Coal Black Horse has a horse in it, but it really deals with the loss of innocence of a boy who is sent on a crazy mission to retrieve his father from the battlefield. This story is suspenseful, the characters are deep and memorable, and the atmosphere is timeless in the good way that Grapes of Wrath or The Old Man and the Sea are timeless. The human face of war is so insightfully drawn- the perfect details are used to convey such depth in just a short novel. At one point the boy thinks of War as something that the men of both armies have fought against, all together- but together they all lost. I had never heard of the author and it came as a wonderful surprise just how good this book is.
Molly (the author's daughter, see above review) is correct in saying that this novel may have roots in our current troubled experience in Iraq. But it references the experience of war in general not in specifics- as I say, timeless and therefore universal.
No, it's not about a horse. It's about you and me. Don't miss it.

I was so lost while reading it, I reread passages feeling my mind had wandered, only to find the words to be already as old friends. Although I was definitely lost, I missed my subway stop twice and once by two stations.

I have to confess my personal connection, this is my father, the names are not a coincidence. Having said this, I am not required to like his work and I do not like all of it. We are both adults, we have our opinions and preferences. This book, however, is excellent. I would compare it to Cold Mountain or Disappearances in mood. Dark, funny, violent, fantastical but so painfully real. It is an exercise in grand storytelling. At the same time, this book is salient and timely. It takes place during the decline of the Civil War, when things were ugly, rivers running red, but the imagery, emotions, are here and now. The simultaneous horror and appeal of war, the brutal descriptions of violence and decay juxtaposed with those of beauty and elegance reverberate with the current state of our nation. I don't know if he intended this, I didn't ask him, but I feel like anything released at this time dealing with war cannot escape comparison. Upon finishing it (and it is one of those quick reads where you come to the end and are flustered that it passed so quickly) I, a staunch peace-monger, actually questioned how I feel about war. War is awful, many die, it scars the land, it is ugly business. But war can enrapture, and from war comes deep feeling and beautiful art. This book caused me wonder about why we wage war and how it changes us, all of us, how it becomes a part of us.

Coal Black Horse is a beautifully written, enduring story; elements of a traditional American coming-of-age story, accessibly lyrical, and intensely violently. Set in the Civil War Era South, the abject inhumanity encountered by Robey brings him fact-to-face with his fears, hopes, and ideas or faith. These ideas and ideals are reevaluated constantly in the search for his father and commitment to stay alive. One can never imagine how one would react under unswerving duress. I suspect that Robey's courage and experiences would put Coal Black Horse in the cannon of American story-telling for years to come. I often reference books like Child of God, 100 Years of Solitude, The Diceman, and Naked Lunch as all time favorite novels, and now Coal Black Horse has been added to that list!