A female horse whisperer finds her place among the ranchers of WWI-era Oregon in this heartwarming historical Western with “its own unique pleasures” (Publishers Weekly). In the winter of 1917, nineteen-year-old Martha Lessen saddles her horses and heads for a remote county in eastern Oregon, looking for work “gentling” wild horses. She finds employment with the rancher George Bliss, whose … rancher George Bliss, whose regular ranch hands are overseas fighting World War I. George glimpses, beneath Martha’s showy rodeo garb, a shy but strong-willed girl with a serious knowledge of horses.
So begins the irresistible tale of a young woman determined to claim her place in a man’s world. Over the course of several long, hard winter months, many of the townsfolk witness Martha talking in low, sweet tones to horses believed beyond repair–and getting miraculous, almost immediate results. It’s with this gift that she earns their respect, and a chance to make herself a home.
more
This was a different take on the west. I found it inspirational.
Surrounds you with another world, both the physical setting and the indelible characters and communities.
Wonderful juxtaposition of the frontier West and World War I.
One of my all-time favorite books.
A wonderful story , well written and based on the history of the American West around the time of WW1. Aside from an interesting story and great female central character , it depicts the era of the homesteaders and their lives before the Great Depression and the dust bowl years. It should appeal to horse lovers and history buffs.,
If you love horses, Molly Gloss’s The Hearts of Horses is a must read. Even if you don’t, this story, set in early 20th century Oregon, tells the personal evolution of a female horse whisperer, bronco-buster, who insists on making her living in the outdoors, shunning marriage and the kitchen. This is a quiet, riveting look into the lives of …
I thought it was very well written with excellent characterization. The main character, Martha acts as a catalyst for the stories of the different people she breaks horses for in circa 1917 Oregon. And the writer obviously knows her way around horses. Highly recommend.
Molly Gloss writes historical fiction with strong female characters , and Martha Lessen is no exception—she’s a horse whisperer (patterned on Lesley Neuman, if the author’s acknowledgements are any clue), who does a circle ride (AKA a circuit) traveling between area ranches, gentling and finishing a variety of horses for their owners. This novel …
A quiet book that draws you into another life, another time. Set in the west during WWI, the story follows a young girl’s journey into womanhood, life and love. Martha is a “horse whisper” who works for several area ranchers, breaking horses and slowly coming out of her shell to become a member of the community. I loved meeting all the horses as …
Loved this book
Loved this book. A gentle picture of a hard life.
I enjoyed this book. Not a thriller, just excellent development of characters from an earlier time, living their lives.
This is a gentle book with a variety of characters who seem quite like someone you might know, except they do things you would not expect of your acquaintances because the world was a different place and they were faced with different situations. Horses play a part, but this is not really a horse story, it is a story of a rural community of …
I’m still reading the book as it is 115 pages long, and I’m on page 56 for now, but so far it’s great reading, but don’t know how it will turn out yet.
Boring. I found it difficult to care about the characters and it was very bland.
It was a good easy read that was nicely different from the standard western plot …enjoyable
very enjoyable reading
Good look at an unconventional woman’s life in rural Oregon during the WWI years.
I should have known you would have talked to Lesley Neuman of Rescue, a mustang gentler for your information. A great person in amongst many others with the same ideas.
Truly interesting characters and entertaining story-line.
Loved every word. True to reality of its time & place
Story set in late 1800s about a woman breaking horses in Oregon. She’s unconventional both as a woman in the times and in her choice of profession.