Assessment:

Idea: Lammers's account of her struggle with a condition that impacts every facet of her being will intrigue and move many readers.

Prose: Despite some isolated moments of unnatural prose, Lammers writes competently and crisply. She uses appealing metaphors relating to mental health and the experience of BPD that will deliver a powerful message to readers. 

Originality: Field Horse is distinct from similar works because of the intimate perspective Lammers presents – a dynamic and effective angle that will open her readers’ eyes. 

Character/Execution: Lammers provides a moving journey for her audience and utilizes the first-person perspective as a conduit for a penetrating narrative. Her unflinching honesty gives readers the opportunity to experience her emotional arc throughout the text, while her enduring connection to horses is deeply felt throughout. 

Date Submitted: January 10, 2022

Assessment:

Idea/Concept: This heartfelt and painful memoir recounts Lammers's teenage struggles with emotional regulation and an eventual diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. The author movingly describes her lifelong love of riding and caring for horses--a consistent source of comfort and solace as she navigates the tumultuous world of BPD.

Prose: Lammers's writing is at its strongest when describing her relationship with her horse, Tiny, and the peace she finds through riding him. Less consistent in quality are her descriptions of her emotional struggles, while expository passages and dialogue are often unpolished, awkward, and strained.

Originality: Lammers's path toward wholeness and recovery is uniquely her own. The author's passion for riding and her personal quest to understand her emotional vulnerability, are vividly explored. 

Execution: Despite lackluster exposition and thin dialogue, Lammers--who emerges as both sympathetic and empathetic--ultimately tells an inspiring story of personal growth and human-animal bonding.

Date Submitted: January 25, 2020