Selected for Secret Santa from the Wakefield Hospice shop in Horbury.

Happy Christmas from your UK Secret Santa.
I thought this looked interesting. I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you Deltic for your Secret Santa gifts. Not read this book before but I will give it a go

Wasn't sure that I was going to like this book as although I love dogs (and they had lots of dogs and I have a lurcher myself) I have no interest in horses or horse racing, which is the main topic of this book but I thought I would give it a shot as I didn't really know much about Clare Balding and wasn't awfully interested in her either. But, now having read the book I have an awful lot of respect for her. She is a really interesting character and the story is based mainly on her very early years growing up with very horsey parents and as one person described her (when she was just a child) a 'very spirited' young girl. I thought her father was very harsh on her at times and appeared to have more interest in her younger brother who was the more important boy. Her father was apt to think she would not amount to much as she was too stupid and that women were inferior to men which of course got Clare's hackles rising and constant striving to prove her father wrong. She also became a bit of a feminist and would have long arguments (or debates?) about his biased views. It bewildered me (and Clare) that her mother always seemed to agree with him. Well, she ultimately proved her worth in the end and got the respect she so desperately craved from her father who loved horses more than his own flesh and blood.

Book passed on to a non-bookcrosser. You never know, one day it may be journaled again