THE HORSE

Willy Vlautin narrates this novel, a series of linked stories, with the gentle twang of a vintage Telecaster. His characters are woven into the settings of the American Southwest, around Las Vegas and Reno, in run-down hotels and casinos. Here, guitar players are buoyed by their love of performing music, even if the audience is small and disinterested. Here, listeners trace the life of an aging musician who's barely getting by but who finds meaning in these difficult places. Living on scraps, he finds himself a kind of mentor to a younger group of players who dream of packed arenas. Vlautin embodies all this with the loving detail of a true artist's ear, bringing these deeply engaging stories to a place of heartbreaking humanity. S.P.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2024]