Sample
  • 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 (3,179 ratings)

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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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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Not what I hoped for

While I completly ejoyed The Glass Castle I have to say I was disappointed with Half Broke Horses. The story gave a good background for The Glass Castle but the narration just didn't work for me. The narration was too monotone and it sounded at times as if the narrator was bored with the story. Maybe that happens with authors narrate their own work; they are so familiar with the story that they can come off sounding flat.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Family History at its finest

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel because it is a life story told by a granddaughter and daughter with a loving but realistic perspective

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story...narration ugh!

Again I liked the story, not as much as glass castle but it was good. However I truly wish Ms Walls would stop already with the self narration her voice is so emotionless and flat. It is obvious she is covering her accent... why? I am not sure, all I do know is it makes her come off mono tone.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

I wish it was narrated by Julia Gibson.

Story was rather dull. Narration seemed rather flat. I think one of the reasons I loved her other book, Glass Castle so much, besides the wild story, was the great narrator. Julia Gibson brought the characters to life. I wish more authors would realize that with audio books, the narration is very important to the delivery of the story. Unfortunately, most authors are not the greatest narrators. Please have more narration by Julia Gibson, she adds so much to a story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Felt like I was there

I loved this book. The audio version was captivating. I would close my eyes and feel like I was there.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

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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