• 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 (3,151 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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Very captivating

I really enjoyed listening to this book
Reminds you that life isn’t perfect but you take what you have and run with it

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Feisty Woman

I read the glass castle and wanted to check out this book. I really enjoyed it. I like the feisty characters I like how people survive things that we don’t think we can and bounce back. I enjoy listening to JeanetteWalks Read the books I like how she expressed the characters

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Surviving the 20th Century

A pleasant story atbout a time when my parents were growing up in the west.

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The Reality Of the 1st person

The story flows with the history and reality. What makes the story feel so true, Is the fact that it was written in the 1st person.I really enjoyed it.

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loved it!

Was just as great as The Glass Castle. Lilly has to be one of my favorite characters of all time

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If you liked Glass Castle, you'll like this.

Very entertaining story of Jeanette Walls grandmother. Growing up on a horse farm in the Southwest, she worked hard and was a very responsible, mature, and thrifty person from early childhood. You can see where Jeanette inherited those traits from. Her experiences were amazing. I listened to it every minute I could.

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Superb

Superb in every way!! I loved the story, the narration and Lily. It's even better than Jeanette Walls memoir.

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Boring

Can't believe I listened to the end. I live in AZ and it was interesting to hear about places I know. If it hadn't been for that I would have given up on it half way through.

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Amazing story. funny, and inspiring.

Lily is one tough cookie. I loved this book! The setting comes to life as Lily travels Arizona in the early 1900s. Highly recommend this book to anyone needing a break from city ideals

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Women of all ages should read this.

Lilly is the kind of woman we all want to be like. Smart, brave, and strong. Her life story is captivating as she conquered unbelievable life struggles as a daughter, sister, wife and mother. We all need to reflect on our struggles and get a reality check. Thank God for strong women like her that shaped this country.

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