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12th out of 224 books
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Flying Changes
by
Sara Gruen
Anxiety rules Annemarie Zimmer's days--the fear that her relationship with the man she loves is growing stagnant; the fear that equestrian daughter Eva's dreams of Olympic glory will carry her far away from her mother . . . and into harm's way. For five months, Annemarie has struggled to make peace with her past. But if she cannot let go, the personal battles she has won
...morePaperback, 371 pages
Published
April 1st 2007
by Harper Paperbacks
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This was a terrible, terrible book. I picked it after it was recommended to me as a good horsey novel, and the only thing that kept me reading all the way through was sick curiosity. I wanted to see if the ending would be as trite as I predicted. It was.
The main character is self-absorbed, unlikeable, and her flaws are not entertaining enough to make her unlikeable yet interesting (as I'm someone who enjoys unlikeable yet interesting characters). For example: she throws a hissy f...more
The main character is self-absorbed, unlikeable, and her flaws are not entertaining enough to make her unlikeable yet interesting (as I'm someone who enjoys unlikeable yet interesting characters). For example: she throws a hissy f...more
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sequel to Riding Lessons, this is more the story of eva than annemarie, except not. eva gets a more central role, but annemarie is still the driving force - behind everything.
again, gruen writes about the special bond between a horse and a person, and she does it so well it makes my heart ache. this completes the story she was telling earlier, and i think it's stronger than her first go. (not just because the image of a blue roan doing one-tempi changes makes me swoon.)
...more
again, gruen writes about the special bond between a horse and a person, and she does it so well it makes my heart ache. this completes the story she was telling earlier, and i think it's stronger than her first go. (not just because the image of a blue roan doing one-tempi changes makes me swoon.)
...more
Fantastic – I had no idea there was still melodramatic horse fiction for grownups! Annamarie Zimmer is almost forty, newly divorced and living on her mother’s horse farm. In her former life, she was a Olympic level equestrian, but that all changed after her tragic accident (isn’t that how it always goes?) When her teenage daughter decides to ride competitively, Annamarie has to come to terms with her daughter’s choice and her own history. And then the last third of the book takes a spectacul...more
A friend gave me a bunch of iPad books and this was among them; I don't know how I didn't realize that the author was the same as Water for Elephants, but when I finished and realized it, a lot made sense.
Let's get one thing out of the way right now; I think horse people are on the crazy side. There, I said it. If you're a horse person and don't think you're crazy, you're probably wrong but it's OK. Anyway, the book starts out with lots of horse stuff and I was a bit put off by it, b...more
Let's get one thing out of the way right now; I think horse people are on the crazy side. There, I said it. If you're a horse person and don't think you're crazy, you're probably wrong but it's OK. Anyway, the book starts out with lots of horse stuff and I was a bit put off by it, b...more
A continuation of Riding Lessons - which I really disliked. This is better written but is not a pleasure to read. Strange tense changes, changes in narrator's voice, make it somewhat confusing. Or would make it confusing if there were anything substantive in the novel.
Our protagonist continues to work at her mother's riding school. Her rebellious daughter is still rebellious and wants to ride. In spite of Annemarie's horror of jumping, she lets her daughter go to a private schoo...more
Our protagonist continues to work at her mother's riding school. Her rebellious daughter is still rebellious and wants to ride. In spite of Annemarie's horror of jumping, she lets her daughter go to a private schoo...more
After reading WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, I wanted to read anything by Sara Gruen. I found RIDING LESSONS and FLYING CHANGES easily and knew I wanted to read them just based on their summaries. I’m both fascinated and terrified of horses and these two novels granted me a glimpse into the lives of those who breathed the animals in and out on a daily basis.
RIDING LESSONS begins with a potential Olympian equestrian – Annemarie Zimmer – in a terrible and tragic accident. In shock and filled with ...more
RIDING LESSONS begins with a potential Olympian equestrian – Annemarie Zimmer – in a terrible and tragic accident. In shock and filled with ...more
A good book, written by the author of Water for Elephants. The story features Sara, a divorcee and former well-known horsewoman, and Eva, her 16-year-old daughter, whose riding skills are such that she has a chance to be selected for the Olympic riding team. Sara's riding career came to an end when the horse she was riding inexplicably fell in mid-air while completing a jump. Sara was seriously injured, and the horse had to be destroyed. This causes Sara to be extremely cautious about her dau...more
Book #22 of 2009
I liked this better than the first book. The main character is less self absorbed and annoying. There was a scene which seemed totally unbelievable towards the middle where she was at a birthday dinner with her boyfriend who she though was going to propose and even though she's already told him her favorite things to eat, refuses to let him order them for her. Then he tries to give her a pair of earings as a gift, which she finds offensive and storms out without le...more
I liked this better than the first book. The main character is less self absorbed and annoying. There was a scene which seemed totally unbelievable towards the middle where she was at a birthday dinner with her boyfriend who she though was going to propose and even though she's already told him her favorite things to eat, refuses to let him order them for her. Then he tries to give her a pair of earings as a gift, which she finds offensive and storms out without le...more
Neurotic Annamarie Zimmer lives on her parent's horse farm with her mother and daughter. She is dating her highschool sweetheart Dan, whom she thinks she should have married instead of her ex-husband Roger who is the father of her willful daughter Eva. Annamarie had a devastating accident 20 years ago, where she broke her neck and lost her horse. The physical trauma has healed, but not the emotional one. Her daughter Eva is constantly testing her mother's nerves, who duly responds by overreactin...more
I read this because, as the friend who suggested it said, "it's about horses and it's easy to read"--and I'd read the first book. Gruen was the new hot thing after "Water For Elephants." But honestly, this book isn't worth the time it took to read.
It isn't so much ABOUT horses as that there are horses in it. The heroine-narrator drove me nuts. What a mess. She never learns or grows or changes--she's just a whiny, self-involved jerk. Her daughter is just like h...more
It isn't so much ABOUT horses as that there are horses in it. The heroine-narrator drove me nuts. What a mess. She never learns or grows or changes--she's just a whiny, self-involved jerk. Her daughter is just like h...more
I read this sequel to Riding Lessons immediately after finishing the first and found it equally disappointing.
The characters in this book are marginally happier in this story than they are in the first. Unfortunately happiness doesn't equal emotional maturity or growth.... the characters remain shallow, petty, childish and altogether unlikable. I felt myself wanting to reach out to the main character and slap her on almost every excruciating page of the story.
The upside...more
The characters in this book are marginally happier in this story than they are in the first. Unfortunately happiness doesn't equal emotional maturity or growth.... the characters remain shallow, petty, childish and altogether unlikable. I felt myself wanting to reach out to the main character and slap her on almost every excruciating page of the story.
The upside...more
I picked up this book at the library because I enjoyed Gruen's other book, Water for Elephants, so much. Though I didn't enjoy this one as much, it was a good read all the same.
The story is about three horsewomen, most notably, Annemarie Zimmer, a 40 year old single mother of Eva, 16. Her mother, Mutti, and Austrian "character" also lives with them on their horse farm, where they teach riding lessons.
Annemarie has fairly recently recovered from being paralyzed by a...more
The story is about three horsewomen, most notably, Annemarie Zimmer, a 40 year old single mother of Eva, 16. Her mother, Mutti, and Austrian "character" also lives with them on their horse farm, where they teach riding lessons.
Annemarie has fairly recently recovered from being paralyzed by a...more
This book was pretty good. I was a little worried that it would be too horse-oriented, but I was able to keep up despite not knowing some of the details of competitive horseback riding. After I read it I learned that it was the sequel to Sara Gruen's first book, Riding Lessons, which makes a lot of sense since some of the past events are referred to quite obliquely but clearly have rich stories that deserve some attention. From a human point of view I thought Gruen aptly described the emotion...more
I devoured this in just a few days and found myself trying to squeeze in "just a few more pages" here and there. This picks up where Riding Lessons leaves off and continues to focus on AnneMarie, her daughter Eva, and AnneMarie's mother, Mutti, as Eva makes the decision to ride (and jump) competitively - forcing AnneMarie to face her fears related to her accident 20+ years prior. Gruen ties up quite a few loose ends left in the plot after Riding Lessons, as well as throwing in some dra...more
Laura
added it
Loved this book! I have a horse and love horses and really like Sara Gruen's writing style so this book was really up my alley. The book kept me captivated all the way through. Have also read her book "Riding Lessons" which I also really enjoyed. Wish she would write more books - especially ones like these 2 that are centered around horses. Could really relate to her issues with her teenage daughter also since I have a 24 year old stepson.....went through the teenage years with him als...more
In this sequel to Riding Lessons, AnneMarie Zimmer has continued her life with horses but not yet able to ride, after her almost death in a jumping accident as a teen. She is divorced from her husband, who has remarried and has a small child; involved with her childhood sweetheart but it's not going that well; and her daughter has found her love for horses and her talent -- and wants to do nothing else. Despite her huge anxieties over her daughter's welfare, she knows that by prevnting her fro...more
A Wonderful story woven around horses
My friend gave this book for my birthday. We are both avid readers and she knew that I had read Sara Gruen's "Riding Lessons". I really enjoyed that book and I was delighted to receive the sequel, Flying Changes. With eager eyes I sat down that evening and read the book (well almost, I finished it up the following evening). It goes without saying that Ms. Gruen is a wonderful storyteller and she continued that ability in this story. I'...more
My friend gave this book for my birthday. We are both avid readers and she knew that I had read Sara Gruen's "Riding Lessons". I really enjoyed that book and I was delighted to receive the sequel, Flying Changes. With eager eyes I sat down that evening and read the book (well almost, I finished it up the following evening). It goes without saying that Ms. Gruen is a wonderful storyteller and she continued that ability in this story. I'...more
I was hoping for something like "Water for Elephants" but with horses. What I got was a formula "Chick Lit" book complete with a spoiled teen, a wise mother, a self absorbed woman facing 40 and her patient and dedicated boyfriend. While some of the horse stuff added up, I was disappointed that there were some major inconsistencies in the believability of the equine portion (ie: daughter's horse is some mustang bred thingie that excelles in dressage, has a wreck x-country in...more
I would give this book 4 1/2 stars if I could because I really enjoyed the story, but it doesn't go on my list of all time favorites and I didn't enjoy it as much as Water for Elephants so I didn't give it a 5. I did, however, think it was a better story than Riding Lessons. (I am surprised that it does not mention on the cover of Flying Changes that the story is a continuation from Riding Lessons. Although you could easily read it and enjoy it without having read Riding Lessons.) Anyway, good b...more
Sequel to 'Riding Lessons.' Continues the story Annemarie Zimmer as she starts a new life at her family's horse farm after a bitter divorce and solving the equine mystery of Highland Hurrah, brother to the horse Annemarie was riding when a tragic accident ended her Olympic Dreams. This book focuses on Annemarie's daughter Eva and her equestrian ambitions, as well as the emotional baggage Annemarie still carries. Involving and well-paced, but not as suspenseful as the first book. Additionally...more
This book is an easy read and meant strictly for pleasure reading.This would be a great summer/beach book. Although it's a little tiresome that everything gets sewed up so neatly and everyone gets what they want in the end, overall, you really get to know and like the characters. I thought Gruen did a good job of explaining horses and the activities that surrounded the horses well. From someone who doesn't have any experience around horses, it was well described. I enjoyed the plot - again, a li...more
Still ridiculously soapy but Annemarie is marginally more likable and the story features more horses which is to the better. My biggest complaint is with teenage daughter Eva, who seems to be an obnoxious brat not through any character development, but as an authorial plot device. Hated her, and especially hated that all her bad behavior and bad attitude ended up getting rewarded. Also, the author had to do some quick retconning from the first book to give Eva an appropriate lengthily riding bac...more
Not being well-versed in the whole "horsey" world (though at least familiar with it through relatives and some friends) I'm pretty sure this would mean more to a reader more emotionally connected and intimately experienced with riding.
While at first I was inclined to dislike and dismiss, mostly because the main character Annemarie's tendency to worry only reinforces and encourages my own, her "flaws" eventually made her more endearing, and by the end, while I wouldn...more
While at first I was inclined to dislike and dismiss, mostly because the main character Annemarie's tendency to worry only reinforces and encourages my own, her "flaws" eventually made her more endearing, and by the end, while I wouldn...more
Like Riding Lessons (note - read that first if you're reading them both, they go together)
I liked it, but I think part of it was that the author is very obviously a rider, and the way she describes riding - the very visceral sensation of it - is so very descriptive. I don't know that a non-rider would appreciate it.
Good read, and decent plotline, but it was a little choppy and the narrator is sort of an annoying character. Having read - and LOVED - Water for Elephants, ...more
I liked it, but I think part of it was that the author is very obviously a rider, and the way she describes riding - the very visceral sensation of it - is so very descriptive. I don't know that a non-rider would appreciate it.
Good read, and decent plotline, but it was a little choppy and the narrator is sort of an annoying character. Having read - and LOVED - Water for Elephants, ...more
This book will be enjoyed the most by people who are familiar with horses and horseback riding, especially Hunter/Jumper style show riding. It is the story of a single mother with a rebellious teen-aged daughter who is horse-crazy but an excellent rider. Following in her mother's footsteps, the daughter is fearless on the back of a horse. Knowing the dangers all too well from a riding accident earlier in her own life, the mother closes her eyes when watching her daughter compete during the most ...more
This is the second book of a two book series. I have already reviewed the first book Riding Lessons and that being said I really enjoyed this book a lot better than the first one. The main character in the first book was quite irritating and it was difficult to sympathize with her. In this book, while she still does some frustrating things, she is a much more believable character. I stayed up all night finishing this one; I couldn't put it down. I also found that this book tugged a bit more at t...more
I will read any book about horses. This one is written by the author of the "goodread" Water for Elephants and it took me one long night to read it. Flying Changes is as cheesy as any horse tale out there. The characters seem one dimensional. The plot is simple, uninteresting, and poorly navigated. The experience of traumatic injury is misunderstood and misrepresented. So, why did I devour the pages? Simply because it is about horses. If you do not love horses, do not read this...more
I've always been sort of scared of horses and have never been interested in going near them or riding one and being allergic to them doesn't help. Reading Gruen's books have opened my eyes to a whole different world. At the end of Flying Changes (book 2) I have an entirely different notion about horses. I still can't picture ever getting on one but I can now see why so many people love horses and everything else to do with them. Gruen gave such detail and heart into the backbone of this stor...more
I just finished this sequel to Riding Lessons and I have to say I loved both books equally. I’ve been reading a lot of book reviews lately and I must say I am completely confounded. In addition to the glowing reviews (which, let’s face it, every book has at least a few because a universally hated book is truly a rare thing), a lot of the other reviews tend to fall into two camps. The first is that the book is trite, silly, predictable, &/or unrealistic and the reader just couldn’t care less. ...more
I have hideous poison ivy- that acts up every time I get out in the heat so I am reading my eyes out! This book and RIDING LESSONS are both what I would class as "beach reads" - they go quickly, keep one's interest and are mighty predictable. Read amazon.com for descriptions and reviews. My major beef was that the main character, Annemarie, was of flakey, prone to tantrums, weepy and yet likable. Things fall right into place for her - and we know life is seldom like that, don't we? ...more
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Sara Gruen is a Canadian-born author with Canadian and U.S. dual citizenship. Her books deal greatly with animals and she is a supporter of numerous charitable organizations that support animals and wildlife.
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“But it wasn't long before the old familiar discontent started creeping up on me. I suppose it was always there, somewhere in the background. All I've done, my whole life, is keep it temporarily at bay.”
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4 people liked it
“To be sure, I'm not perfect wife material: I'm neurotic. I'm compulsive. I speak before I think and can't cook worth a damn. I'm messy and germaphobic all at once, and it's not entirely unheard of for me to get hold of the wrong end of the stick and then hang there like a pitbull.”
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3 people liked it
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