Half Broke Horses

I already was a fan of Jeannette Walls after reading The Glass Castle: A Memoir and now that I finished Half Broke Horses I will absolutely keep myself informed on yet more that she hopefully will write.This book is again about her own familyhistory; this time her grandmother. A very strongwilled character; who you will come to love, or at least admire.I already gave a couple of The Glass Castle books as a present hereabout in Holland, and will happily go on doing that with this Half Broke Horses one as well!

This is a highly evocative account of a woman living in the Southwest States in the 1930s, describing the harsh conditions she encountered in her family life, and after breaking free and struggling to make a life for herself with scant resources. It is written in an understated and calm manner, which bring the dramatic events, which overtake her into even sharper focus. Knowing this region well, I was impressed by the depiction of landscape and climate and their inevitable and often doom-laden influence on the lives of the characters. Altogether an excellent read!

If you read 'The Glass CAstle' you will be eager to read this, her second book.It tells the story of Jeannette Walls grandmother growing up in wild Arizona between the wars. Its wild country because its rough, cold and the people are dirt poor. Its a greatly uplifting story which races along and by the end they feel like your people too. I hope she writes lots more - soon!

I just loved this book, almost as much as I loved The glass castle. The story is quite bleak, however -- I can't believe what people had to go through to barely make a living in the "old" days. Absolutely worth a read -- read this first, then The glass castle, and you'll have food for thought for weeks!

A very interesting story of a very interesting and at times, harsh life. Well written and easy to read. It is mainly the story of the struggle of one woman to overcome adversity. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Well written and interesting book about the history of America in that era. Really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anybody. Good book for a Book Club to discuss. I read The Glass House, before I read this book and Jeanette Walls had a hard upbringing, she has done extreamly well for herself in adversity. Brilliant.

I found the book well written but the character becomes quite unpleasant, I presume as a result of her harsh upbringing. Some people develop wisdom on the back of that.

Read this then the follow up The Glass Castle. I've read them both several times.