Did you read a great book this summer that featured horses? Did you find one that struck a chord deep within…one that moved you? These readers all found a reason to pick up RIDING BARRANCA by Laura Chester, and here’s what they’ve chosen to say about it:
“Riding Barranca is tender, beautiful, complicated, simple, wondrous, and mystical—much like the endeavor of riding a horse. Laura Chester masterfully orchestrates two parallel narratives: her complex family upbringing amidst her mother’s slow descent into Alzheimer’s, and Laura’s soul-infused love of her horses and her life with them.”
–Carew Papritz, Author of The Legacy Letters
“Laura Chester takes us on her ride between the worlds – through landscapes of chaos, fear, and pain, as well as grace, inspiration, and transcendence. Always an adventure, and never without danger, we experience the rhythms of her life, her growth and healing, through difficult passages of loss and liberation, as she enters the ultimate solo chapter of living on beyond her parents. Of letting go, and letting healing begin.”
–Bicoastal (on Amazon.com)
“Chester celebrates the vast beauty all around her, as well as the darker regions of her childhood. The counterpoint of Chester’s explorations into the emotional turmoil of her upbringing set against the joy found on the back of her equine soulmate, Barranca, make this a compelling read, hard to put down.”
–Elizabeth Ervin, Author of Heart’s Blood
“I have not lived my life with horses, and reading Chester’s account, I ached for something comparable. In addition to companionship, horses have provided her with a detour from the cares of daily life, a vehicle into the natural world, a bridge to a different kind of love, and intimate communing with another animal. Beautifully interwoven with the rich and vivid log of rides around the world is her emotional and sometimes painful personal journey. The riding doubles for the bumpy terrain of her own life trail.”
–Summer Brenner (on Amazon.com)
“A mini retreat from life. If you have horses, you’ll appreciate the insights into the horses on the page. If you don’t, you’ll gain insight to the fascinating creatures that captivate little girls, and adults, the world over.”
–Jan Hoadley (on Amazon.com)
“Partly autobiography, partly travel writing, this is a horsewoman’s tale. Laura Chester had a fraught relationship with her mother and riding was a way to escape from tension and just be herself…This book is especially good for horsey readers but the honesty of speech about family and appreciation of nature’s beauty have a message for us all.”
–Clare O’Beara, Author of Master at Arms
“This is a beautifully written, heart-felt memoir. When I was reading, Chester’s descriptions were so vivid I could see, smell and feel the settings. Her bond with her horse(s) is so strong, I envy her that ability to relate. What I did not envy was her family dynamic. Her complicated childhood, family life and relationship with her mother were at times, almost too much to comprehend. That she is able to write bout her past with such clarity and compassion is a gift.”
–Janet (on Amazon.com)
RIDING BARRANCA is available now from the TSB online bookstore.