it’s a story of courage and hope
I want to introduce an interesting book to you all. It’s called Half Broke Horses, a true-life novel written by Jeannette Walls—an acclaimed author of the bestselling memoir The Glass Castle. Its Chinese translation is 半驯之马.
This is a biographical novel about the author’s maternal grandmother, Lily Casey Smith, a legendary woman of the American West. The book was selected as one of The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2009, and it was a New York Times bestseller for 100 consecutive weeks. Lily lived an extraordinary life.
Set in the American frontier—Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico—during the Progressive Era, the book follows Lily’s life from childhood to old age, full of hardships and bold adventures. She grew up in extreme poverty in her childhood, living in a dirt dugout. She survived flash floods and tornadoes, and learned to break horses at the age of six—a skill that defined her unbroken spirit.
She was a trailblazing young woman. At 15, she rode 500 miles alone on horseback to take a teaching job in a remote frontier town, which was a rare opportunity for women back then. Later, she worked as a maid in Chicago, joined the women’s suffrage movement, and even ran a bootleg business briefly during Prohibition.
Lily also showed great love and resilience in her life. She was once tricked into a bigamous marriage, and then she found her soulmate Jim Smith. Together, they ran a vast ranch in Arizona. They learned to drive cars and fly planes, pioneering new technologies of that time, and raised two children—one of whom is Jeannette Walls’ mother, the iconic character in The Glass Castle.
Lily’s life taught us precious lessons. She faced endless struggles: natural disasters, economic hardships, and personal losses, but she never surrendered. She repurposed trash for daily use, made a gown from curtains for a movie premiere, and taught her family to make the most of what life gives.
The book conveys three core themes. First, resilience and the American Dream. Lily’s life is a testament to hard work overcoming poverty. She hated unearned wealth and believed there was no shame in hard work. Her journey embodies the classic American Dream of self-made success.
Second, female empowerment in the frontier. As a woman in a male-dominated era, Lily rejected social norms. She rode horses, raced cars, ran a ranch, and fought for her independence—she was a bold pioneer of female autonomy.
Third, freedom and the "half-broken" spirit. The title Half Broke Horses symbolizes Lily’s nature: life broke her with countless hardships, but it never tamed her longing for freedom and hope. She remained unyielding and optimistic until the end.
Now let’s talk about why this book is worth reading. First, it’s a prequel to The Glass Castle. Jeannette Walls’ wild childhood in The Glass Castle is deeply rooted in Lily’s frontier upbringing. Second, it has vivid Western storytelling. Written in Lily’s bold and straightforward voice, it’s like a classic American frontier tale, painting a vivid picture of Western life in the early 20th century. Third, it’s truly inspiring. As the critic John Green noted, it’s a story of courage and hope. Lily’s ability to find light in the darkness resonates with readers across time.
