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Riding Lessons Audiobook
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(3.00) - 4,878 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
An unforgettable story of a devastating accident that ends the career of an Olympic contender equestrienne and sets off a chain of events that comes to a crisis point nearly twenty years later.
As a world-class equestrian and Olympic contender, Annemarie Zimmer lived for the thrill of flight atop a strong, graceful animal. Then, at eighteen, a tragic accident destroyed her riding career and Harry, the beautiful horse she cherished.
Now, twenty years later, Annemarie is coming home to her dying father’s New Hampshire horse farm. Jobless and abandoned, she is bringing her troubled teenage daughter to this place of pain and memory, where ghosts of an unresolved youth still haunt the fields and stables—and where hope lives in the eyes of the handsome, gentle veterinarian Annemarie loved as a girl … and in the seductive allure of a trainer with a magic touch.
But everything will change yet again with one glimpse of a white striped gelding startlingly similar to the one Annemarie lost in another lifetime. And an obsession is born that could shatter her fragile world.
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"This one had me right from the beginning. I thought I knew what would happen next, but I was wrong. I was disappointed that there was unresolved business in the story but that is the only disappointment I had."
— Julie (4 out of 5 stars)
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“[An] emotion-packed book, which is so exquisitely written it’s hard to believe that it’s also a debut.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
“Gruen’s polished debut is a tale of human healing set against the primal world of horses…Amid this realistically complex generational sandwich, the book’s appealing horse scenes—depicted with unsentimental affection—help build a moving story of loss, survival and renewal.”
— Publishers Weekly
Riding Lessons Listener Reviews
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" Having loved "Water for Elephants", I added all Sara Greun's books to my "to read" list. However, this one paled in comparison. It was too predictable, I knew what was coming before I read it. The main character, Annmarie, was not very likable either. She returns home to help with her ailing father, only to avoid him at all costs. Really!? I can't relate to that at all. Oh well, a quick, easy read...a chic-lite read. I'll probably eventually read the sequel too. "
— Sandi, 2/1/2014 -
" Loved "Water for Elephants" but this was predictable and formulaic. "
— Patty, 1/20/2014 -
" Good book, I would recommend it, not as well told or as interesting a story as Water for Elephants though. "
— Anna, 1/17/2014 -
" A page turner with a hint of The Horse Whisperer about it - hurt, loss, love and the redemption to be found in horses. "
— Lyra, 1/7/2014 -
" I just love how the author writes about family dynamics in these two books. I am looking forward to reading the second one again since I read them out of order by accident! "
— Mariann, 12/27/2013 -
" Not riveting "
— Ruth, 12/12/2013 -
" Just a little to formulaic. "
— Cgalvin, 11/11/2013 -
" A girl loves her horse and they do shows, her horse trips and falls. The girl is very injured and the horse had to be put down. The girl grows into a woman but is unhappy. It's a nice read. "
— C, 8/8/2013 -
" Not nearly as good as Water for Elephants, it was just okay. The main character is so consistently ignorant, makes stupid decisions, and ruins the lives of those around her, that it's hard to buy (or even hope for) the happy ending. "
— Morgan, 7/2/2013 -
" it was not nearly as good as water for elephants but still pleasant enough to complete "
— Angela, 5/8/2013 -
" Great book and am glad that Annemarie finally got thing rolling her way after a while. Great book, easy read. Recommend reading Flying Changes, the follow-up, after this one. "
— Melissa, 11/13/2012 -
" good book... being an equestrian, i couldn't help but to nit pick about some of the vocabulary and way she wrote about the horses and processes included in riding/ training. maybe she was trying to hard to be as descriptive as possible? once again... easy read... ok book "
— Jordan, 11/1/2012 -
" Pulp fiction. Not remarkable. I bought it cheap at a book fair, mostly b/c of the horse on the cover. Unfortunately, that reading choice strategy provided a higher quality average result when I was a kid/young adult. "
— Stephanie, 6/9/2012 -
" Not as far reaching as Water for Elephants, but a very enjoyable read. "
— Jana, 4/17/2012 -
" love Water for Elephants so i decided to read this. I got as far as the fourth page. Reminded me of one of those horse books some girls read when they are 10. "
— Jilly, 3/29/2012 -
" Exceeded my expectations. Thought it would be a fluff book. Had depth but lost me a little towards the end. Still a good read though. "
— Sally, 2/25/2012 -
" I like it when an author creates a character I actually have feelings for. In this case I disliked the main character. "
— Karla, 2/24/2012 -
" Not as well written as 'Water for Elephants' but a good summer read. "
— Paula, 12/19/2011 -
" its AMAZING. its not about horses. "
— Gabby, 10/15/2011 -
" Kind of like The Horse Whisperer, but entertaining and a quick read. "
— Katie, 7/26/2011 -
" Entertaining, though predictable read. Not as good of a story as Water for Elephants by the same author. Made me think of the people I know that are horse lovers and how much they would enjoy this book. "
— Alex, 7/25/2011 -
" This was an ok read but I have at present more interesting reads and so I'm abandoning this one - time is precious! "
— Sarah, 5/20/2011 -
" Liked Water for Elephants better <br/> "
— Madalene, 5/11/2011 -
" this is absolutly one of the best books i have ever read "
— Ally, 5/9/2011 -
" Not my favorite of her books. It was kind of over the top in terms of drama. Still, I really like the way she writes and I will be on the lookout for her next one. "
— Beverly, 5/5/2011 -
" Not as good as Water for Elephants. I did not like the female lead character. Not planning to read the sequel. "
— Katie, 5/3/2011 -
" Good book for young women. "
— Dusty, 4/26/2011 -
" I could not wait to finish this book. The main character messed up her own life and the lives of everyone around her and consistently blamed everything - including her behavior - on everyone else. She was miserable to read about. "
— Kristin, 4/25/2011 -
" I didn't like this book. The main character was annoying, whiny, and immature. "
— Amy, 4/25/2011 -
" This was an ok read but I have at present more interesting reads and so I'm abandoning this one - time is precious! "
— Sarah, 4/17/2011 -
" If you love horses and you are older than 20 you will like the book. It does deal with a divorce, death, a teenager, and, of course, a horse or two. "
— Deb, 4/16/2011 -
" Liking it! I think it's my favorite grown-up horse story.<br/> "
— Dimsaha, 4/5/2011 -
" Way to many things going on. Nothing really developed until almost the end. Didn't get to like the characters. I was surprised that I didn't like it more. "
— Sheri, 3/29/2011 -
" (see review for the sequel FLYING CHANGES) "
— Mary, 3/25/2011
About Sara Gruen
Sara Gruen is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel Water for Elephants, now a major motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson, as well as the novels Riding Lessons, Flying Changes, and the New York Times bestseller Ape House. She shares her North Carolina home with her own version of a blended family: a husband, three children, four cats, two dogs, two horses, and a goat. She donates a portion of her earnings from all her books to various animal charities.
About Maggi-Meg Reed
Maggi-Meg Reed has performed as an actress and singer both on and off-Broadway. She is a narrator of many popular audiobooks, including A Very Long Engagement and The Time Traveler’s Wife. She is the winner of several AudioFile Earphones Awards.