In Jeannette Walls' book, Half Broke Horses, she recounts the life of her grandmother. The historical memoir recounts life in Texas and Arizona during the early 1900s.

Drawn to this book by the prequel, The Glass Castle, it recounts the remarkable life of a woman who would not be defeated by the ruts and storms of life. Time after time through events that might have derailed the strongest of us, Walls' grandmother adjusted and moved forward, refusing to wallow in self-pity due to the unfairness of life or people, always moving in some sort of forward motion with confidence and hope.

It is hope that provides the fuel for moving on, moving beyond or over whatever event has determined to derail our dreams.

Half Broke Horses begins with a harrowing event with three children caught in a notorious west Texas flash flood, clinging to the upper limbs of a tree for safety during a long night until the water receded. When the mother declares that it was her prayers all night for her children that saved them, the author's grandmother remarks, mostly to herself, that she herself had a whole lot more to do with saving her brother and sister than God did.

If you are at all into books, this would be a good one to pick up. It will make you grateful. It will make you determined. For what, you'll have to decide, but it is no story for the 'poor me, life owes me a living' crowd.

And that's what I think about it.