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A Good Horse Audiobook, by Jane Smiley Play Audiobook Sample

A Good Horse Audiobook

A Good Horse Audiobook, by Jane Smiley Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Angela Goethals Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc. Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 4.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 3.63 hours at 2.0x Speed Series: The Horses of Oak Valley Ranch Series Release Date: October 2014 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781490656465

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

16

Longest Chapter Length:

42:42 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

01:40 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

27:01 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

23

Other Audiobooks Written by Jane Smiley: > View All...

Publisher Description

When eighth grader Abby Lovitt looks out at those pure-gold rolling hills, she knows there's no place she'd rather be than her family's ranch--even with all the hard work of tending to nine horses. But some chores are no work at all, like grooming young Jack. At eight months, his rough foal coat has shed out, leaving a smooth, rich silk, like chocolate. As for Black George, such a good horse, it turns out he's a natural jumper. When he and Abby clear four feet easy as pie, heads start to turn at the ring--"buyers'" heads--and Abby knows Daddy won't turn down a good offer. Then a letter arrives from a private investigator, and suddenly Abby stands to lose not one horse but two. The letter states that Jack's mare may have been sold to the Lovitts as stolen goods. A mystery unfolds, more surprising than Abby could ever expect. Will she lose her beloved Jack to his rightful owners? Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley raises horses of her own, and her affection and expertise shine through in this inviting horse novel for young readers, set in 1960s California horse country and featuring characters from "The Georges and the Jewels."

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“Angela Goethals’ performance highlights eighth-grader Abby Lovitt’s practical and calm manner…The focus here is on horsemanship, but Goethals deepens the story with her vocal characterizations of the people in Abby’s world. She’s especially skilled at creating male voices as well as that of the crisply efficient riding instructor, Miss Slater. This audiobook will be most appealing to horse lovers but will also be welcome family listening.”

— AudioFile

Quotes

  • “The 1960s setting and the Lovitt family’s ranch life (and faith) are visceral presences in the book. And when heartbreaking and very adult decisions need to be made, Abby’s love of horses provides a steadfast anchor.”

    — Publishers Weekly
  • “Smiley writes beautifully about Abby’s dawning awareness of the small sadnesses of life..[For] serious [horse] enthusiasts…Smiley is a godsend—few other authors can balance dreaminess and realism so deftly.”

    — Booklist
  • “Rich, real, and utterly engrossing.”

    — Kirkus Reviews
  • “Smiley clearly has a deep knowledge of horses, and her love of rearing and riding horses shows through in her vivid descriptions of equestrian competitions.”

    — Children’s Literature

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About Jane Smiley

Jane Smiley is the author of numerous novels, including A Thousand Acres, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, as well of works of nonfiction and books for young adults. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she has also received the PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature. In 2001 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

About Angela Goethals

Angela Goethals is a native New Yorker who has appeared on and off Broadway in Picnic, Four Baboons Adoring the Sun, and The Good Times Are Killing Me, for which she won an Obie Award and a Drama Desk nomination. Since moving to Los Angeles with her husband, she has appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, Without a Trace, and Boston Public, with a recurring role on 24.