Although HORSEPOWER, Annette Israel's sweet memoir about a beloved horse, is a slight little book, it packs quite an emotional punch. I suspect it might appeal to ordinary people, and not just to the horsey set, or the "horse sect," as Israel calls them, but to pet lovers everywhere who have loved a pet deeply and then, inevitably, had to deal with losing it.

Not too long ago I read another book about a horse named Snowman, a book that climbed all the way up to the NY Times list of bestsellers. But personally, I found the story to be flat and unengaging. Not so with HORSEPOWER. It grabs you because the author, not a professional writer, had so much invested in it. Israel's deep love for horses, and particularly for Ren, a Belgian draft horse she kept for five years until his death at the very ripe old age of thirty, is obvious throughout the book.

Her narrative, while sometimes marred by awkward constructions and tortured metaphors, is earnest and sincere, which is what saves it. I'm not a horse person particularly, but I do love animals. Having lost two dearly loved dogs in the past year, I could relate to Israel's story. I'll give it three and three-quarter stars. And will recommend it highly to those who fall into that "horse sect". ( )