Christine O. (crissyreader) reviewed Flying Changes (Annemarie Zimmer, Bk 2) on + 275 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I rarely cry when I read books, but this one got me going, I guess because it was so sad and also so sweet. The characters are real and lovable, I was rooting for them all the way. I'd definitely read Riding Lessons first. This sequel could stand on its own, but would be more meaningful after reading the previous book. Great writing from the author of Water for Elephants.
Helpful Score: 3
A great follow-up to "Riding Lessons". Just make sure you read them in order - there are references that won't make since unless you have already read "Riding Lessons".
Helpful Score: 3
I liked this book even better than the first one. This one starts up right where the first one left off, with Annemarie and Eva living at Mutti's house. Annemarie is giving lessons now and Eva is being her usual wild self. After a run-in with some trouble, Eva has a chance to go train with an Olympic trainer an hour away from the farm. At the first horse show they attend, Eva makes a bunch of mistakes and trouble starts to brew. Roger and his new wife are supposed to be at the horse show to watch Eva, but they aren't. I can't say much more about that because it would give the story away. Annemarie thinks Dan is going to propose on her 40th birthday, but when she opens her gift, she gets something that is unexpected. In the end, the whole family comes together to fight for someone that they truly love. I thought that this was a very wonderful book. If you liked the first, you will love the second one.
Helpful Score: 2
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are three dimensional and the setting of horses and jumping is mixed with the feelings of a woman coming to terms with her life, her daughter and her lover. The main character is vulnerable, spunky and emotional which I really enjoyed.
Helpful Score: 2
I really enjoyed this. It's by the author of Water For Elephants, she writes really well. This story revolves around horses and is about a mother who was a competitive rider and her daughter who wants to ride in the Olympics. A love story is intertwined and the man is a vet involved in horse rescue. A really good story about a family and the inevitability of change.
Helpful Score: 2
Excellent book, even better than Riding Lessons, the first book that I loved. I think she develops her chartacters better and you empasize and understands the decisions they may more. I'll admitt I'm a horse person, so I liked hearing some of the details, but even if you are not very familiar with this world, she makes it understandable for the masses. I also enjoy the generational theme of relationships with her own mother and her daughter. Living together is never easy. I hope she writes a third!
Helpful Score: 2
Learned a lot about how dedicated and wealthy you need to be to own horses. This book has all the elements of real life from joy to worry to grief. It follows the book, Riding Lessons, with enough detail that if you hadn't read it, you are not confused. Worth your time!
Helpful Score: 1
This is a great sequel to the first book. For anyone involved with horses it is a very enjoyable read--I finished it in a day or so.
Helpful Score: 1
I totally devoured this book. It's even better than the first one "Riding Lessons". It's a terrific coming of age story about a woman almost 40 who finally comes to terms with herself and the almost fatal accident in her teen years forming emotional and phsychological displacement for most of her adult life. The characters are well formed and developed and emotions are depicted with beautiful care and understanding. I'd love to have these people as my family, and I can't wait to read another by this very talented author.
Wow!The characters that had grown on me in riding lessons became even more alive. I would not have guessed the trials or outcome of this book. Annemarie, Dan, Eva and Mutti grow emotionally and support each other. It is a great read.
This book was not well written. I was surprised how mundane and obvious the plot was and how unlikable the female lead. Disappointing.
I enjoyed this more than "Riding Lessons." Annemarie is thrown a lot this year but through her trials and tribulations you're pulling for her. This was a great read.
Great sequel. I loved it and found myself crying and cheering all at the same time. I wish there were more about this amazing family. Gruen is fantastic at evoking emotions and having a real voice to her characters.
Good book.
Sequel to "Riding Lessons.........Twenty years after her competitive riding career died, Annemarie Zimmer worries that her realtionship with the man she loves is off course, and fears that daughter Eva's own dreams of Olymipc glory will carry her far from home....and into harm's way. When the teenager Eva is invited to audition for a world-class trainer, Annemarie realizes that she must give Eva a chance to soar. But when Eva falls in love with a spectacular blue roan Nokota who hasn't let anyone ride him since his arrival at the barn, Annmarie's doubts come crashing back. It is a time of change at Maple Brook, when fears must be saddled and broken. And one ermarkable family must learn how to deal with Flying Changes.....A great read, I couldn't put it down.......Another success for Sara Gruen.
I read Riding Lessons first, not knowing this author at all. It started out slow but ended ok. When I saw this book, Flying Changes, I wasn't sure if I was going to read it but decided to anyway since it was a sequel to Riding Lessons. Oh my word, I read this so fast!! You will enjoy this book. As a mother or 3 children, all of whom have experienced teenagedom, I feel for the main character in this book. So much happens to these characters, good and bad, in such a short period of time. The end will leave you in awe.
This book is Sara Gruen at her best. Flying Changes follows the lives of a family that feels so real, they could be your neighbors or your best friends. I could not put this book down...it took me two days to finish it and I immediately recommended it to everyone I knew who loved to read. If you want a book with some meat on it, something you can really sink your teeth into, Flying Changes is it.
Flying changes, the sequel to Riding lessons is just as good as the first book, which is unusual much of the time. Several things happening throughout, making you not want to put the book down until it was finished. Loved it. One of my favorite books of the year.
I actually enjoyed this book more than the first. Light reading. Great if you're a horse person who has competed!
Excellent read
I really enjoyed this book. The dynamics of mother-daughter relationships in three generations is very we'll captured. Add to that a girls love of horses and it's a great emotional read! Read the first book too 'Riding Lessons' very good!
Melanie C. (melaniecourtney) reviewed Flying Changes (Annemarie Zimmer, Bk 2) on + 5 more book reviews
This book is an easy read.
Sherry C. (sheshe2madison) reviewed Flying Changes (Annemarie Zimmer, Bk 2) on + 24 more book reviews
I think this book is better than Riding Lessons, the first Annemarie Zimmer book. It has everything: drama, humor, romance. A thoroughly enjoyable read!
Katherine R. (magnoliafly) reviewed Flying Changes (Annemarie Zimmer, Bk 2) on + 5 more book reviews
If you love horses this is a great novel to read.
Very nice horse story adventure.
This is the sequel to the book "Riding Lessons" It is very good!
I loved this book! It is a sequel to "Riding Lessons" but can easily be read without reading the other one first.
Linda S. (GoneToTheDogs) reviewed Flying Changes (Annemarie Zimmer, Bk 2) on + 625 more book reviews
Romance and Horses -- Great Story
The sequel to "Riding Lessons" a poignat and exhilarating tale of embracing life and galloping free from a remarkable new voice in American Literature.
This is a great sequel to "Riding Lessons"! If you loved Riding Lessons, you will absolutely enjoy this book!
A quick summer read, not too taxing at any level. There is one passage at the very end that I loved. If you've ever ridden you'll recognize the part where our heroine is reading her horse's ears. It took me back to one of the grumpier animals I used to ride who always said "NO WAY" with his ears.
This book was excellent, This as the other books of Sara Gruen are not the normally the books i read but I was impressed with this book.
This was a fun, quick read. Great for those of us who once (still dream of) rode. It's fun to re-live old memories.
Very good book a little too tidy an ending but overall satisfying conclusion to Annemarie Zimmer's story.
Joyce B. (tripletmom) -
Awesome book. Follow up to Riding Lessons. This time Annemarie has to sit back as Eva grows up. Lots of emotional things happen towards the end of the book. Find out if Annemarie will end up with her true love Dan.
I loved this book...i finished it in a day and could not put it down. I wish that there was another one after it.
great story
A good read.
Diane B. (horsegalreading) reviewed Flying Changes (Annemarie Zimmer, Bk 2) on + 7 more book reviews
Couldn't wait to get into how the writer would develop these characters she introduced in the 1st novel "Riding Lessons". She did not disappoint. Throughly enjoyed!
Louisa R. (motrailrider) -
Couldn't put it down!
I tend to read mysteries and SF almost exclusively, but occasionally I'll grab something different. I own horses so I thought I might like this. I picked it up not knowing it's a sequel to another book. That became obvious almost immediately; it wasn't a major obstacle to enjoyment, but there are a lot of references to incidents you're assumed to know about.
Nice easy story with sympathetic characters although Annemarie is a little whiny for my taste. I've never met a germaphobic horsewoman, we're all covered in horse poop half the time, but I guess it could happen. But she feels real to me regardless. Total connection with the teenage daughter, Gruen nailed it there. Lots of emotional moments and a heart-warming ending.
But since I mostly read mysteries I can't help being a little nit-picky. I don't want to put spoilers though... so how did Mutti know about the big event later in the book? Who told her when even the partner didn't know? It's not like it matters, just something I noticed.
Bottom line: a good story, good characters, made a nice change of pace from my usual reading.
Nice easy story with sympathetic characters although Annemarie is a little whiny for my taste. I've never met a germaphobic horsewoman, we're all covered in horse poop half the time, but I guess it could happen. But she feels real to me regardless. Total connection with the teenage daughter, Gruen nailed it there. Lots of emotional moments and a heart-warming ending.
But since I mostly read mysteries I can't help being a little nit-picky. I don't want to put spoilers though... so how did Mutti know about the big event later in the book? Who told her when even the partner didn't know? It's not like it matters, just something I noticed.
Bottom line: a good story, good characters, made a nice change of pace from my usual reading.
ANDRE' E. J. (Expeditious) -
Wonderful - good read
This is the sequel to Riding Lessons another one of Sara Gruen's books.
