April- Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
Chosen By Nick Average Score 6.0
Meeting on April 5th at John's
![Picture](/uploads/7/7/7/4/7774990/1333780154.jpg)
Laura Hillenbrand tells the story of the horse who became a cultural icon. He didn't look like much. With his smallish stature, knobbly knees, and slightly crooked forelegs, he looked more like a cow pony than a thoroughbred. But looks aren't everything; his quality, an admirer once wrote, "was mostly in his heart". Seabiscuit rose to prominence with the help of an unlikely triumvirate: owner Charles Howard, an automobile baron who once declared that "the day of the horse is past"; trainer Tom Smith, a man who "had cultivated an almost mystical communication with horses"; and jockey Red Pollard, who was down on his luck when he charmed a then-surly horse with his calm demeanour and a sugar cube.
Bookworms' Verdicts
Nick
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Chose the book because he had loved the film, and then loved the book even more than the film. He has no particular love of horses or racing but found this "Boys Own" adventure of the underdog coming through very moving. In beating War Admiral, Seabiscuit won against one of the greatest horses in the States. With all the ups and downs of the horse and the main characters it was a case of truth being stranger than fiction. An excellent story and would find it difficult to understand how people could not be inspired by it.
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9
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Jackie
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Loved the book and found there were moments when Seabiscuit's courage moved her to tears. She has ridden so had some insight into the way a horse's behaviour can be almost human. Tom Smith comes over as a great character. Found it amazing how a horse race could capture the imagination of people all over the USA so that some travelled 1000's of miles to be there. Found all the detail about the life of a jockey fascinating. Also loved the romance between Agnes and Red Pollard. Doesn't often read non-fiction and was not looking forward to the book but was gripped by the story. The book had it all.
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8
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Tony
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Got 4/5ths of the way through then gave up. Found it too repetitive and became bored with it. Was interested at the beginning but then got bogged down. Just did not find the book interesting.
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4
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Lisa
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Not had time to read. Still working through "Snow Falling on Cedars"
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Matt
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A friend who is into horses read it and enthused about the book so was looking forward to reading it. Found the beginning of the book where the scene was being set, to be the most interesting part. Although "into" sport did not find the world of horse racing appealing. Can't see what people see in the book. There didn't seem to be much of a story but having no experience of horses may have been a factor in the lack of enjoyment. The book was an easy read so did finish it.
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5
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John
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As a book, found it to be well researched and well put together but over detailed. Thought the intro biographical bits to be overdone and did not want to know all the details of a jockey's life. It took 106 pages to set the scene, however the style was very pacey and carried me along. As a story about sporting achievement, the courage of man and horse and the relationship between them, the book was very well done and fascinating. Also it was an epic tale of of victory against the odds: the ability of Pollard to overcome dreadful injury and still ride with skill and daring; the enigmatic genius of Smith who found ways to get the best out of the horse; the generous optimism of Howard; the battle between East and West; the many setbacks overcome, all these combined to make it a very good read.
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7
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Sarah
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By email: I read up to page
180 on Seabiscuit but am afraid that I just couldn't face anymore. I
thought that the horse seemed a real character and I did start reading faster
when a race was being described, just the way a commentator talks faster as the
race gets more exciting. However, for me reading is about enjoyment and
this just isn't my sort of book, I just couldn't bring myself to read
anymore.
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4
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Marilyn
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By email: I must admit I did
not finish the book. I didn't really get into it. I struggled for
almost half of it, but then decided life was too short to continue
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Angela
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I had given up on Seabiscuit but watched the DVD - which I thought was pretty good; it is after all a good story, just the book made it all sound rather tedious !
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Ceri
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By Email: I have just about finished reading Seabiscuit.
It was not an easy read, but I feel a little more knowledgeable now about the period of horseracing from the 1930s. Some of what I read was astonishing (accounts of severe 'reducing' by jockeys, Tom Smith's training methods, fouling by jockeys in the days before filming became standard and hearing about how the horses were desperate to run). Other parts were far too factual and information heavy, especially when the information was concerning such fine details about particular horses. I would not say that it captured me, or that I could not put it down. Rather, each reading was like a 'workout' that the horses had to complete for their training. Is that what the author intended? I was surprised that a woman had written such a book, too. I did reach the stage when the build-up to the races and the actual race events were almost too tense and cruel. I have always felt sympathy for the unfortunate ones in a competition. In a strange way I also felt an empathy with the 'Howards Team' when Seabiscuit picked up injuries and had to go through rehabilitation etc. as I feel like 'a 'runner retired through injury' myself and there is a big question mark over whether I will ever compete again! By the end, I felt sorry for Seabiscuit but terribly sorry for Red Pollard- I think he went through such terrible times, especially when his weight dropped to 86 lbs, which I worked out to be 6 stone 2 lbs. |
5
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