Audiobook Sample

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Hola, fellow travelers and story lovers,

It reminds me of a time when I was winding my way through the dusty backroads of Kentucky, the air thick with the scent of bluegrass and history, when I first pressed play on “Horse: A Novel” by Geraldine Brooks. The audiobook, narrated by a talented ensemble – Graham Halstead, James Fouhey, Katherine Littrell, Lisa Flanagan, and Michael Obiora – unfolded like a well-worn map, guiding me through a landscape of time and emotion I hadn’t expected to traverse. As a travel writer who’s spent years chasing hidden histories and human connections, this listening experience hit me square in the chest, blending the thrill of discovery with the weight of untold stories.

The story begins in Kentucky, 1850, with Jarret, an enslaved groom, and a bay foal who’d later become Lexington, the greatest racehorse in American history. You can almost hear the thrum of hooves on the dirt as their bond deepens, a quiet understanding that carries them through triumph and turmoil. Then, the narrative leaps – across decades and continents – introducing an itinerant artist in the Civil War, a gallery owner in 1950s New York, and a pair of researchers in 2019 Washington, DC. Brooks braids these threads with a deft hand, crafting a tale that’s as much about race and resilience as it is about the horse at its center.

Listening to this audiobook felt personal, like those evenings I spent in Oaxaca years ago, gathered around a family’s kitchen table as their grandmother spun tales of love and loss. Her voice had this way of pulling you in – pausing just long enough to let the weight of a moment settle. The narrators of “Horse” capture that same magic. Graham Halstead’s warm, steady tone brings Jarret’s quiet strength to life, while Michael Obiora’s rich cadence infuses Theo, the Nigerian-American art historian, with a depth that lingers. Katherine Littrell and Lisa Flanagan shift seamlessly between characters, their voices painting the women – Martha Jackson and Jess – with texture and grit. James Fouhey rounds out the ensemble, his energy carrying the wartime artist’s restless spirit. Together, they create an audiobook experience that’s immersive, like sitting around a campfire as the story crackles to life.

What struck me most was how Brooks tackles the messy, unfinished business of racism in America. Jarret’s story isn’t just a historical footnote – it’s a gut punch, a reminder of the Black horsemen whose names were erased from the winner’s circle. The modern thread, with Jess and Theo piecing together Lexington’s legacy, mirrors that search for truth I’ve chased in my own travels – whether it’s unearthing oral histories in Portugal or digging into the cultural layers of a meal in Brazil. The novel doesn’t shy away from the ugliness, but it balances it with moments of beauty: the way Jarret and Lexington move as one, the way art and science collide in unexpected harmony.

The audio quality is pristine, clocking in at just over 14 hours – a perfect companion for a long drive or a quiet night. Each narrator’s distinct style keeps the pacing brisk, even when the story dips into slower, reflective beats. If I had one quibble, it’s that the transitions between timelines can feel abrupt at first – like hitting a pothole on a smooth road. But once you settle into the rhythm, it’s a minor hiccup in an otherwise seamless ride.

This isn’t my first brush with historical fiction audiobooks – I’ve listened to everything from “The Nightingale” to “All the Light We Cannot See” – but “Horse” stands apart. It’s less about the grandeur of war or romance and more about the quiet, persistent threads that tie us to the past. It’s literary fiction with a historian’s eye and a storyteller’s heart, a blend that’ll resonate with anyone who loves digging into the why behind the what.

For me, the listening experience brought back that surreal drive through Chile’s Atacama Desert, when Gabriel García Márquez’s voice (well, his narrator’s) turned the barren expanse into a living, breathing tale. “Horse” does that too – it transforms the ordinary into something extraordinary. I found myself pausing to jot down thoughts, to savor the way a line about Jarret’s hands on the foal’s flank made me feel the dust under my own fingertips. It’s the kind of story that sticks with you, like a good meal shared with strangers who become friends.

If you’re new to audiobooks or a seasoned listener, I’d recommend this one without hesitation. It’s perfect for fans of historical fiction who crave depth, or anyone who’s ever felt a spark of connection to a place or a past they can’t fully explain. And here’s the kicker: you can snag this gem as a free audiobook through certain platforms – check Audible’s trial or your local library’s digital collection. There’s something poetic about a story of unsung heroes finding its way to you at no cost.

Reflecting on it now, “Horse” feels like a journey I didn’t know I needed – one that reminded me why I chase stories in the first place. It’s not just about the horse, or the art, or the science. It’s about the people who get left out of the frame, and the ones who fight to bring them back into focus. That’s a tale worth listening to, wherever your own road takes you.

Until our paths cross again, keep seeking the stories that move you, Marcus Rivera