hard time staying interested. It might be one better suited to just reading. I get bored though I do love the imagery of the Montana wilderness. I've listened to the reader before too, for the most part like her but all her male voices tend to sound the same and lack much excitement.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I cant get there, I get bored. was going to scan forward a lot like skimming pages but I hit my kindle button by mistake and got put back at page one. don't think I care enough to get back to the story.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

too slow. she does great with the imagery of it, but the conversations need to be spiced up.

Any additional comments?

think im returning it for another story that will better hold my interest. sad, because I love horses and westerns, and really wanted to enjoy this.