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Waiting for White Horses
Waiting for White Horses , set in the tall pines of northern Minnesota's spectacular lake country,is a story of trusted friendship,loss and redemption,love, and rediscovery. The enduring friendship between Grant and Will is all that sustains Grant through a series of painful losses as the seasons pass.When Grant finds love in the arms af a beautiful woman it seems that happiness is once again within reach for him. But he is forced by yet another tragedy to reassess the high price he must pay for his dreams. From Minnesota to the White House in Washington D.C.,Grant must find a way to embrace the sometimes bitter struggle that is life.
492 pages, Hardcover
First published December 19, 2003
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382 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
April 9, 2008
I got this horrific piece of crap from my mother, who loved it, as did my sis. Set in northern MN, where I grew up in Bemidji, it is essentially a romance novel for men. All of the characters are craggily handsome, if male, and timelessly beautiful, if female.
Two best friends, who seem to have some repressed erotic longing for each other, duck hunt, talk emotionally and tenderly about their feelings, love madly their spouse, in one case, and long brokenheartedly for their dead wife in the other case, and actually get invited to the Whitehouse for dinner by their old school chum who is now prez. It gets more unbelievable from there, devolving into a long diatribe against national medical care. The author portrays his boys as liberal Democrats, who act and talk like socially and fiscally conservative Republicans. Wait, I forgot...Republicans are now the "party" party. Fiscal conservatism? I give you Iraq, the most expensive war in history. But wait, I digress. Let me simply end my review by stating that I have enjoyed stomach flu, depression, the death of my cat, and a bad case of crabs I caught from a chick singer in a rock band when I was nineteen more than I enjoyed this novel.
Two best friends, who seem to have some repressed erotic longing for each other, duck hunt, talk emotionally and tenderly about their feelings, love madly their spouse, in one case, and long brokenheartedly for their dead wife in the other case, and actually get invited to the Whitehouse for dinner by their old school chum who is now prez. It gets more unbelievable from there, devolving into a long diatribe against national medical care. The author portrays his boys as liberal Democrats, who act and talk like socially and fiscally conservative Republicans. Wait, I forgot...Republicans are now the "party" party. Fiscal conservatism? I give you Iraq, the most expensive war in history. But wait, I digress. Let me simply end my review by stating that I have enjoyed stomach flu, depression, the death of my cat, and a bad case of crabs I caught from a chick singer in a rock band when I was nineteen more than I enjoyed this novel.
August 15, 2007
This really is one of my favorite books. It is funny and touching and interesting. The characters are so vivid and lovely. Not to mention, I'm a native Minnesotan so I like to see local talent do well.
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January 22, 2008Don't waste a minute of your life on this book! I read it for a local book club and found it repetitive, unnecessarily crude, poorly edited--and I hated the protagonist and his friends. Yuck. A tremendous waste of time in 492 pages.
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August 21, 2012I almost never give up on a book, but this one was so insipidly cliche' with regard to everyone being good looking, handsome, or beautiful. Barf. Even the one protagonist who "limps," so to speak, is still described as being drop-dead gorgeous.
February 9, 2022
I'm pretty sure this is the first novel I've read that was written by a dentist. The author is a dentist from Minnesota, as is the main character. This was his first novel.
I read it with my reading group.
Two of them loved it, both retired (one of them is married to a retired dentist). They liked the relationships, they laughed and cried.
Two of them didn't like it and didn't finish it. They felt the writing was amateur and annoying.
I agreed with everyone at our table.
Jorgensen and I didn't hit it off right away. Two middle aged men calling a teenaged girl fat? I hated that. The writing and dialog were awkward from the start. Had it not been a group read, recommended by a member who'd read it and loved it, I would've returned it to the library early on. Instead, I stuck it out. And it did get better! Sometimes.
Overall, it felt like a romance novel for middle-aged male duck huntlers. Which is a new niche to my reading experience, and not really my thing. Every woman is introduced as beautiful or gorgeous (with perfect teeth of course) except for the clichéd local waitress (Hilda?), who is made out to be a spectacle like a bearded lady in a circus.
The author writes about northern Minnesota and gets it right, though sometimes overly clichéd.
I found most of the humor immature at best. Sometimes much worse. Mostly unnecessary. The book is 500 pages long. Too long. Many of the "humorous" scenes could've been cut.
And yet, as much as I found the writing off-putting, the book has heart. Real heart.
There were scenes that hit the heartstrings of family, love, and relationships hard, leaving me crying my eyes out. Big Ole!!
Awkward and farfetched some moments, poignantly real at others. I haven't yet mentioned that the main characters regularly pal around with the president of the United States. It's sort of a romance novel for duck hunters and fisherman, that also involves a dash of politics.
As a whole, I liked and disliked it in equal measures, so I'm split down the middle on my rating, just as we were split down the middle as a reading group.
2.5 out of five stars for me.
*Updated to add something else about this book that really bothered me.
For a self-proclaimed hunter and outdoorsman, I can't for the life of me figure out why the author wrote the horrible hunting accident into this book. Not only is it farfetched - it wouldn't and shouldn't happen, but it reflects badly on hunting. Ethical hunters are safe hunters.
This shouldn't have happened in a book written by someone who supports hunting. This is the type of thing you would see written by someone who is anti-hunting (and also misinformed).
This bothered me enough to drop my rating. Rounding down to 2 instead of up to 3.
I read it with my reading group.
Two of them loved it, both retired (one of them is married to a retired dentist). They liked the relationships, they laughed and cried.
Two of them didn't like it and didn't finish it. They felt the writing was amateur and annoying.
I agreed with everyone at our table.
Jorgensen and I didn't hit it off right away. Two middle aged men calling a teenaged girl fat? I hated that. The writing and dialog were awkward from the start. Had it not been a group read, recommended by a member who'd read it and loved it, I would've returned it to the library early on. Instead, I stuck it out. And it did get better! Sometimes.
Overall, it felt like a romance novel for middle-aged male duck huntlers. Which is a new niche to my reading experience, and not really my thing. Every woman is introduced as beautiful or gorgeous (with perfect teeth of course) except for the clichéd local waitress (Hilda?), who is made out to be a spectacle like a bearded lady in a circus.
The author writes about northern Minnesota and gets it right, though sometimes overly clichéd.
I found most of the humor immature at best. Sometimes much worse. Mostly unnecessary. The book is 500 pages long. Too long. Many of the "humorous" scenes could've been cut.
And yet, as much as I found the writing off-putting, the book has heart. Real heart.
There were scenes that hit the heartstrings of family, love, and relationships hard, leaving me crying my eyes out. Big Ole!!
Awkward and farfetched some moments, poignantly real at others. I haven't yet mentioned that the main characters regularly pal around with the president of the United States. It's sort of a romance novel for duck hunters and fisherman, that also involves a dash of politics.
As a whole, I liked and disliked it in equal measures, so I'm split down the middle on my rating, just as we were split down the middle as a reading group.
2.5 out of five stars for me.
*Updated to add something else about this book that really bothered me.
For a self-proclaimed hunter and outdoorsman, I can't for the life of me figure out why the author wrote the horrible hunting accident into this book. Not only is it farfetched - it wouldn't and shouldn't happen, but it reflects badly on hunting. Ethical hunters are safe hunters.
This shouldn't have happened in a book written by someone who supports hunting. This is the type of thing you would see written by someone who is anti-hunting (and also misinformed).
This bothered me enough to drop my rating. Rounding down to 2 instead of up to 3.
December 17, 2009
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I laughed out loud, I cried, I felt like I really knew the characters by the final page...It was hard to get started as it felt like more of a guy read, but once I got going, it was hard to put it down.
August 5, 2022
I was enjoying this book set in Minnesota in a town where my parents met. Enjoyed getting to know the main characters, two middle aged men who had a deep friendship and have dealt with loss and struggles of aging parents and also happened to be close friends with the President of the United States (I figured this was plausible because I have a friend who is close friends with Michelle Obama).
And then last night, I came to this passage. The setup is that the two friends and president are having a drink in the White House and the president is recruiting one of the friends to a committee:
“After a significant pause in the dialogue, Will spoke up once again. ‘Tell him you’ll do it if you can carry a gun… show the fairies you mean business!’ Will turned to the President. ‘Maybe he could just shoot somebody right off the bat. You know, the first time some rat bastard says some bullshit thing, he can shoot ‘em in the knee… sort of establish his presence.’ He turned back to Grant. ‘That would make it better for you, wouldn’t it?’ Will nodded ‘yes’ while raising his eyebrows to question Grant.They all laughed out loud. It was Will’s way of backing the President and encouraging Grant.”
A friend shared that there are so many books to read that it is okay to give up on the ones that don’t grab you. I would say the same about those that offend you. After enjoying getting to know these characters, I really don’t want anything to do with them, or care about them. As in real life, I don’t want anything to do with homophobic people or those who joke about shooting people with whom you disagree.
So… fuck this book! It’s going in the recycling bin tonight.
And in protest, I’m claiming this as a fully read book for my 2022 reading challenge.
And then last night, I came to this passage. The setup is that the two friends and president are having a drink in the White House and the president is recruiting one of the friends to a committee:
“After a significant pause in the dialogue, Will spoke up once again. ‘Tell him you’ll do it if you can carry a gun… show the fairies you mean business!’ Will turned to the President. ‘Maybe he could just shoot somebody right off the bat. You know, the first time some rat bastard says some bullshit thing, he can shoot ‘em in the knee… sort of establish his presence.’ He turned back to Grant. ‘That would make it better for you, wouldn’t it?’ Will nodded ‘yes’ while raising his eyebrows to question Grant.They all laughed out loud. It was Will’s way of backing the President and encouraging Grant.”
A friend shared that there are so many books to read that it is okay to give up on the ones that don’t grab you. I would say the same about those that offend you. After enjoying getting to know these characters, I really don’t want anything to do with them, or care about them. As in real life, I don’t want anything to do with homophobic people or those who joke about shooting people with whom you disagree.
So… fuck this book! It’s going in the recycling bin tonight.
And in protest, I’m claiming this as a fully read book for my 2022 reading challenge.
April 21, 2025
dnf. I don't easily give up on a book, but I couldn't take any more. Superficial horny old men who joke about shooting people, drunk driving, refer to opposing political parties as faeries and use other slurs. Every woman is judged on her appearance or that she can drink beer and I'm tired of hearing about grant being attracted to every single one of them. Beyond finished even trying with this boring book
October 14, 2022
It was a good read
October 19, 2021
This was a good book by a Minnesota author--mostly set in northern Minnesota--what's not to like? Some people reviewed this book and said it was not for them. Remember, if you start reading a book you don't like, you don't have to finish it! :) I will read more books by this author.
December 30, 2012
My husband and I have both read this book. It's about love, grief, self-awareness, and family relationships. Maybe the best part, the part that appealed to my husband, was the fact that the main character is a man. Jorgenson did a wondeful job meeting men where they are (according to my husband).
Done with reading this for the second time. I really liked it both times. I'll be interested to hear how our book club members like it. To me, Jorgenson provided me (a woman) an intimate perspective of men's feeling toward best friends, wives, other women, parents, and children, as they handle death, tragedy, and grief. The setting resonated well with me, living in Minnesota.
Finished it the first time in summer of 2009.
Done with reading this for the second time. I really liked it both times. I'll be interested to hear how our book club members like it. To me, Jorgenson provided me (a woman) an intimate perspective of men's feeling toward best friends, wives, other women, parents, and children, as they handle death, tragedy, and grief. The setting resonated well with me, living in Minnesota.
Finished it the first time in summer of 2009.
March 18, 2009
Emotionally draining but exquisitely moving story of a middle aged man as he faces and handles the deaths of three people close to him in a short time. Tempted to withdraw fro life and love (and he does for several months), he finally draws up the courage and hope to live and love again. Very realistic. Powerful backdrop of duck-hunting and sportsmanship and the beautiful Minnesota lake country.
Very moving portrayal of the father-son relationship as the father's physical health fades and he needs to be cared for. Very poignant.
Very moving portrayal of the father-son relationship as the father's physical health fades and he needs to be cared for. Very poignant.
January 11, 2015
this book was not at all what I was expecting but turned out to be one of my favorite books. it had me in tears and then laughing out loud! not just once but several times. it's a great read for men and women alike. so glad a friend recommended it. this will be one of my most recommended books. the reason i decided to read this books is because the author grew up near my home town and i love to support local authors. I'm so glad i did. thanks Nathan, for a great, heartfelt story!
November 10, 2015
I read this book quite a while ago and everyone I lent the book to loved it also. It was fabulous. It was one of the first books that I read that I actually felt like I was really there in the scene. i have read all 3 of Nathan Jorgenson's books and loved everyone of them. I check from time to time to see if he has written any new onres
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August 24, 2008http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Thanks, Brian. Because now I NEVER EVER have to read this book.
Thanks, Brian. Because now I NEVER EVER have to read this book.
April 20, 2010
My next Book Club book.... MN theme, and a love story. Hmmmm.....
March 12, 2019
Maybe it's a gender thing. My brother highly recommended this book and I generally share his taste in reading material. But not this time.
I didn't have an issue with the setting--Northern Minnesota, characters--a couple of small-town professionals who live for hunting and fishing and value their relationships with family and friends. I don't think I even have a problem with the theme--take time for the things that are really important in life.
No, it's the quality of the writing. Too much narration and too little dialogue. Too much telling and far too little showing. Jorgensen could benefit from the writing critique I once received--use more action verbs and far fewer being verbs. I got tired of him telling me how a character felt after something occurred. A good writer lets me inside a character's head by his or her actions and thoughts--not the narrator telling me after the fact how he felt.
My brother gave me two Jorgensen books. It's doubtful I'll tackle the second one.
I didn't have an issue with the setting--Northern Minnesota, characters--a couple of small-town professionals who live for hunting and fishing and value their relationships with family and friends. I don't think I even have a problem with the theme--take time for the things that are really important in life.
No, it's the quality of the writing. Too much narration and too little dialogue. Too much telling and far too little showing. Jorgensen could benefit from the writing critique I once received--use more action verbs and far fewer being verbs. I got tired of him telling me how a character felt after something occurred. A good writer lets me inside a character's head by his or her actions and thoughts--not the narrator telling me after the fact how he felt.
My brother gave me two Jorgensen books. It's doubtful I'll tackle the second one.
September 11, 2018
I am reading this book and duck hunting? a dentist, oral surgeon and the President? Give me a break and I am ready to stuff it. But one of my friends LOVED this book so I read the whole thing. If I had only known...Everyone I know is in this book one way or another. I am laughing out loud and I am crying and I mean CRYING...These people are my age. I fell in love with my husband listening to Gordon Lightfoot. I live in MN and one of my "happy" places is Big Sand Lake. I now totally understand why Scot loves duck hunting and why my brothers and dad love hunting and fishing. It's their happy place. It reinforces why I tell people that I love them. I would give this book 10 stars if I could and I am telling lotsa people to read it. This will be one of my all time favorites ever.
August 6, 2024
I think for now, for the first time, I can let the journey be the destination...let the search be the treasure.
Grant Thorson and Will Campbell have been best friends since dental school. Their love of hunting and fishing in the great north woods of Minnesota drew them together and their boyish sense of humor solidifed their friendship. When Grant's life is affected by a series of losses, Will is there to listen and support him. Just as Grant is beginning to emerge from his grief and begin life anew, another tragedy strikes that will send Grant reeling.
This novel is a beautiful ode to male friendships and their importance in navigating life's tragedies. If you love spending time in nature and marveling at the beauty that surrounds us, you will enjoy this novel. I would rate it 4 1/2 stars!
Grant Thorson and Will Campbell have been best friends since dental school. Their love of hunting and fishing in the great north woods of Minnesota drew them together and their boyish sense of humor solidifed their friendship. When Grant's life is affected by a series of losses, Will is there to listen and support him. Just as Grant is beginning to emerge from his grief and begin life anew, another tragedy strikes that will send Grant reeling.
This novel is a beautiful ode to male friendships and their importance in navigating life's tragedies. If you love spending time in nature and marveling at the beauty that surrounds us, you will enjoy this novel. I would rate it 4 1/2 stars!
February 6, 2022
I had zero expectations when starting this, only deciding to read it after a brief recommendation from a friend. It's far from the action-packed fantasy and mystery romance novels I normally read, but it did have a lot of realistic life experiences: loss of loved ones, dealing with grief, long-distance relationships, kids going away to college, etc. I loved all the Minnesota "up north" references, hunting and fishing stories, and small-town friendships. The writing was pretty disjointed, though. It's mainly from one character's POV, but randomly switches to the thoughts of other characters numerous times. There were also several times I felt like an arc of the story was just left unfinished. If anything, it read more like a 2-year section of a biography than a full-fledged fiction novel.
April 26, 2018
I really, really wanted to like this novel. I tried over and over, but I did not hold my interest and it took me 1.5 weeks to finish it as the author droned on, and on, and on with too many details in parts of the book. This books could have been about 200 pages shorter. I realize that this is his first book. I hope he improves over time. I would entertain the thought of reading another book by him taking place in northern MN as I love that area and I could relate to many of the activities, loons, fishing.
February 27, 2022
This was excellent. A story about love and loss, whether between parents and children, best friends, lovers. Duck hunting and MN lake life is a theme throughout and makes it very relatable for many of us who live here. The main love story was very touching, and exactly what true love is like, if people are patient enough to wait for it, and vulnerable enough to let it in.
October 27, 2023
I loved this book! Maybe because I am partial to books and authors from Minnesota! Love is a central theme as well as grief. It was such an enjoyable story of a man who loves deeply and experiences many losses. Hunting is a big part of this story which I can appreciate because my dad has told me many stories of the hunting land! This book and author won’t disappoint!
April 5, 2023
Sorry but I have to be honest. This is a very poorly written book. I always read books very thoroughly, but this one was so painful I had to very lightly skim it after the first five chapters; I just couldn’t bear to waste any more time on it.
November 4, 2017
Love this book. A true tale about the ups and
Downs of a friendship.
Downs of a friendship.
September 6, 2018
4 1/2 stars!! Very good!!
November 5, 2018
My dentist's brother wrote this book so I thought I'd try it. Wow! What a great book. I bought it for everyone that year, including my son who read it more than once. Such a good story teller.
February 3, 2019
A little too much hunting and fishing for me, but it’s a heartwarming tale of friendship in northern MN. And, the author is from my hometown....bonus!
April 25, 2019
‘Reminded me of a Hallmark movie.
June 16, 2019
Good story about loss and love
It was a good story about life, love and loss. How to handle despair after accumulated losses. I was somewhat predictable but good.
It was a good story about life, love and loss. How to handle despair after accumulated losses. I was somewhat predictable but good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews