Horse Bite

by Dave O'Leary

Horse Bite is the story of Dave and his efforts to find a bit of permanence in the balance of the things we create and the things we do to sustain ourselves. His journey jumps between morning pit stops in the ubiquitous coffee shops of Seattle and the evenings of beers and bartenders and music clubs where some bedrooms are longed for, some found. Everything slips away, though, until he meets elusive Yvonne who brings the realization from past and present that things "do end ... so we write books and songs and poems. It is the only way to make love eternal." At its core, Dave's tale is one of monster G chords, poetry, booze, goodbyes, and the chance at that which matters most of all, the heart of a woman.

280 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2011

About the author

Dave O'Leary is a novelist, musician and music writer living in West Seattle. His first novel, Horse Bite, was published in October 2011 (Infinitum) and was followed soon
thereafter with a short story, Condoms on Christmas (The Monarch Review - http://www.themonarchreview.org/condo...) in May 2012.


The Music Book, his second novel, will be published by Seattle-based Booktrope in October 2014.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't describe how much I loved this book. Life and love in Seattle at the Cheesecake Factory! Take your time. Savor the authors style and enjoy the music.

[Norelle Done · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dave O'Malley traverses Seattle's coffee shops, bars, band gigs and poetry readings over the course of about 15 months, during which time he experiences 'Forty', has a one night stand or two, falls in love, and makes some major life changes. O'Malley is a programmer who is a poet, freelancer, and musician when he's not at his office job. He is on the verge of turning 40, and is in somewhat of a reflective and restless state for most of the book until he meets Yvonne, who brings with her fascination, love, and heartbreak, but Dave is without the regrets he seems to have experienced in other relationships.

The book was fascinating to read, mostly because I've never read anything like it. It's tone was easy to relate to, and I felt like I was a fly on the wall for his natural and unusual (for me) experiences.

Plot: Unconventional and against form at first glance, Horse Bite seems to simply wander in chronological order of events. But there's so much more to it. Dave experiences life and reminisces about his past throughout, and it's not until you recognize that Dave is the plot that things really start to come together.

Characters: Although no one other than Dave O'Malley is really dealt with on a level of character development, the reader really experiences his mind and feelings in a way that honestly feels like you're really in his head. It was a very interesting way to learn a character, from the inside out, and it wasn't of bad taste, either (like being inside the head of some male characters has been before).

Setting: It's Seattle. Setting doesn't really come into play for this book, except to describe the bars and coffee shops that Dave works in from time to time, but when he gets into describing it, he does so with you hardly noticing, but feeling, smelling, touching, tasting all the way.

Originality: I said in his feature, and I'll say so again; this whole story and style feels new and unique. It's unexpected, interesting, and different.

Honestly, Horse Bite and Dave O'Leary really do deserve a great review. If you're looking for something new and interesting to read, something that flows and moves like poetry without being confusing or archaic, this should be the next book on your stack to read.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a difference in how good a craftsman an author is and how good a story he tells and this book for me illustrates that difference. O’Leary is a good craftsman and his writing often hits the right notes, but these are but short measures not an entire song. The story follows Dave O’Malley, a would be poet and musician about to turn forty as he seeks happiness and love. I found myself somehow reminded of “Flowers for Algernon”, as this is a tale of the connections we make and how our path through life intersects others often for only a brief time. Unfortunately, I found the overall result uneven and not up to the potential shown by the author.

[Stephen Tow · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, this site is difficult to get around...let me get that out of the way.

In Horse Bite, you'll travel around Seattle with native Dave O'Leary...from coffee shop to coffee shop as he wrestles with onsetting middle age, mortality, and the meaning of life. Written in the first person, O'Leary does a wonderful job taking us all on a life journey we can all relate to.

[Tab Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

It was a captivating tale of life, confusion, and desire. It thought a little wordy at times but I enjoyed it. It kept me in the story, I find it very difficult to find a story that can do that.

[Jonna Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the special things about reading in general is the variety of selections out there and the difference in experiences one can have from book to book. This is a very personal story written by an adult male about his gradual discovery that he might, actually, want a lasting relationship with a woman. Romance from a man's perspective. I got sucked in and held on, even as I knew the plot would not go too deep. Obviously a first novel, but fun to read something different.

[Vedat Çelaj · Rating 1 out of 5]

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[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the first chapter or so and figuring out what the book was about, I didn't think I'd like it much, but it ended up being pretty okay.