Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah Maslin Nir writes for the New York Times, and has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. She has traveled across the world reporting on everything from exploitive labour practices, to terrorism-sparked kidnappings and the damaging effects of earthquakes. Needless to say, she has seen her share of humanity’s darkest and seediest. Her first novel, however, tackles the exact opposite- the connection between human and horse, and the powerful magic that resides within a horse’s spirit.
“Horse Crazy: The Story of a World and a Woman in Love with an Animal” is not generally a book I would pick up, as I am not typically a non-fiction reader. However, my passion and love for all things horse made this an absolute must-read.
Nir and I are from very different backgrounds. She lived on Park Avenue in New York, had a summer home in the Hamptons, and had two psychiatrists for parents, one who was even featured on Oprah. Clearly, I am on the opposite end of that spectrum. However, I can relate to Nir on at least one very important level- we share a common love and obsession with horses. Nir identifies at the beginning of the novel, when asked “why horses”? she simply answers “because horses”. This was when I knew that Nir and I would get along famously.
“Horse Crazy” has a little bit of everything, it provides a lot of really useful and interesting information on the species of horses, their history, and even their (often mal)treatment over time. Interspersed with snippets of Nir’s background and upbringing (where she attributes her neglect by her parents and half-brothers as one of the main reasons for finding that connection with horses) while hearing first-hand about the handful of horses that have personally changed Nir’s life. All of this helped to form an emotional bond with the story, and with the author herself.
The novel is broken down into chapters but they aren’t numbered, they are simply identified with the name of a horse that entered Nir’s life in some way and changed it. Nir also covers all aspects of horse life, from jumping, to rodeo roping, to New York City Central Park mounted police horses, and everything in between. She is exceptionally thorough in her research, and honest in her telling.
Those who do not hold a strong connection to horses may not find this book entertaining, but it is definitely full of interesting facts and knowledge. I found a kindred spirit in Nir through my life-long obsession and connection with horses. Now unlike Nir, I have never been able to own a horse, but through reading “Horse Crazy”, I feel that Nir lent me some of her four-legged beauties, for the novel’s duration.