The Book Nook

Saddle up   Longing for wide open spaces or a time when life was lived at a slower pace?  Then find a comfy spot to settle in with “The Heart of Horses” by Molly Gloss.  This national bestseller takes readers back to 1917 with a poignant and satisfying story about a young woman hoping to tame horses for a living. At the time, horses were not just a mode of transportation, but also crucial for tasks related to agriculture, ranching, hauling and delivery, among other things.  Since they weren’t born knowing how to perform the tasks expected of them, people were needed to train them. Taming horses was not an unusual occupation for women, especially after the U.S. entered into World War I.  The number of men and boys who enlisted created a labor shortage and, as with other wars, women stepped up to fill the gaps. One such task was “gentling” horses, a term and method nineteen-year-old Martha Lessing preferred over “breaking” a horse.  Feeling the use of pain and force to break a horse’s spirit was unnecessarily cruel, her philosophy was that both horse and rider benefited from mutual trust and could back her claims with multiple success stories. We meet Martha when she’s nineteen.  With several years of experience moving cattle and taming horses, she’s decided to saddle up in search of work as winter settles over her home state of Oregon.  She’s well aware that this will be challenging.  Instead of being sought out by people who are familiar with her skills, she’ll need to convince strangers to give her work. One of the first ranchers she meets is George Bliss, who seems skeptical of her abilities.  They strike a deal and he and his wife Louise offer her their guest room until her work is done.  She declines and bunks in the barn, creating a tiny niche in the cramped tack room among the saddles and bridles. The tall, rangy girl joins the couple and their two hired hands for meals, discovering Louise is a kind person eager for female company.  She’s less sure of her footing with George and is concerned about making a good impression.  After joining them for church one Sunday, she’s a little overwhelmed with all the new faces and names, but buoyed by George’s endorsement of her abilities. The next day she rides out with a crude map hoping to convince folks to give her work.  Not everyone is as agreeable as Louise and George, but she’s persistent and hopeful. As Martha gets to know the locals she’s drawn into their lives, taking each person and situation as it comes.  Her size, grace and obvious talent make an impression.  So does her calm handling of an accident that befalls a family.  As she comes to know those in the community, she finds her shyness less problematic and her future less uncertain.  But not everyone is in her corner and trouble lies ahead. One wonderful feature of this book is the capable use of language that gives readers a feel for the times.  The writing is simple, direct and has an easy flow.  While some equestrian-related terms may be unfamiliar, they shouldn’t hinder readers’ enjoyment.  On the other hand, they’ll definitely enhance the horse lover’s reading experience. History lovers are given a nod through the many “mini-stories” woven into the plot.  Gloss provides more than a superficial feeling for what it was like living in the northwestern U.S. during that time.  We’re reminded how slowly news reached people, as newspaper and letters were the main way to get updates.  The author touches on subjects important at the time, such as the effect of intensive wheat farming, or how the advent of cars and farm machinery meant the end of a long-standing way of life.  Her thoughtful presentation style serves to give readers a better sense of the past. Other positive attributes are the uplifting energy and heart-warming storyline that avoids being overly sweet.  We meet engaging characters whose attributes and flaws are trotted out for display, and all are portrayed in a way that signals the author’s perception of human nature.  Martha is not depicted as a “horse-crazy” girl indulging a passing fad but as someone with a deep understanding and love of these noble animals. Gloss excels at showing the wonderful sense of connection that horse lovers will recognize.  This book is sure to reward readers with a convincing tale about the Old West near the end of its glory days.  This this pleasant novel won’t require a lot of your time, giving readers plenty of time to savor it. And as the sun slowly sinks behind the hills, I’ll end by saying “Happy Trails”.