Half Broke Horses
Nov 6, 2009
Half Broke Horses
A True Life Novel
Author: Jeannette Walls
Publisher: Scribner, A Division of Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: October, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4165-8628-9
This is a novel of Jeannette's grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. A "novel" because the book is based on stories passed down from Jeannette's mother and other relatives. Lily died when Jeannette was 8, but she fondly remembers this wild, determined woman.
Lily left home at 15 to teach in outpost schools during the war(when they were less than picky about how educated a teacher was), then moved to the city where she was married to a traveling salesman for years, until she found out he was traveling to his other wife. From there she went on to break horses, raise cattle, fly planes, teach some more, graduate from school in her 30s.... and sell illegal hooch from under her son's crib.
Lily looked at every angle possible to survive and thrive during the hardscrabble years of war, drought, prohibition, stock crashing and everything else that happened during those wild years when horses went out of style and cars became the norm.
This woman had more grit and determination than seen by anyone else and she exhausted more people that crossed her path with her persistence than can be mentioned in this review. You may not necessarily like her, but you'd have to admire her.
This book is filled with great stories and vivid descriptions of the time and numerous locations she lived in.
Recommended reading!
