Thank you NetGalley & Harper Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review can also be found on Goodreads.

I had the pleasure of attending an author's event last month where Willy spoke about 'The Horse' and his experience writing it. I was immediately drawn to his way of storytelling and the insight he had while writing this book (he was also just a really cool, genuine guy). As soon as the event closed, I immediately requested this book, and I'm happy to say I was not disappointed.

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With his musician glory days behind him, Al Ward lives on isolated land, in the middle of Nevada, in a run down shack. His life is simple: wake up, listen to the radio, take a walk, eat, and repeat. He seems to be content in this secluded lifestyle. Then, one winter morning, a horse appears. Al's life is, in a way, turned upside down. The horse is blind, covered in scars, and refuses to leave. There's part of Al that thinks he's imagining the horse. But his heart of gold shines through as he becomes determined to save it, even if it means risking his own life.

As Al grapples with what to do with the horse, readers are taken back in time with Al's backstory. The memories that lead us through the majority book are raw, emotional, and human. Al was a semi successful musician that traveled with many up and coming bands,
hoping to catch their big break. Just when it seems Al is catching a steam of luck, life happens. Things fall apart. It felt like it was an endless cycle of mishaps and unhappiness for Al. All I wanted was a win for him.

I became attached to Al's character, and I felt like I was leaving behind a friend as the story came to an end. This quick read packs a heavy punch. I'm so glad to have been introduced to Willy's work, and I look forward to diving into more!

I started reading Willy Vlautin because he comes from my neck of the woods. In Lean on Pete, every sight and sound was something I knew first hand; but each Vlautin novel I've read since has been a treasure. I think of him as the Elmore Leonard of the rural west.

In The Horse, we have the sad, downbeat yet hopeful story of songwriter Al Ward. It called back my memory of an old film, Tender Mercies -- so that Ward became Robert Duvall in my mind's eye as I read. The tale is heartbreaking, sometimes hilarious, and tender toward our human foibles. It reminded me of the unlikely ways in which we can save each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Harper, for an advance readers copy.

This isn't a novel about saving a blind horse. Well, it is, but it isn't. This is about a man reflecting on all of his life after the discovery of the horse. Unfortunately, I didn't find him all that relatable nor did I find details of his life all that compelling.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an exceptional novel. I truly enjoyed this look at an aging musician. Vlautin has created a compelling and memorable character. This is his best book to date.

This is the first book of Willy Vlautin's that I've read and it did not disappoint. I thought the writing was great. The characters could have been caricatures in less skilled hands, but he imbued them with real humanity. I really would have liked to hear some of Al's songs.

Willy Vlautin has outdone himself in his latest, and now my personal favorite of his, The Horse.
An aging musician and songwriter named Al, living as a recluse, discovers an old and blind horse just outside his door. As he grapples with how to deal with the horse, and how it came to be there in the cold and snow, the author takes us back to Al’s youth, and the people and bands he’s encountered during his life as a musician.
Between the desperation I felt regarding the horse, and the desire to see Al succeed in his career, I could not put this book down, finishing it in a single day!

Another gem from Willy Vlautin. This book is just as enjoyable as his others. His descriptions of his main characters and their thoughts give the reader a picture of who they truly are. You feel as though the author has empathy and understanding for his characters which helps the reader understand better who the character is, what they have been through, giving the reader a chance to feel empathy towards the main character.