This was an exceptional novel. I truly enjoyed this look at an aging musician. Vlautin has created a compelling and memorable character. This is his best book to date.

This is the first book of Willy Vlautin's that I've read and it did not disappoint. I thought the writing was great. The characters could have been caricatures in less skilled hands, but he imbued them with real humanity. I really would have liked to hear some of Al's songs.

Willy Vlautin has outdone himself in his latest, and now my personal favorite of his, The Horse.
An aging musician and songwriter named Al, living as a recluse, discovers an old and blind horse just outside his door. As he grapples with how to deal with the horse, and how it came to be there in the cold and snow, the author takes us back to Al’s youth, and the people and bands he’s encountered during his life as a musician.
Between the desperation I felt regarding the horse, and the desire to see Al succeed in his career, I could not put this book down, finishing it in a single day!

Another gem from Willy Vlautin. This book is just as enjoyable as his others. His descriptions of his main characters and their thoughts give the reader a picture of who they truly are. You feel as though the author has empathy and understanding for his characters which helps the reader understand better who the character is, what they have been through, giving the reader a chance to feel empathy towards the main character.