Reviews

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls

lilyd's review

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adventurous funny informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

stefs1974's review

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dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

cdjdhj's review

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5.0

I think that Jeannette Walls is my current favorite author. I read her account of her own childhood, Glass Castle, a few months ago and loved it. I didn't really expect this first person,true-life novel of her grandmother's life to be as enthralling, but it was. Lily Casey Smith was Jeannette Wall's grandmother who was a strong, compelling woman grew up in Texas and New Mexico, but spent most of her adult life running a vast yet remote ranch in Arizona with her husband Jim, teaching in one-room school houses and raising two children, the author's mother and uncle. The stories from this book are fascinating - funny, sad and everything in between - as the reader learns the life lessons Lily Casey Smith learned from her amazing life experiences. The book is interesting, enjoyable, and highly readable, divided into short chapters each telling a story that plays into and sets the stage for the next. Excellent book. Highly recommended.

designsbymeghen's review against another edition

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3.5

I had to read this book immediately after reading Glass Castle. Walls did an incredible job capturing her grandmother Lilly’s spirit and painting a picture of the world she grew up in. She lived quite the life, and it’s very interesting to see how her influence affected her daughter, Rose Mary, and, in turn, Walls herself. It doesn’t get much more cowboy than this. 

lindsayvale's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

debbarney's review against another edition

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4.0

I loved Glass Castle and this book was almost as good. The writing was as great as the first book but the story wasn’t as interesting to me. That’s not to say it wasn’t great, in comparison, I wasn’t so much captivated by the story as I was with Glass Castle.

appaloosa05's review

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While I didn't enjoy this as much as The Glass Castle (the writing didn't have the same rich quality, in my opinion), this was an interesting foray into the life of a woman who was, as Walls says, quite a character.

drusmilford's review

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5.0

Great book. Written by Jeannette Walls (The Glass Castle) about her grandmother's life and thus gives insights into her mother's life (late teens/early 20's). I want to go back and read The Glass Castle. Really enjoyed.

drusmilford's review against another edition

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5.0

This completely makes The Glass Castle make sense. True story of her grandmother, mother....... I want to read The Glass Castle again.

hhm013's review against another edition

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adventurous informative reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.75