Mi caballo

by Genki Kawamura, Fernando Cordobés (Translator)

Vivir un amor sin palabras en un mundo inundado de ellas. Una novela, basada en hechos reales, sobre un flechazo peligroso y un desfalco millonario, del autor del bestseller "Si los gatos desaparecieran del mundo".

Yuko Setoguchi, una mujer que trabaja como administrativa en las oficinas de un astillero, se cruza por casualidad en la carretera de camino al trabajo con un caballo de carreras retirado que se ha escapado del camión que lo transporta, y e interpreta el incidente como un golpe del destino. El caballo se llama Strada. Cuando lo monta en un club hípico de las afueras de la ciudad tiene la impresión de que su corazón conecta de inmediato con el del animal, algo que no le ha sucedido con nadie.

A partir de ese momento se obsesiona con él y para ayudarlo a recuperar la gloria perdida, comienza a desfalcar dinero de la empresa, falsifica documentos y la cantidad que en un primer momento fue solo un préstamo, supera los cien millones de yenes cuando quiere darse cuenta... "Strada, huiremos juntos".

Genres: Fiction, Japan, Contemporary, Animals, Horses, Audiobook, Japanese Literature

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2024

About the author

Associated Names:
* Genki Kawamura (English)
* 川村元気 (Japanese)
* คาวามูระ เก็งกิ (Thai)

Genki Kawamura (川村元気) is a Japanese film producer, writer, screenwriter.

中文 >> 川村元氣.

Genki Kawamura is an internationally bestselling author. If Cats Disappeared from the World was his first novel and has sold over two million copies in Japan and has been translated into over fourteen different languages. His other novels are Million Dollar Man and April Come She Will. He has also written children's picture books including Tinny & The Balloon, MOOM, and Patissier Monster. Kawamura occasionally produces, directs, and writes movies, and is a showrunner. He was a producer of the blockbuster anime film Your Name, which is currently being developed into an live-action film by J. J. Abrams.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an odd little book - a Japanese woman embezzles a huge amount of money so that she can buy, maintain, and compete a thoroughbred horse. Lord knows I understand coveting thy neighbor's horse, but I have yet to do crimes for it. Still, an interesting thought experiment to go down that rabbit hole. It might be worth a re-listen at some point; it's a short book that I think would benefit from not chopping up into small segments, as I did when listening. I liked the narrator, for the most part, although a personal quirk of mine is that I found the repeat singing she did a little creepy. Maybe not as off-putting for everyone.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Alex Pler · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

"La oscuridad que tanto me atemoriza se transforma con él en un hermoso mundo en armonía".

Acabo de leer 'Mi caballo' escuchando Heroes de Bowie y algo de la épica impotencia de esa canción tiene esta novela. Sentirte invencible aunque sepas que es imposible. Un libro perturbador sobre una mujer apocada que se aferra a un caballo como tablón salvavidas en mitad de una vida que no le gusta. Una huida hacia adelante que te deja sin aliento.

[Aida Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atención a esta novela queridos,tan solo 140 páginas de una historia inspirada en hechos reales

Un comienzo potente,una mujer que frena su vespa porque un caballo está en mitad de la carretera
Sentimos la mirada de esas pupilas negras,escuchamos sus pisadas como si fuesen un diálogo más :

“Pa ca,pa ca,po co,po co”

A partir de ahí…Surge la obsesión de una oficinista que trabaja en unos astilleros

Yuko desfalca la empresa para tener a Strada

La novela,la contraportada más o menos os da estos datos.

Pero el libro va mucho más allá,tiene ese punto original de la literatura asiática y su sensibilidad,entre líneas …Temas como el clasismo ,la sustitución de empleados por máquinas y lo que para mi es la esencia :

Los apegos

Aquí se lleva al extremo con la relación de la mujer y el caballo .

Pero es indudable que los animales interpretan los estados emocionales de los humanos y que buscamos su afecto

Pero da un paso más con la incomprensión entre una madre y una hija…los afectos…los apegos de nuevo
Los apegos,esos vínculos que buscan seguridad y consuelo

Si nunca habéis leído literatura asiática ,este es vuestro libro y si lo hacéis de forma habitual…este libro es un “huevo de Pascua”

Dato:El autor,Genki Kawamura”, fue productor de la película“Your name” y escribió el bestseller “Si los gatos desaparecieran del mundo”
El talento y los cambios de registro
le convierten en garantía de disfrute

[Tara Breuer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when the life you dream about becomes more real than the life you're actually living?

I'll admit, the first four chapters were tough to get through. I felt lost, unsure of where the story was going, and never fully hooked. As a translated novel, I couldn't help but wonder if some of the rhythm and flow were lost in translation.
Then came Chapter 5, and everything started to come together.

Set in Japan, the story follows Yuko, a woman in her forties whose life has become stagnant, repetitive, and seemingly without direction. After a chance encounter with a horse she feels strangely connected to, she becomes consumed by the need to find him again. What follows is a reflection on longing, regret, memory, and the dangerous power of desire.

The novel moves between the present, the past, and a dreamlike state, often blurring the lines between them. At times, I found myself wondering where I was in the timeline, but once I settled into the story, I became invested. The slow start made it difficult to connect with what became a very compelling narrative.
What fascinated me most was the question at the heart of the book:
was Yuko trying to restore the horse to his former glory, or was she really trying to reclaim something she had lost in herself? Was what she believed real, or simply what she wanted to be real?

My favorite character was Mugikur, the older stable owner. Through his love of horses, he sees clearly through both fantasy and reality. He serves as the voice of consequence, wisdom, and hard-earned truth in a story filled with uncertainty.

This book left me unsettled in the best possible way. It's a heavy, thoughtful read that asks difficult questions:
Does what we want to believe overpower reason?
Can our dreams and desires destroy us?
How far would we go to chase the life we think we deserve?
And what would that cost us in the end?

A 3 and a half-star read.

It took longer than usual to draw me in, but by the end, it left me with far more questions than answers, and I've found myself thinking about them ever since. These questions are not only about the book, but about the choices we make, what drives us and the cost decisions can have when our vision is clouded.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC to read and review.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Horse And I by Jenki Kawamarra, on her way to work Yuki said a Gucci saw a black horse in the middle of the highway and automatically felt a kinship with it she not only got it back to the stables where he lived she soon became a visitor and would ride him almost every day when the stable owner told her the horse was going to be sold to a rich lady who already had horses Yuki could not let that happen. she definitely wanted to buy it but didn’t have the funds to make that kind of purchase and this is when she started embezzling from her company. soon there was talk of an audit and although Yuki didn’t take it seriously when she learned another woman was taking her position her and the now named horse Estrada‘s song came into her mind and calmed her down she really felt a fanciful bond with this horse and felt as if he knew her inner emotions and knew who Yuki was at the core of her being. She soon hired a jockey and started putting Astrada in horse races. in the meantime a man who was sweet on Yuki tried to give her a way out of her embezzling but I don’t know if Yuki felt untouchable because it was never explained to the reader but once she learned the second race where Estrada got surprised by lightning and took off hurting his rider and eventually would injure himself. this is just the first of many things that start going wrong for Yuki but I must be honest the way this book ended wasn’t anything I saw coming. I do want to say I thought she would use the sex tape she had of her boss and that lady having sex in his office but no no she didn’t do that I found Yuki to be delusional and that times bordering on insane. Again I was not expecting this book to end the way it did I totally enjoyed it and that ending just made it that much better. I mean if you really think about It… Yeah it couldn’t end any other way. I thought the narrator susie Nakamura did a great job I mean they were parts of this book I knew she wanted to laugh at it but she was totally professional gave a great performance and deserves five stars for that alone. What an entertaining listen. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Stephanie · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

The Horse and I by Genki Kawamura is a distinctive and unusual story centred on a woman who embezzles money to buy and care for a horse. It is an intriguing premise that immediately raises questions about desperation, personal choices, and the lengths someone might go to for something that gives their life meaning.

What makes this story stand out is its unconventional approach to its subject matter. The protagonist’s decision is far from straightforward, leaving room to consider the motivations behind her actions and the complicated relationship between desire and responsibility. The horse becomes a central part of the narrative, and the story explores an unusual situation that doesn’t necessarily offer easy answers or simple judgments.

I found the story unique, although I’m still unsure how I feel about the ending. It left me with mixed feelings, and I haven’t entirely settled on my interpretation of how everything comes together. While I appreciate stories that leave room for reflection, I would have liked a little more certainty about my own feelings toward the conclusion. Even so, the fact that I’m still thinking about it suggests that the story has given me something to consider beyond the listening experience itself.

The English translation was well written, making the story flow naturally and allowing its distinctive premise to come through clearly. The audiobook narration was also well done, complementing the writing and helping bring the characters and events to life. Both contributed to an enjoyable listening experience.

Overall, The Horse and I is an unusual and thought-provoking story that may appeal to readers looking for something different from a conventional narrative. Although I’m still undecided about the ending, I appreciated the originality of the premise, the quality of the translation, and the audiobook performance. It may not have left me with a completely settled impression, but it certainly offered a distinctive reading experience.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing this ALC. This is my honest review.

[Rhys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was so much to think about - in a good way. The Horse and I is short enough that describing much of it would probably spoil the experience, but I really appreciated the unreliable yet compelling narrator that Kawamura has crafted.

She's an incredibly lonely individual who struggles to connect to others after an incident in her once-happy childhood; despite the story being from her perspective, Yuko doesn't speak a word until near the end of the book. Her life primarily consists of working as a clerk in a shipyard, doing the finances for the shipyard's union, and doomscrolling on her phone. This changes after a chance encounter with Strada, a former racehorse who escapes on the way to his new home at a rundown riding club. He quickly becomes the center of her life, with Yuko even embezzling funds from her union to quickly buy Strada and block another rider at the club from purchasing him first.

But it isn't enough for the two to just ride together: Yuko wants to make Strada a champion - if not in racing, then as a competitive jumper - and costs to keep Strada are adding up. Yuko has to decide what she's willing to do to keep Strada and her together.

Without saying too much, this is a story about the human-animal connection and the way humans can project onto animals. How much do we know about animal feelings? What does it mean to have a silent connection with another being?

I don't think Kawamura gives readers answers to these questions, but he does give us a lot to think about and question, and especially about Yuko's perspective. A slim but thought-provoking story.

[journy · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE HORSE AND I follows an unfulfilled woman who meets a horse on a highway and is suddenly compelled to embezzle money in order to provide for him, It's a very brief read, and I found it compelling in parts, although I think a narrower focus could have greatly benefited the story; several scenes in here felt extraneous, which given the size of the book is surprising. I'm not sure if this was a translation issue, but a lot of the prose felt scarce and flat; I didn't note any especially beautiful lines

I did like the comment that this book made on the collision of mundane life with the extraordinary thrill and beauty of horses. I'm a horse girl trapped in suburbia, so I really related to that part-- I think it's a good angle to take with this specific narrative. Especially poignant is the amount of money it costs to own an animal which was once part of our everyday lives. I would have liked it if the book sank more into this.

But speaking of the horse angle, that didn't fully come together for me either. Strada supposedly won at the national level as a racehorse, yet he was not retired & put to stud? That's very unusual. It's not unheard of for a Thoroughbred with a poor pedigree to get results and still be shunted off into a secondary career instead of being bred, but I find it surprising. This book didn't really show me any new side of horsemanship or the equine industry (aside from a tired comment on owners anthropomorphizing their horses), which is what I"m always looking for in a horse book, but it also failed as literary fiction: Yuko wasn't that interesting, the story was predictable, and the language was stilted.

Overall a disappointing read.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but poignant story about a young Japanese woman who dreams of bringing a horse back to its former glory changing the trajectory of her life as well.

Yuko is a lonely, unnoticed shipyard clerk whose life is a series of grey endless days until she meets a former race horse she first sees on the road after it escaped from its trailer. From that moment when they look at each other as if to say: “Found you,” life changes for Yuko who remembers the sign on the trailer, Migikura Riding Club, and tracks the horse, Strada, down. She becomes close to the horse and learns the maxim: “Horses reflect who we are.” What begins as an interest turns into an obsession and Yuko faces a difficult decision. Because this is such a short book, to summarize more of it might ruin the story. Suffice it to say, it’s a most thought provoking read.

Yuko is the book’s narrator and is a bit unreliable. She’s silent until the very end believing silence is the best way to express herself. But when she does speak, the result is not what she expects. The ironies abound in this slow burn psychological story. It’s probing glimpse into what freedom means for those trapped by social norms or by bodily limitations is thought provoking. And the maxim of horses reflect who you are is turned up on its head at the end.

This is a book for readers who enjoy pithy examinations of life’s complexities.

My thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books (and the translator) for granting me access to this very interesting ARC.

[Emboldened · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio, for the advance copy of this audiobook.

The Horse and I was not a bad story, but I had a hard time connecting with Yuko because she felt deeply delusional for much of the book. Her encounter with the former racehorse Strada sends her down a path that becomes increasingly extreme, including using shipyard union funds in an attempt to restore the horse’s former glory. I understood that the story was meant to be dark, introspective, and somewhat surreal, but Yuko’s choices often made it difficult for me to fully sympathize with her. At times, I found myself more frustrated by her reasoning than invested in what would happen next. Still, the novel’s premise was unique, and I appreciated its exploration of loneliness, obsession, and the connection that can form between a person and an animal. This was a quick, unusual read that may work especially well for readers who enjoy character-driven stories about flawed people making questionable decisions. While it was not entirely for me, I am glad I gave it a chance.

[A Dreaming Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for providing me with advanced copies.

This was intense. That ending was crazy, it will haunt me for a long time. I definitely did not see that coming though in retrospect I should have. This to me, is a story about obsession, how far will you go to make a mark in this world. Despite being a short book, it was really deep. I liked how her character development was shown, despite being irrational when you think about it, Yuko's character is relatable in some sense. What is it that you want so bad and will you do everything you can for it, I liked that concept. Things really came together for me at the end but I don't want to give spoilers so you'll have to read it for yourself. I would definitely recommend this to everyone who likes their fiction with some darkness and character studies.

The audiobook was narrated brilliantly. The narration ensured that I was always on top of the story and didn't miss anything. Would definitely recommend.

[Tara · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

With thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC for review~

The Horse and I is the second Genki Kawamura book I've read in recent months (also ever), and the vibe was different than the last too, so I'm interested to see more of his work! This is a short little weird book about a woman who does a ton of embezzlement at her job working for a union to buy a horse that calls to her (and all the things her horse needs, the fancier the better), but also about the place of a middle-aged woman in a society that prioritizes marriage (especially on women of course). We as readers don't really know if Strada "calling to her" or aligning with her so intimately is something that really happens, or something that Yuko is feeling as part of just being so disaffected and unhappy in her life as it is, but it's a fascinating look into a person who's sort of stagnant and then starts doing something wild that is definitely not stagnant, what pushes them into crime and coverup while still living the life of a mundane office worker.

[Renu S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the writing in Horse and I and finished this novel quickly. I was surprised by how little dialogue Yuko has. At times, I honestly thought she was mute! Yet her character development was so well done, and I was impressed by how much we learn about her through her inner thoughts and the small details of her outward world. The writing challenged me as a reader to make inferences and piece together who she was and what shaped her.

The story kept me engaged throughout, and I loved how the novel explored human behavior, particularly the ways we seek connection with animals. Yuko’s bond with Strada is unsettling, and the lengths she goes to for that connection raises interesting questions about love and obsession.

The ending left me speechless and wanting to know what happens next.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Horse and I

I am so glad I got this book!

A very intriguing and interesting book.

I enjoyed the story and found it entertaining, albeit a little slow. But, the book is quite a short read!

Having loved one of Genki's previous books, If Cats Disappeared from the World, this book was a bit of a change of pace, but I still really enjoyed his writing.

Parts of the book were funny, and also parts were quite melancholy. Quite a poignant book.

I would still recommend it, if you like these types of stories.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

3.7/5

[Tina Goldberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yuko Setoguchi is lonely. She's spent 15 years in the same job, lives alone, has no friends to speak of, and follows the exact same daily routine.

One day her life changes after a chance encounter with a retired race horse who has escaped his horse trailer.. Yuko feels an instant and strong connection with this horse. The horse becomes a fixture in her thoughts and dreams...many times blurring the line between reality and fantasy.. In order to make this horse her own, she embezzles money from her employer.. How far will Yuko go to insure her horse (Strada) has all of the finest things a horse can have?

A good story on loneliness and connectivity...even if the connectivity is between a human and an animal.

Thanks to NetGalley & Flatiron Books for the eARC.

[Katey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and MacMillian Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up

I thought the translation was really good and I liked the audio Narrator. On the surface this is a story about a girl and a horse, which I already love. I thought Yuko and Strada's relationship was an interesting way to explore loneliness and societal oppression/expectations. I really liked Yuko because it's not immediately clear if she's unreliable or not, and I found her hardly speaking a really interesting device in the story. Overall a quick read but really thought provoking.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC!

My unbiased review: horse girl’s origin story.

A chance encounter between a horse and a woman. The similarities between the two are quite synchronous, or maybe that’s just what she wants to believe. How far will she go? Further than me, but hay (pun intended), a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

BUT honestly I really enjoyed it. It was weird but really well done. I find her silence deafening really. But also is it just a take on dissatisfaction of life and being pushed to the side and walked on?

[Laura Prindable · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yuko works as a clerk at a shipyard. Her life has become stale until she meets a horse that seems to look at her to the depths of her soul. And she will stop at nothing to possess it.

4 stars

Many thanks to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[em · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book, although unfortunately not very memorable. I liked the narrator and the writing style, but it all felt a little surface level. Nothing too deep or meaningful, but a quirky little story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheHorseAndI #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Ivan Roman]

Pa ca , pa, pa ca ,po pa co , pa ca