First published 2024
Al Ward wakes to find a blind horse standing outside his remote Nevada cabin. The animal cannot feed itself and faces danger from coyotes roaming the mining land Al inherited from his great uncle. At 65, Al lives alone 6000 feet up in the mountains, thirty miles from the nearest town. Years of alcoholism and anxiety have worn him down. He must choose whether to help the dying horse or let nature take its course. Al's struggle with the horse alternates with memories from his decades as a touring musician. Starting in Reno, he spent his life as a songwriter and guitarist, scraping by without mainstream success. The music industry offered no glamour, only the daily fight to survive as an artist. Through Al's present crisis and musical past, Vlautin explores the lives of musicians who create joy for others while battling their own isolation and pain.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, music, realistic-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, redemption
Setting: Nevada, Reno
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
ebook · Faber & Faber
Content warnings: alcohol-abuse, anxiety, depression