Here is my first book review for the Slow Readers Book Club! Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls is a novel based on true-life events written about the author's grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. It is a first person account about her life, her struggles, and her triumphs. The following saying, found on the first page of the book, describes the overall essence of Half Broke Horses.
"It was a great north wind that made the Vikings."
--Old Norwegian saying
Summary:
Half Broke Horses begins with young Lily Casey. The oldest of three children, Lily had a lot of responsibility at a young age. Her father had some physical disabilities from a childhood injury and her genteel mother wasn't much of a physical laborer. At six years old, Lily was breaking horses with her father. At 15, she started teaching in rural schools and would travel by herself sometimes 500 miles to reach her post. Lily lived through "tornadoes, droughts, floods, the Great Depression, and the most heartbreaking personal tragedy." Lily Casey Smith had "gumption" and every time things would go amiss, she always picked herself up and tried again.
Review:
"The problem with half-broke horses like these was that no one took the time to train them. Cowboys who could ride anything caught them and ran them on fear, spurring and quirting them too hard, taking pride in staying on no matter how desperately they bucked and fishtailed. Not properly broken, they were always scared and hated humans. A lot of times the cowboys released them once the roundup was over, but by then they'd lost some of the instincts that kept them alive out in the desert. They were, however, intelligent and had pluck, and if you broke them right, they made good horses." (p. 49)
I really enjoyed Half Broke Horses. In the past, western stories had never really appealed to me. However, this book was incredibly enjoyable. Lily Casey Smith was a no-nonsense woman. She got things done, she spoke her mind, and always tried to find her "Purpose." She learned to accept change and she grew with it. Lily loved learning and loved to try new things. She loved horses but learned (and loved) to drive a car and to fly a plane. Lily worked hard and learned the difference between wants and needs. Everything in life was a lesson. She didn't dwell in the past but kept moving towards her future. Lily had moxy. Maybe that's why I liked the book so much. I didn't always agree with her methods or even her opinions, but she stuck to her values and always kept going forward. She taught that you had to be tough, to be prepared, to be educated, and to invest in yourself. Lily tried to teach those things to her students as well as her two children. Her methods were a little harsh sometimes, but I think it was probably reflected the time in which she lived.
It seemed like a lot of people in her life, including herself, were half-broke horses. Maybe we all are. It's something to think about at least. It's interesting to learn about people's experiences, hardships, blessings, etc. All of which make up a life. Lily Casey Smith had a pretty interesting life.
"When God closes a window, he opens a door. But it's up to you to find it." (p.42)
4 out of 5 stars
