Read about the longest and loneliest horse race in the world—and the woman who won it

Rough Magic — Lara Prior-Palmer

This week’s recommendation is a memoir originally published in 2019.

Rough Magic by Lara Prior-Palmer

What It’s About

Lara was only nineteen when she came across the website of the Mongol Derby, and she was hooked. She’d always loved horses, but her life in England was far from that of competitors who usually take on the race. It is, after all, considered by many the loneliest and toughest horse race in the world.

Riders race through more than 1,000 miles of Mongolian grassland on wild ponies, resting only to trade ponies and for brief respite at the homes of locals along the race’s path. Before she knows what she’s doing, Lara has signed up for the race.

When she begins, she realizes she’s utterly unprepared for this, but she’s determined to finish it, no matter what it takes. Lara’s recounting of the story alternates between the harrowing race course and her inner monologues as she grapples with the isolation of the journey and the struggle to keep herself going. And against all odds (not a spoiler: it’s at the beginning of the book), she wins. She becomes the youngest ever finisher and first female winner of the Mongol Derby, something no one thought was possible.

Why You Should Read It

If you’ve ever heard me talk about books, you’ve likely heard me try to convince you to read books about very niche and specific topics (like The Feather Thief, a book about fly-fishing and a man who stole rare bird feathers from the British Museum, or Word Freak, a book about people who play competitive Scrabble for a living—both books are absolutely incredible). This book is no different. It’s about such a narrow topic, but it captures you because it’s something you (likely) have never heard of before, that captures a whole audience of people, and it’s brand-new to you.

This is a memoir I first read several years ago and still think about constantly, both because of its interesting subject matter and underdog story and because of Prior-Palmer’s gorgeous description and depiction of the whole thing, from the actual race to her experience living it.

If you like to read stories about interesting people, athletes, or want to learn more about a part of the world and a long-running tradition, this is a great book to add to your TBR (to-be-read) list.

Next Up

I’m currently devouring I Kissed Shara Wheeler, Casey McQuiston’s YA debut, which is perfect for this time of year, as it counts down the days until graduation as the most popular girl in school disappears, with a trail of manipulative and strange clues left behind. I’m also reading Roar, a collection of stories about women, that you may see featured in an upcoming newsletter! It’s excellent so far and has been cathartic in channeling my rage at the news right now.

Last Week’s Winners

Congratulations to Elizabeth, Teri, and Ashley, the winners from last week, who will receive a copy of We Play Ourselves. Didn’t win? Buy your own copy here! Stay tuned for more giveaways, and subscribe to make sure you don’t miss the next one!

More Books

Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations: 

• Read an adrenaline-fueled futuristic adventure novel

• Read about a woman who lives in total darkness

• Read a small-town murder mystery set in an ice-cream shop

---

Sponsor an issue of Reading Under the Radar! Add your own banner image here, and links included are your choice: Bookshop.org, Amazon, add to your Goodreads shelf, subscribe, and more. Reply to this newsletter to inquire about sponsoring a newsletter and featuring your book or publication!