Book: Long Shot
The sub-title of this book is "My Bipolar Life, And the Horses Who Saved Me". As it indicates, the author suffered from manic depression for 20 years, which ultimately caused her to lose her home and her children.
But then something of a miracle occurred. At a horse ranch in Florida she discovered that her empathy with the horses triggered a healing process. This culminated in her becoming a jockey and, triumphantly, becoming the first African-American woman in US history to win a major horse race.
The narrative is a bit disjointed, which can be disconcerting, but this is a heart-warming, moving book which will be enjoyed by more than just horse lovers. Graeme Barrow
Title: Long Shot
Author: Sylvia Harris
Publisher: HarperCollins, $25
