Half Broke Horses is a true-life novel written by Jeannette Walls. The novel tells the story of the author's grandmother, Lily, who happens to be the narrator. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Lily is an extraordinarily strong and independent woman who overcomes periods of extreme poverty as well as the rapidly changing world (in terms of technology) many people have resisted. Her story draws attention to the many ways our male-dominated society attempts to control women's lives and keep them subordinate. However, Lily is able to be massively successful despite being a poor woman in the first half of the 21st century. I would say that this novel is a biography or memoir wrapped in the form of a truly revealing story. It provides insight into how a literal child makes their way in the world while emphasizing all the essential aspects of the American dream such as individualism, self-reliance, perseverance, "life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness”, etc. throughout history. . The colorful image of children leading simple lives and not being held accountable for their behaviors is rejected in this novel and replaced with the harsh reality of a girl who grows up with little to no guidance and who, nonetheless, goes through difficult times and maintain a positive attitude. What I loved most about this novel is how engaging it is. We really get to grow alongside the character and see how different things were before technology took over the world. For me, as a woman, it is also particularly empowering and truly fascinating to read how a woman at that time could step out of the "pity party" and unapologetically take ownership of her life as a human being and behave accordingly. Reading this book made me realize how little people like to talk about their beginnings, where they came from, what it took for them to succeed, and their failures. On the other hand, it is apparently more "prestigious" to act as if success was there all along, that we were never broken, that we never failed, and that we never learned, which , if we are honest, is far from the truth. So, given how honest this biography is, it undoubtedly leaves the reader – even without realizing it – with a feeling of warmth, empathy and engagement. I really wish the novel was a little longer, which is the only considerable downside for me. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Although I don't normally read biographies I have to say that this one definitely exceeded my expectations - from the storyline to how informative it is about American history, so I recommend you give this book a try..