Synopses & Reviews
Patty got up to peer into the refrigerator. “Honey, dont look so guilty,” she said. “Men are like horses. If theyre even-tempered and sweet, you stay on for the ride. If they buck and run around, you get off before you get hurt.” She slammed the refrigerator door. “Damn, were out of cake.” --from
Horseplay: A NovelA debut novel full of sparkle and wit, Horseplay is a story of the animals that touch our hearts… and the men who try our souls.
When Judy Van Brunt finally decides to leave her cheating husband, she makes immediate plans to quit her teaching job, take the money she inherited from her mother, and run off, leaving a note on her husband's pillow. There is only one problem: Where is she going?
During her weekly riding lesson, her instructor makes a suggestion just crazy enough to workand before she knows it, Judy has a position as a groom at an exclusive North Carolina horse farm. There, she shares an apartment with three remarkable women who also work at the farm, and she puts in long hours caring for the horses in addition to learning the demanding sport of dressage from the farms owner, a former Olympic champion. Exhausted but fulfilled, she learns for herself that a horse in the barn is worth far more than a husband at home. Her housemates gladly supplement her education with lessons not found in the riding ring, such as how to avoid the farms snootier patrons and weed out unsavory suitors. Her devotion to horses is far more rewarding than her marriage ever wasafter all, horses never lie or cheat, and even the most hot-blooded stallion won't kick her when she's down.
Nevertheless, her new life doesn't keep her away from men entirely. She finds her early vow of chastity and cheeseburgers weakening as she is drawn to one especially eligible bachelor. But after a few escapades with studs of the two-legged variety, is she really ready to be with someone?
Set against the alternately glamorous and grimy world of competitive horse shows, Horseplay is a jubilant ride.
About the Author
A former high school English teacher with graduate degrees in psychology, JUDY REENE SINGER has been in love with horses since childhood. She has covered the equestrian world for more than a decade, writing for Dressage Today, Horse Play, and The Chronicle of the Horse, which named her a top feature writer in 1996. Her experience with horses ranges from saddle breaking to riding Grand Prix Dressage. She rides and writes in Orange County, New York.
Reading Group Guide
1. What do you make of Ruth's advice that Judy should just take a pill and tolerate her husband's infidelity? Which sister is the true perfectionist?
2. Besides Kat, who are the most powerful women at Sankt Mai? Is there a hierarchy within the apartment? What enables Judy to overcome her initial feelings of being too inexperienced and incompetent?
3. When Judy is first approached by Speed Easton, Patty warns her that he's too wild. Is Patty being appropriately protective, or is she jealous of her friend's happiness? What does it take to bring Patty out of mourning?
4. Would Judy have been so attracted to Speed if he hadn't possessed a "diamond-encrusted" credit card? In what way does a man's financial status affect your perception of him?
5. At the end of chapter nineteen, Speed praises Judy for being so down-to-earth. He says, "You ground me," and "You are what you are." Is he being sincere when he tells her this? Does Speed do anything slowly?
6. At the horse show, Judy has to cope with a less-than-stellar performance while everyone else is winning. Marshall's return follows this event. Has her ability to handle disappointment become stronger by this point, or is she more vulnerable then?
7. Discuss the relationship between Lenni, a battered wife, and her daughter, Jillian. What does it take for Big Jim to restore Lenni's faith in men? What made her a suitable witness to Marshall's demise, ironically from a bad heart?
8. What does Diana teach Judy about being a woman? How does Diana's attitude toward love compare to that of her roommates?
9. How would you characterize Kat? Is she in any way maternal? Does she serve as a role model or nemesis to her subordinates? What does Judy recall about her own deceased mother?
10. How does Nick differ from the other men in Judy's life? What gives him such patience? Would you have considered him to be too good to be true, or could you have trusted him soon?
11. The novel conveys a consistent dose of humor, much of it deadpan. Even the title is whimsical. Yet the emotional stakes for Judy are high. Is love ultimately "horseplay" ? In what ways is it useful to view it in those terms?
12. In her jubilant ending, Judy recalls finally winning a blue ribbon and becoming engaged. What do you predict for her future of going "Forvahrtz"? What is the effect of her prediction that she will write a book, and the fact that her first name is the same as the author's?
The following questions are designed to enhance your reading group's experience of Horseplay. It's a novel packed with hot topics, so kick up your heels (or kick them off altogether) and enjoy a galloping good ride.