Perestroika in Paris

“If anyone had told me that I would be totally immersed and captivated by the story of a racehorse, dog, ducks, crow, and rats, I would not have believed it possible. However, this book by the prolific author, Jane Smiley is a great fairy tale for all ages. The quartet has their adventures in Paris, where they are taxed at fitting into the everyday life in the central city. They are fortunate to find supportive humans who overlook the fact that normal animals do not transact shopping errands. Luckily, they have the benefit of the racing prize purse that Perestroika had captured. Their adventure continues when they meet a lonely isolated boy and his aged grandmother in a walled and ancient manor house.

The only downside to this book is the cover art, which clearly features a male horse, not the filly, Perestroika. It also does not include the rats from the manor house. That is the only criticism I can make of this totally delightful and wonderfully escapist literature. Prepare to be enchanted.”