Half Broke Horses

A True-Life Novel

By: Jeannette Walls

Narrated by: Jeannette Walls

Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins

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)

One of our best listens....

We've been listening for a while. This rates up among our favorites....we like the first person narrative and Jeannette Walls' voice is right on target, as is her soul in this history of her grandmother and mother. We loved the book and have purchased and downloaded The Glass Castle also.

A good listen

Have you listened to any of Jeannette Walls’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is not as good as The Glass Castle, but still a very good read.

Spunky Main Character

The main character is very likeable. I enjoyed listening to this book, but it didn't grip me like most novels do. An interesting story of a very unique life, but not a life-changing story.

Comfortable read. Good mix of heartache & humor

I wished I could have learned more about Little Jim. It seems like a litte boy growing up in that environment with such a spirited mother, level headed father, and big hearted older sister would have a lot fun and interesting tales. But it made sense after learning that the author was writing from Rosemary's memories. Seems the author enjoys writing about her family.. hopefully Little Jim's story will be told someday as well. And perhaps even the stories of Lily's siblings. They all took such diverse paths.. it would be interesting to hear them.

We listened to this book as a family. Parts of it we skipped past for my six year old but we all really enjoyed snuggling in to listen before bedtime. I cried several times, my husband laughed a lot, and my daughter asked many questions about life back then; particularly about why women couldn't just do what they wanted.

The tone was comfortable enough for my 3 year old to fall asleep, but not so boring that the rest of us would immediately lull off or lose interest.

Sounds Like Home

When I read this book I was told it was rich in verbal visuals. What I didn't know was that I came home. Living 33 years in Flagstaff I felt like I came home. Beautifully written and I'm amazed at what most now consider hardship as being basic necessities. It was the time of my grandparents. A world we could only read about now. Wonderful book!

Fantastically Told Story!

Loved It! The Author being the nararrator of her own story made it more personal. There were times I didn't want to stop listening, when I had to. Great story!

Great story!

The Glass Castle is my very favorite book, and Half Broke Horses gives wonderful insight to the characters in The Glass Castle. Having spent 18 years living in AZ myself, and most of those years in the area that the characters in Half Broke Horses live in predominantly, I thought the descriptions and stories of surrounding terrain and characters were spot on! I loved the book, I'm going to be buying it as a gift for other loved ones who grew up in these parts of AZ as well:)

Love love love!

What made the experience of listening to Half Broke Horses the most enjoyable?

Having Jeannette as the narrator. You really get a sense of Lilys personality. I really liked the info in the end that Jeannette where Jeannette comments about how this book came to be while she was trying to write a book about her mothers life instead.

Any additional comments?

Lily is straightforward, unapologetic, genuine and fought for her beliefs. I feel like today's 'throw-away' and 'instant-gratification' society has dulled the fire and strength in our hearts and minds. I wish I could have met this powerful and unique lady. She reminds me a bit of my own grandmother. Lily is the epitome of a woman built of strength, hardship, and gumption.

Vividly authentic and fast paced!

Listening to the granddaughter (and author) of the main character read this (historically based) novel lent an authenticity to the story that I did not anticipate. I could hear Lily speaking! Extraordinary life during a bygone era.

Not as good as Glass Castle

I loved The Glass Castle but only liked this book. Her grandmother led an interesting life, but the story seems contrived at times and Jeannette's perfect diction was a distraction in a story about someone from Texas. I would read this book vs. listen to it.