From the Bookshelf of Bookmarks Subscribers …
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
What Members Thought
I listened to this book on audio and really enjoyed it. Walls wrote this book after she had published The Glass Castle. Half Broke Horses is told from Walls' grandmother, Lily's, first person perspective. Lily is a fascinating person who led a dynamic life, almost all of which that Walls captures in the book is true. However, Walls had to fill in some gaps along the way, which is why she choose to label the book as fiction. At the end of the book on audio, Walls goes into detail about how she ch
...more
Originally conceived as a biography based on family interviews and historical research, Walls found herself filling in too many blanks for Half Broke Horses to remain a work of nonfiction, so she assumed Smith's indomitable voice and set out to write a novelistic recreation of Smith's unconventional life. Most critics were captivated by Smith's earthy, straightforward style, despite the steady stream of repetitive axioms intermingled with her antics. Only the Washington Post seemed thoroughly di
...more
If I could I would give this 3 1/2 stars & the Glass Castle 4 1/2. This was another compelling read by Jeannette Walls but I didn't think this was as good as the Glass Castle. It seemed to end abruptly and the chapters were a little to short and choppy. But her grandmother's story was fascinating.
...more
Somewhat a true story, somewhat a novel. It was a good read. I would recommend it to others - especially if you enjoyed The Glass Castle. However, I do not think it was as good as the Glass Castle.
It is odd when I read people's comments about the turbulent life of the Walls and the Smith's - while reading it, I did not think it was all that turbulent. I thought it was a story about getting by in life and doing what you have to do.
I had a friend that recommended the Glass Castle to me because she ...more
It is odd when I read people's comments about the turbulent life of the Walls and the Smith's - while reading it, I did not think it was all that turbulent. I thought it was a story about getting by in life and doing what you have to do.
I had a friend that recommended the Glass Castle to me because she ...more
This is the first book I read on my Nook device! I have read Jeannette Walls other book The Glass Castle. I liked Castle a little bit better, but this one is good too. This one is not about herself or her siblings, but about her grandmother in early 1900's in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. Good for those who like that tough attitude of pioneer, hard working western women.
...more
I did not want to put this book down! It is a fictionalized account of the author's grandmother's life. The author also wrote THE GLASS CASTLE which is a memoir of her very dysfunctional upbringing. She may not have had a secure childhood, but she is a confident and masterful writer. I'll read anything she has to write.
...more
Written in the same style as Glass Castle, this was a fast paced, too short, true life novel that I loved. I can see my grandmother throughout this character.
I really liked Jeannette Walls's memoir, The Glass Castle, and I'm looking forward to reading this "true-life" novel. It's scheduled to be released in paperback in September.
...more
The story of the author's grandmother. She was a "can do " woman. She was a rancher, a teacher, a pilot, a rum runner and a mother. Quite a unique family when read in conjunction with Jeaneette Wall's other book, The Glass Castle.
...more
Wow, this was Ann amazing book! Great prequel to The Glass Castle.
Oct 13, 2009
The Sassy Bookworm
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nonfiction
Dec 16, 2010
Lynn
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audio-book,
bookgroup-ideas2011
