• Half Broke Horses

  • A True-Life Novel
  • By: Jeannette Walls
  • Narrated by: Jeannette Walls
  • Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (3,152 ratings)

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Half Broke Horses  By  cover art

Half Broke Horses

By: Jeannette Walls
Narrated by: Jeannette Walls
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Editorial reviews

Based on the true story of the life of Jeanette Walls’ grandmother, Half-broke Horses is the endearing tale of Lily Casey Smith, a woman born into poverty in the early 1900s frontier of west Texas. Intelligent, despite her spotted 8th grade education, Smith knows her purpose on earth is more than just breaking-in horses on her daddy’s farm and she sets off across the desert at age 15 to teach children in Arizona. Smith is scrappy and independent, clearly a woman before her time. In her early 20s when she learns that the traveling salesman she married actually already has a wife and kids, she puts her six-shooter revolver with the pearl handle in her purse and hits him with it, giving him a good “pistol-whippin’”.

Walls, the best-selling author of her own memoir The Glass Castle, tells her grandmother’s story in a matter-of-fact, no-nonsense way probably much in same way as her grandmother shared these stories with her. It can be shocking that Smith speaks of her best friend’s death in the same tone as she does of, say, playing a hand of poker, but it’s realistic a snapshot of the era. In her narration, Walls’ accent is a bit mottled a little southern, with hints of other dialects thrown in which can be distracting at times, but it also suits Smith, a girl from west Texas who had an Irish father with a speech impediment.

Smith does find true happiness with her second husband and eventually settles down (if you can call selling whiskey during Prohibition by hiding it under her baby’s crib “settling down”). But this heroine’s adventures racing horses, surviving flash floods and tornadoes, and playing poker will stick with you long after Walls has finished describing them. Colleen Oakley

Publisher's summary

2010 Audie Award Finalist for Narration by the Author

Jeannette Walls's memoir The Glass Castle was "nothing short of spectacular" ( Entertainment Weekly). Now, in Half Broke Horses, she brings us the story of her grandmother, told in a first-person voice that is authentic, irresistible, and triumphant.

"Those old cows knew trouble was coming before we did." So begins the story of Lily Casey Smith, Jeannette Walls's no nonsense, resourceful, and spectacularly compelling grandmother. By age six, Lily was helping her father break horses. At 15, she left home to teach in a frontier town - riding 500 miles on her pony, alone, to get to her job. She learned to drive a car ("I loved cars even more than I loved horses. They didn't need to be fed if they weren't working, and they didn't leave big piles of manure all over the place") and fly a plane. And, with her husband Jim, she ran a vast ranch in Arizona. She raised two children, one of whom is Jeannette's memorable mother, Rosemary Smith Walls, unforgettably portrayed in The Glass Castle.

Lily survived tornadoes, droughts, floods, the Great Depression, and the most heartbreaking personal tragedy. She bristled at prejudice of all kinds -- against women, Native Americans, and anyone else who didn't fit the mold. Rosemary Smith Walls always told Jeannette that she was like her grandmother, and in this true-life novel, Jeannette Walls channels that kindred spirit.

Half Broke Horses is Laura Ingalls Wilder for adults, as riveting and dramatic as Isak Dinesen's Out of Africa or Beryl Markham's West with the Night. Destined to become a classic, it will transfix audiences everywhere.

©2009 Jeanette Walls (P)2009 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Lily Casey Smith is one astonishing woman...a half-broke horse herself who's clearly passed on her best traits to her granddaughter. Told in a natural, offhand voice that is utterly enthralling, this is essential reading for anyone who loves good fiction." ( Library Journal)

What listeners say about Half Broke Horses

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Half broke horses

Very interesting tale of a life well lived. It wasn’t easy in the “early” days, but this is a good example of how a tough lady, and her family survived and sometimes thrived. Good. I will listen to this again.

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Amazing Read!

I really enjoyed this story. It stands apart from The Glass Castle. A wonderful trip through an outstanding life. Highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Half Broke Horses

I really enjoyed this book. It is a great snapshot of life at the end of one era and the beginning of another.

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Captivating

This story held my attention for many reasons. It is so well written that visuals are easy to see. The characters come alive and you can find yourself starting to think as they did. History also comes alive as one learns of real events that still have effect on life today.

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Enjoyed every second of this book

What a great exploration into the past. I felt at times I was with Lily on her journey. She made me laugh out loud mite than once.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Not what I expected

The characters were engaging. a very nice story about family struggles and survival. I enjoyed it.

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I enjoyed this book more than Glass Castles

I found this book easy to get through and enjoyable. I loved the actual author reading the book in the way she intended people to hear it. I enjoyed it more than glass castles, maybe it was the milder language or less depressing story. Not sure. But worth the listen.

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Totally draws you in.

The narrator does such a convincing job you feel like part of Lily's family. I was sad when it ended.

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  • KM
  • 06-08-17

Jeannette Walls is a fabulous story teller

Though I liked The Glass Castle better, this was a great story. I know that some of the content was speculation which is why it is called a true-life novel, but be that as it may, a story about her ancestry and knowing all she does about her grandmother made me happy and sad at the same time. I wish now I had found out more about my grandmother's story as she came here from another country at a very young age. That would have been a fascinating story I am sure.

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Fantastic Background For Glass Castle

I loved this history that informs The Glass Castle so brilliantly. Highly recommended to Jeannette Walls fans.

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