In Service to the Horse: Chronicles of a Labor of Love
by Susan Nusser
Little, Brown and Company, 2004
Nusser is an excellent writer, with a great eye for details and the ability to create suspense out of an eventing season. The secondary stories of the showjumping and breeding grooms, while interesting, never take off, and it’s the groom of the O’Connor Event Team that creates the center and meat of the book. The book seems less about the lives and livelihood of grooms and more about the O’Conners – celebrities in the elite world of Three Day Eventing – and one wonders why the author didn’t admit her fascination and simply write a book about them, since they provide plenty of interest. The premise of the book doesn’t live up to the jacket copy, but in its stead, the glimpse into the lives of two of the equestrian world’s biggest names make it well worth reading, at least for the equine enthusiast.
*Review originally written on Google Book Search
This doesn’t suprise me at all. I saw something else recently that was supposed to be about the grooms that turned out the same way. I think it was a TV special of somekind. Without those grooms, those people would be toast. lol
MiKael, No doubt. I totally thought this would be a different book than the one I read. Having worked at the track for almost two years, I have seen the lifestyle up close and personal, at least regarding racing grooms. Maybe that needs to be a post.
Thanks, as always, for stopping by and giving your input.
I like that you did not give this book a glowing five star review just because it is a horse book. I have been fooled many times by the title and description of a book only to be disappointed when it wasn’t what I thought it would be. You should do a post about the grooms at the track that would be interesting, actually I bet you could write a book.
GHM, I am a sucker for all horse books but I’ve been disappointed many times over. That is why I finally quit buying books and got a library card! Thanks for the encouragement – I will write more about the track. It is Peyton Place meets Green Acres in many ways… we call it “As the Track Turns.” And more than a few people have told me that every track is alike – it’s just the names that change.