Helpful Score: 3
Not what I was expecting. For some reason, both the cover of the book and the inside flap lead me to believe that this was a book very much in the vein of Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards. But for me, it very much missed that mark.
In another long line of women trying to find themselves type of book, Jones a freelance writer, goes to the Wind River Indian Reservation to meet the enigmatic Stanford Addison. Though he is wheelchair bound he guides others to gentle horses and claims that he can heal damaged humans. Well, of course, a woman trying to find herself is drawn to that and so Jones' story begins.
Not that this is a bad story, but when you were expecting something else it just sits wrong with you wrong. Next time I will do a little more research before I pick out another book.
In another long line of women trying to find themselves type of book, Jones a freelance writer, goes to the Wind River Indian Reservation to meet the enigmatic Stanford Addison. Though he is wheelchair bound he guides others to gentle horses and claims that he can heal damaged humans. Well, of course, a woman trying to find herself is drawn to that and so Jones' story begins.
Not that this is a bad story, but when you were expecting something else it just sits wrong with you wrong. Next time I will do a little more research before I pick out another book.
Helpful Score: 1
Lisa Jones went on a four day magazine assignment to the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. A Northern Arapaho, also quadriplegic, is heard to have the gift of breaking a horse without force. But not only breaking horses is his gift. He's rumored to be able to heal people, spiritually and physically.
Stanford Addison spent his young life dealing drugs, romancing the girls, having a party time -- until one fateful tragic night. Waking up quadriplegic, Stanford tried to adjust to his new life, but with the loss of his limbs came a new gift. A gift of spirit, of healing. Stanford was so shocked and scared of these gifts, he tried to end his own life. But he didn't, and now he breaks horses from his wheelchair, and helps others find peace within.
Lisa kept going back to the reservation for over four years. She learned Stanfords life over time, he never told it one sitting. She became to know him, and as she did, she shares her own tragic story. But as time moves forward, Lisa's own life is changed, by Stanford, the Reservation, it's people, and her perspective. A moving novel that will grab you from the first page.
Lisa writes in a blunt fashion that I found refreshing and yet fascinating. There is no bandaid to rip off, what you see is what you get. The way she weaves Stanford's story and hers together is easy for the reader to understand and invest the reader emotionally. Broken is Ms. Jones debut novel and she has written a beautiful and haunting memoir that will stay with the reader for days to come.
Stanford Addison spent his young life dealing drugs, romancing the girls, having a party time -- until one fateful tragic night. Waking up quadriplegic, Stanford tried to adjust to his new life, but with the loss of his limbs came a new gift. A gift of spirit, of healing. Stanford was so shocked and scared of these gifts, he tried to end his own life. But he didn't, and now he breaks horses from his wheelchair, and helps others find peace within.
Lisa kept going back to the reservation for over four years. She learned Stanfords life over time, he never told it one sitting. She became to know him, and as she did, she shares her own tragic story. But as time moves forward, Lisa's own life is changed, by Stanford, the Reservation, it's people, and her perspective. A moving novel that will grab you from the first page.
Lisa writes in a blunt fashion that I found refreshing and yet fascinating. There is no bandaid to rip off, what you see is what you get. The way she weaves Stanford's story and hers together is easy for the reader to understand and invest the reader emotionally. Broken is Ms. Jones debut novel and she has written a beautiful and haunting memoir that will stay with the reader for days to come.
While I loved the book, and could hardly put it down, the author did not talked about his methods of gentling horses rather than breaking them from his wheelchair. This is more a story of how she was healed thru friendship and her experiences on the reservation. Spiritually a wealthy book.
While parts of this book were interesting, it was very hard to read of how they broke horses. Also, some things you read and can never forget. One story in here about an ignorant person and the ignorant people around him urging him on as he attempted to geld a horse. Stating over and over it was not working when it was discovered that he was attempting this with a very dull knife but had gone past the point of being able to stop the "operation". Just reading about the poor horse's repeated heavy groans while this idiot hacked away at him. Just too much for this horse lover to read.
