Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Not sure why I didn't get to this book sooner...but glad I finally did! I listened to it and that was a treat.  A great audiobook, with several readers.

There were parts of the book that seemed a bit contrived, but so much of the story was derived from fact.  In order to make the book not just about race as in horse racing, but race, as in racial issues, she did add some storyline that was relevant to the current times.  She even brought in the Trump presidency, COVID and George Floyd (although not mentioned by name.)

I especially liked the parts devoted to the character Martha Jackson, a real person from my hometown of Buffalo, who was an art collector and dealer and friend of Jackson Pollock. I wonder if that connection is in part responsible for the Pollocks at the Albright Knox Art Gallery!

I liked the way she linked present and past and how she made so many of the characters come alive.

Overall, a very enjoyable and important work of fiction.

The stolen Child by Ann Hood

 From Kirkus:  A well-crafted, fast-paced story about how a single encounter can shape a person’s whole life.

The story jumps around from a trench in WWI to the 1970s.  Nick, an American soldier in France, is given two parcels by a woman artist. One is some paintings she has done, and the other is a baby!

He keeps the paintings but leaves the baby and is forever haunted by this.  Years later, ill with cancer, he returns to France to try to find out what happened to the child.

He brings along Jenny, a local girl (who gave up HER child for adoption) to help him with this task, since he is sick.  Their adventures are mingled with those of an Italian craftsman, Enzo. Eventually their paths meet up, and the mystery is revealed.  Lots of drama in between.

But I really enjoyed reading this book!

Blue Ruin by Hari Kunzru

I listened to this book on my walks and the narration was by the author, so very good.  However, I feel like I would have gotten more out of the book had I read the words on paper.  I am not sure why, but perhaps because it is a very deep book.  I enjoyed it and appreciated its messages, but it was dark!

Here are some of the ideas explored in the book, as written in Kirkus:

...the novel is a study of the complications of art, money, and identity. Is Rob more free as an artist for having access to wealthy patrons? Does Jay have more integrity for sabotaging his art world prospects? And why do muses like Alice absorb so much abuse up on that pedestal?