The Horse Whisperer: A Novel Mass Market Paperback – September 27, 2011

I didn't know what to expect from this, as I have never seen the movie. Wow! What an amazing story!! I recommend it to everyone!! You won't be disappointed!! A very good read!!

I have seen the movie and heard how different the book was, especially the ending, but wow! I enjoyed the movie, but it can’t compare to the emotions the book stirs up. What a ride, so many emotions, especially when reading about the mother/daughter relationship.

I saw the movie before reading the novel and was surprised to see that the story ends differently in the two versions. I liked the movie a great deal and I liked the novel even better, as it gives you a closer view of the internal lives of the characters and adds psychological layers to the story that are difficult to convey in a movie. Nicholas Evans shows that he is a fine author who is capable of crafting a plot that is both emotionally strong and quite complex, as this is a multi-layered story with many important subplots. He also develops his characters with a sensitive hand without straying across the border to sentimentality. I would have given this book five stars if it weren't for a couple of sex scenes that I think were described just a tad too graphically. I know this is only a matter of taste, but in my view these short passages somewhat spoiled the overall impression of an otherwise fine novel. And it is not because I am prude. Someone said that when you write about sex you walk a thin line between pornography and parody, and the exact location of that line is surely a matter of personal taste. On the one hand, you as a reader want to get inside the heads of the characters and experience the world through their eyes. On the other hand, you don't want to become too intimate with them, because it makes you feel like a peeping Tom and it breaks the illusion of being there. That said, apart from these brief passages, I think this is one of the better novels I have read and I am certainly eager to read more of Evans' work.

and I listened! I remember reading the "tease" of this book almost 20 years ago in "McCalls women's magazine" or at least I think that was the name of the magazine (something I rarely ever did but I was in a waiting room of a doctor's office and I needed something to occupy my time and the name of the magazine isn't important for this review - I was hooked on this story and even began thinking who would be the lead male actor in the movie. And I got it so right - Robert Redford was the actor I imagined and Hollywood must have read my mind!) Not really a romantic novel fan, I "romantically" fell in love with this story and was hooked from the "tease" in the magazine and eagerly awaited the book coming out. These were the days before my magic Kindle. I enjoyed Sparks' beautiful painting of complex relationships - not just between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, lover and lover, but also humans and animals as well! I think I have read it at least three times. Again I am not usually a romance novel fan but this one hooked me from beginning to end. Sculpted with texture weaving the story that kept me reading page after page long into the night. I recommend it.

Great Movie

I saw this movie quite some time ago. Recently scrolling thru the kindle books I came across this book. It was so well-written I could not put it down. All of the characters in the book were believable and the relationship between mother and daughter so real. They both fought thru their own demons in their life, with strength and courage and let them go. Tom, the whisperer, with his magical touch not only with pilgrim, but with Annie and Grace.. brought them all back from hell to happy beings. The love that Tom shared with Annie, was so deep that Tom just could not live without her. After reading it, I watched the movie again. This book blew the movie away! In all, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves horses and would also enjoy a very rewarding experience in love and life's lessons thru a book that is well worth the time to read.

I had mixed feelings about "The Horse Whisperer" by Nicholas Evans. No matter who you are, the story invokes such strong feelings. I got to the point where I didn't want to read the book anymore because certain parts drove me to tears; yet I find myself constantly rereading it. The story is a good one, and there are many things you don't see coming. Also, keep in mind that this is not a book for children (has a couple sex scenes).I read the book before I saw the movie (The Horse Whisperer). This was probably the right choice. However, if you haven't read the book, and have only seen the movie, you must be aware that they are completely different. The endings in particular.Overall, I'd recommend this book, but be sure to tell them to be prepared. It's an emotional rollercoaster ride. If you're looking for more a book for a younger audience about horses, check out Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Or a more mature audience might enjoy The Black Stallion by Walter Farley.

I read this book and loved it years ago. My daughter loves horses but when we opened the box this is what we got. Granted the pages are fine and I was only giving this as a gift to my 13 year old daughter, but if I were to give this as a gift to someone else I wouldn't. I would be embarrassed.