1 comments about Legacies of the Turf: A Century of Great Thoroughbred Breeders.

1. In Legacies Of The Turf: A Century Of Great Thoroughbred Breeders (Vol. 1), racing historian and expert Edward L. Bown presents the stories of some of the greatest Thoroughbred race horses in history and the often charismatic, powerful, or quirky individuals who supported them. Capitalists, philanthropists, and women working with the bloodlines of champion steeds soon learned that the stellar a few sires and dams dominated racing circuit, and true rivalries between both humans and horses, on and off the race field permeate this fascinating, nicely illustrated, and highly recommended horse racing chronicle.

2 comments about Belmont Park: A Century of Champions.

1. This is a very good value for the (Amazon.com) price. It is a quality production, but it is flawed slightly. Richard Stone Reeves is one of the Greats in the history of Thoroughbred portraiture, without question. However, his recent works are sketchy, lacking in detail, and seem unfinished. Several of the plates betray the fact that that Reeves is either no longer concerned with perfection, or is having difficulty putting paint onto canvas or board now. His earlier works as included in this volume are very good, but the later ones (done during the past five years or so) are more "impressionistic" and sketchy. Boren has written descriptions of the careers of the horses portrayed, and there's nothing new there, just brief summaries familiar to most racing fans. Reeves describes the horses briefly, but his comments are limited mainly to the temperment of the "sitter" ("stander"?) and the races he viewed. These quibbles aside, the book IS very nice. By all means, purchase a copy...it's a great addition to any equine library.



2. Edward L. Bowen, Belmont Park: A Century of Champions (Eclipse Press, 2005)
   
   Richard Stone Reeves is likely to go down in history as the twentieth century's finest chronicler of the Thoroughbred racehorse. Here, Eclipse Press offers us a wide selection of Reeves' paintings, with text by both Reeves and Edward L. Bowen. The portraits themselves, of course, are above reproach; each one is a stunning portrayal of its subject. Where the book too often fails is in the writing.
   
   The main problem with the text is that Reeves himself, while a fine painter, is not all that good a writer. Bowen is, most of the time, but Reeves' comments are often redundant in the face of Bowen's writing, and the end result is a wish that they had been excluded, or at least heavily edited, in order to give more room to Bowen's descriptions of the horses, which are usually abbreviated, the text versions of highlight reels.
   
   The pictures are good, but if you're looking for depth, you might want to head somewhere else. ***

1 comments about Equifacts: The Complete Horse Record Organizer.

1. This book is well organized and easy to manage. It contains information valuable to any horse owner. I liked having all my horse information in one place. It gives you enough space for 5 different equine friends!

5 comments about Sixth Lamentation.

1. I could not put this book down and I really enjoyed how all the loose ends were tied up. This book was excellent! It would be interesting to see a series following this book.



2. This book is out of print but Amazon still found a copy for me. I picked it up because I liked the author's second book enough to go back and read his first. The important thing to understand is that Brodrick is not writing whodunnits. It is not an action/adventure mystery. No doubt I like his writing because I, too, am a lawyer who sometimes wonders about the spiritual aspects of what I do. Brodrick presents us with difficult moral choices and traces the outcome of decisions. The heros are not always as heroic as we think they are and the bad guys may have redeeming virtues just like in real life, and, like in real life, it is difficult to figure it all out. There is a lot of meandering made necessary by the examination of the moral questions. One of the satisfactions of detective fiction is that the bad guys get caught. That usually happens here too. Only for the morally reflective



3. A tale of two readers. My mom liked the book but ended up skimming through the middle. The first time I experienced this story was as a book on CD in the car. I was tortured every time I had to get out of the car. I loved it so much I read the book in print soon after. My only issue was that the story was so rich and deep and intense that it could have easily been a series. It left me wanting more details. I wanted to get more involved with some of the characters, to 'know them' more, 'understand' them more. I bought a copy for 1 cent because I know I'll read it again sometime.



4. The plot of "The 6th Lamentation" is comprised of two intertwined stories. In present-day England, an elderly man escaping persecution seeks sanctuary in Larkwood Priory. Through a document given to him anonymously, a journalist identifies the man as Eduard Schwermann, an SS officer in occupied France during WWII. It is alleged that Schwermann was a war criminal; complicit in the deportation to Auschwitz of Jewish refugees and Jewish French citizens. It later surfaces that the Church may have aided Schwermann and a collaborator in escaping to England after the war. Concerned by how the Church would be perceived by these events, the Vatican orders an investigation, and Father Anselm, a former lawyer who is now a monk at Larkwood, is tasked with discovering the veracity of these allegations as well as the collaborator's present whereabouts.
   
   Meanwhile, an elderly woman, Agnes Embleton, has just been told that she's terminally ill. One day she sees Schwermann's face on the evening news and decides it's time to reveal what she knows about him. She begins to write about her experiences during the war, particularly that of a group called the Round Table. Agnes and other youths in this group were entrusted with the task of smuggling Jewish children out of France to neutral Switzerland. Someone betrayed the Round Table, revealing its existence and its participants to Schwermann. Consequently, the group's members were rounded up and later perished in Auschwitz, but by a stroke of luck, Agnes survived. She passes her writings on to her granddaughter, Lucy, who becomes consumed by a quest for justice on Agnes' behalf.
   
   The writing here is so assured one would think William Brodrick's "The 6th Lamentation" came to being already fully-formed. I was impressed with his intelligent and fluent prose, especially since this was Mr. Brodrick's debut novel. He incorporates history with the lives of his characters so skillfully that I often forgot this was fiction. As it turns out, I later read an interview with the author where he said that his own mother, who'd passed away, was herself part of a group that smuggled Jewish children to safety during the occupation of Holland. Her memory of what the Nazis did remained fresh in her mind until she passed on. The character of Father Anselm could be based on the author himself, he having left the monastery to become a barrister. No doubt those experiences are reflected in the story, making it richer and more personal. Its title, too, is not merely creative but also meaningful. Based on the poems known as the Five Lamentations of Jeremiah, which bemoan the destruction of Jerusalem, the 6th Lamentation, in Mr. Brodrick's interpretation, is the Holocaust.
   
   The story, though, has many threads that one has to patiently follow and comprehend in order to fully appreciate its conclusion. The plot is not linear; constantly moving from past to present and back, however, each chapter is a revelation that brings the reader closer to the truths our protagonists are seeking. By the time the pieces come together, the whole story makes perfect sense, though it requires devoted attention and patience.
   
   One of the things that may bother readers about this is that the first half moves rather slowly, but I believe it was necessary to explore the characters and early events in great depth to grasp the motivations of its characters in the latter half. The resolutions are surprising and most of the conclusions one would naturally make are proven quite wrong. However, there are some coincidences and a few plot contrivances. Notwithstanding, it is an absorbing story that imparts some unexpected nuggets of wisdom, and a commendable first effort.



5. The first half, or so, of T6L was squarely in 5-star territory: very fine writing (esp. for a novel of its genre), terrific pacing, great character development. As the novel wore on, however, I found WB's style of writing a bit too forced and florid; the interweaving storylines increasingly confusing, especially as they converged at the novel's end. On balance, I'd rate this a very decent first novel, and I credit WB for dealing sensitively -- rather than sensationalistically -- with the historical matter at the core of the book. T6L was a quick, easy, and at times thought-provoking read. I'd read WB again.

1 comments about The Competitive Edge III: Gravity, Balance, and Kinetics of the Horse and Rider.

1. Who knew physics could be so interesting? Dr. Gahwyler explains how weight, balance, and gravity affects our riding. This book is an illuminating blend of physics, kinesiology, and dressage!

1 comments about Advanced Techniques of Dressage: An Official Instruction Handbook of the German National Equestrian Federation (German National Equestrian Fed).

1. This book is exactly what it says it is (how very German). It is a handbook that you can use on a daily basis to improve your dressage. In the front there are chapters on such things as a riders duty to the horse, the correct seat, tack and training facilities.
   
   There are then general tips on creating the foundations for dressage and training such as developing lateral bend or forward thrust and then the chapters begin on advanced dressage exercises such as pirouettes, schaukel or flying changes. Each are described in full, there are exercises to improve the quality of each, problems to avoid and special notes for the rider.
   
   An excellent book to have in your library. It's not a barrel of laughs to read but certainly gives you many many exercises to work through and many good tips for improving both your riding and your horse's way of going.

3 comments about Sire Lines, Revised Edition (Blood-Horse Classics Library).

1. The original publication of SIRE LINES made the career of Abram S. Hewitt, establishing his career and authority for horse pedigree followers around the world: this updated edition contains his observations on each of the sires and adds historical insight and notes for modern horse breeders, addressing modern concerns relating to horse breeding and lines. SIRE LINES is not a guide for the novice: it's for the advanced and enthusiastic horseman seeking specific statistics and details on horse breeds, offered up in both charts and text. A solid, detailed reference the horse world can't live without.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. Fantastic work and research on the concerned sire from his foaling, racing till his stud career. Very interesting reading but what I would have liked to know what special traits of his character, confirmation and racing abilities which have been passed down to his progeny; so when I look now at his great grandsons/daughters I can indentify if any of his traits are still are being carried down through his bloodlines. This is completely missing and even his progeny's career achivements have hardly been mentioned. The title is misleading!



3. This book reviews the major Thoroughbred sire lines of the last 100 years. The stories are well-written, and the pedigree info is very useful and accurate.

No comments about The Language of Horse Racing.

No comments about 30 Years On and Off the Box Seat.

No comments about Payday at the Races.