Broken Horses by Brandi Carlile

Broken Horses Reviews

• 
  Agirlcandream

  This book should be listened to as an audiobook. Not only do you get to hear Brandi Carlile tell her story but with each chapter she sings one or two songs related to the subjects of that chapter. The final chapter revisits every song performed in the autobiography. It's like getting a book and an album at the same time. Her well known tunes like The Story and The Joke are there but she also does cover tunes of famous musicians she has met in her career along with songs related to events which have impacted her personal life. Her cover of Philadelphia was powerful.
  
  Loved this one from beginning to end. Buy the audiobook. So worth it.
• 
  Kim

  Full disclosure - this woman could publish a blank novel and I’d give it 5 stars. That being said, throughout the book I continued to be in awe of such a humble, scrappy, talented, and loving human being. Thank goodness Brandi took a hiatus from her impostor syndrome to take us on a journey of the insightful twists and turns of her first 40 years. I laughed and cried while getting a glimpse into all those life experiences that shaped the beautiful stories told in her music. Looking forward to the audiobook with the raw music found in each chapter - hopefully there’ll be a sound bite of Elton John’s suggestion of a title.
• 
  Karen

  Loved it!
  
  Brandi came from humble beginnings, never finished school, lives a pretty cool life with her wife and their two daughters on a compound with the twins (her bandmates) and their families in Washington State.
  
  She shares stories of her family, her coming out at a young age, times with her idols since childhood .. Elton John and Joni Mitchell, and other artists.
  A very interesting coming up to where she is now.
  
  In between chapters there are a few songs with lyrics, and she says that on the audiobook she will be singing them. I sort of wish I’d waited for the audio!
  
  
• 
  Christine

  4.5 rounded to 5 stars
  
  I am a long time Brandi Carlile fan. I’ve followed her career since nearly the beginning, when you could easily get tickets for her small venue concerts. I recall someone once saying back then that you better see her as often as possible because she was going to become a star and move on to much bigger venues and tickets would be tough to obtain. So right he was. I’m glad I got to enjoy her in those early days where tickets could be secured, and the concerts were intimate.
  
  When I first heard Brandi had written a memoir, I immediately got in the Libby app queue. I requested the audiobook from one library and the written book from another. I wanted the former for the music and the latter for the photographs. The stars aligned and both books landed at the same time. I had the best of both worlds—the story, the music, and the photographs. In the audio version, each chapter is followed by 1-3 songs with lyrics. They are not plucked from her CDs, but are new versions sung by Brandi accompanied only by her guitar or piano. In addition, a nearly two-hour compendium of the music can be found at the end of the audiobook. Before I even finished the memoir, I obtained my own audio copy as I know I will play the collection over and over. In the written book, instead of music, each chapter is followed by several pages of captioned photographs. I will eventually get myself a copy of the written book as well.
  
  In a brilliant move, Brandi narrates the book herself. This brings the reader in closer. Brandi truly opens herself up in Broken Horses. Her early life was difficult. She lived in poverty, and her family was forced to move many many times. She was the only “out” gay kid in her town. She was often ill and nearly died of meningitis as a small child. Her dad was an alcoholic. She was refused baptism because she was gay. And there were so many other hurdles. But Brandi continued to keep on going on and against all odds finally found success and happiness. I also want to mention that Brandi has a deep need to reach out and help those under oppression. Towards that end she has worked tirelessly to establish The Looking Out Foundation. So far over $2 million has been raised.
  
  I was captivated by this memoir and learned a lot about her Brandi’s life that I had wondered about. I was not aware of the depth of her mountainous struggles and found it fascinating to watch her grow into the person she is today.
  
  
  Even if you don’t know who Brandi Carlile is, I think you will enjoy her inspiring story. Plus, you will be introduced to one of the best female singing voices around. Highly recommended for all. Carry on, Brandi!
  
• 
  Christy

  4 stars
  
  Broken Horses is Brandi Carlile’s story and if I have to mention anything about this, it’s that if you’re going to read it, you absolutely need to pick up the audiobook. Brandi sings at the start of each chapter, as well as giving a full performance at the end of the book. Her narration is great as well.
  
  This story documents the ups and downs of Brandi’s life. Her journey with her music was the most prevalent, but also a lot of life stuff which I found interesting. The story of how she met her wife, the biological father of her children (I loved that part) and the dynamic of her friends and band, her found family. It touches on religion and her ups and downs with it, as well as a performers life during the pandemic.
  
  Overall I thought this was great and enjoyed listening to it. I would recommend it to any fans of Carlile or music in general.
  
  

  Audio book source: Libby (library)
  Story Rating: 4 stars
  Narrators: Brandi Carlile
  Narration Rating: 5 stars
  Genre: Nonfiction/Memoir
  Length: 10h 3m
• 
  Elyse Walters

  Audiobook…..read by Brandi Carlile
  …..10 hours and 3 minutes
  
  Wow!!!!! 🎶 🎸 🎤 📕
  
  Whew!!!!
  …..books I’ve listened to and/or read, lately have been a deeply emotional experience.
  
  By chapter twelve — I was in tears!!! Brandi was singing!
  Twenty-one chapters in all.
  
  What a beautiful human being, artist, singer-songwriter, storyteller-author, and inspiration Brandi is.
  
  I really didn’t know much about her…(other than knowing her name)— I wasn’t really aware of music either.
  I plan to add her music to my playlist now.
  
  Several of the songs she sings on this audiobook ‘really’ moved me (cried as I said) — just gorgeous!!!
  SHE CAN SING!!!
  
  This entire story — HER LIFE STORY — it’s such a fascinating- beautiful-human interest story.
  
  Whether you’re a fan, or don’t even know who she is—this book exudes soulful euphoric pleasures——
  as in…
  LOVE —for another human being!!!
  
  “I understand who I am as an artist because I understand I don’t know who I am as an artist. It can all change at any time”.
  —Brandi Carlile
  
  5 strong stars!!!
• 
  Carol

  A wonderful memoir of an unfamiliar singer for me. The audio was exceptional with the artist as the narrator singing beautiful songs between most of the chapters. Brandi Carlile writes candidly about about her journey from a childhood with hardships and a major illness into the outstanding musician that she is today.
  
  She faced public rejection as a Baptist in rural Washington when she came out as gay. She did reconcil her faith with her lifestyle and went on to marry and raise two children with lesbian partner. The included lyrics are gorgeous and reflect much of her personal story.
  
  This memoir is a selection for our bookgroup study and I'm looking forward to the discussion.
• 
  Gretchen Schock

  I am a HUGE Brandi Carlile fan. So of course I read the book, an autographed copy in fact thanks to my thoughtful wife.
  
  I’m an avid reader of non-fiction and memoirs but putting my fan-girl aside, I have to be honest with you this book was a disappointment. It is undeserving of The NY Times bestseller title it now holds.
  
  In case you didn’t know, there is a certain path that authors have to take to get on the NY Times bestseller list. It’s like an Ivy League school, full of prestige but very few get on it. Some authors write an incredible book and it makes it to the NY Times list because of its brilliance or some “pay to play” to get on the list.
  
  Obviously Brandi played the game. Charging $33 for each book interview which guaranteed you got a copy of the book. That way they could work the system so that the sales came from various retailers across the country. Pairing Brandi with super celebs Dolly Parton or Alicia Keys meant casting an even wider net than her following alone.
  It’s a smart business decision. But it kinda leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
  
  As a Brandi Carlile fan it’s interesting to hear the stories of how the band began, the struggles and how their relationships grew over the years. But the stories that are mentioned are very much on the surface, Brandi doesn’t get as deep or vulnerable as I was hoping she would. It’s lacking depth, and emotional intelligence. I expected it to be more like her music. In tune with the notion that in order to make a difference in the mind of a reader there has to be a plunge into the darkness in order for the light to truly shine. Instead famous names were mentioned, stories that glossed over the troubles of having an alcoholic parent or her own struggles with addiction to sleeping pills and steroids. All of this is to say, reading the book won’t stop me from being a fan of their music. Brandi and the twins are incredible musicians. If you don’t know them yet, just listen to the music. Don’t bother reading this book.
• 
  Jenny (Reading Envy)

  This is a must-listen memoir with songs between chapters and at the end. Brandi Carlile is one of my favorite singers but there is so much I didn't know, and she has experienced some incredible moments of fate or destiny or something that really make for an incredible story. I also liked the discovery of the stories behind so many of these songs and albums. The story goes all the way up through covid times.
  
  Her connections to other musicians are life-long love stories, and people like Tanya Tucker, Elton John, and Joni Mitchell come back into her life as real people. Amazing.
  
  Do you have a favorite song by her? I think mine is still Shadows on the Wall.
  
  Copied from the publisher website:
  
  Carlile recorded new stripped-down, solo renditions of more than 30 of the songs featured in the book, including her own and songs from artists who’ve inspired her, from Dolly Parton to Elton John, Leonard Cohen and more, available exclusively on the audiobook:
  
  “I Don’t Hurt Anymore” by Hank Snow
  “Coat of Many Colors” by Dolly Parton
  “Ride on Out” by Brandi Carlile
  “Honky Cat” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
  “Philadelphia” by Neil Young
  “Happy” by Brandi Carlile
  “That Year” by Brandi Carlile
  “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen
  “Eye of the Needle” by Brandi Carlile
  “Turpentine” by Brandi Carlile
  “Wasted” by Brandi Carlile
  “The Story” by Brandi Carlile
  “Closer to You” by Brandi Carlile
  “Caroline” by Brandi Carlile
  “Josephine” by Brandi Carlile
  “Sugartooth” by Brandi Carlile
  “Looking Out” by Brandi Carlile
  “Beginning to Feel the Years” by Brandi Carlile
  “Love Songs” by Brandi Carlile
  “I Will” by Brandi Carlile
  “I Belong to You” by Brandi Carlile
  
  I had a review copy of the audio from Random House Audio that I listened to through the Volumes app. The book came out April 20, 2021.
• 
  Carole

  Broken Horses by Brandi Carlile is an autobiography that I thoroughly enjoyed in audiobook form. The book is narrated by the author which gives it a beautiful authenticity. And as a surprise bonus, Carlile sings many of her songs, complementing the chapters. She talks about her childhood, her loves, her relationships, good and bad, her family, her sexuality and the hard work and determination needed to make her music known by most of us. This is a breath of fresh air simply because of its honesty. This was a treat. Highly recommended.
• 
  Jay Gabler

  At the 2019 Grammys, as Brandi Carlile built up to the epic note that concludes her song "The Joke," one woman stood up in the middle of the star-studded crowd. Carlile describes the moment in her new memoir. "It was Janelle Monáe. It was such a kind thing she did...I've tried to tell her what that felt like, what it meant to me, but she may never really understand."
  
  In a sense, with Broken Horses — named after the injured animals that were all her family could afford for her in the equine arena — Carlile is paying it forward. Her book will inspire a new generation of women in music, and will be particularly meaningful for her fellow LGBTQ artists. She renders her life story with the eloquence and sincerity that will be very familiar to any fans who've followed her extraordinary career as a singer-songwriter.
  
  
  I reviewed Broken Horses for The Current.
• 
  Jean

  All of these lines across my face
  Tell you the story of who I am
  So many stories of where I've been
  And how I got to where I am
  - The Story by Phil Hanseroth, sung by Brandi Carlile
  
  If you’re a Brandi fan, you will love this book,
  Broken Horses. If you ask “Brandi who?”, you may not be so impressed by the writing. In fact, I might not have been either, but I chose to listen to the audio book, so I am awarding at least one full star for her music. Actually, I would give her songs five stars if I could, but her memoir is worth at least a few as well.
  
  The blurb gives some background about how she grew up poor in a dysfunctional family and the major events that shaped who she is and the meaning of some of her music. Brandi herself narrates the book, so we get to hear in her own voice about her alcoholic father, her brother, who was very talented but did not care for performing, and her mother, who was also very musical, but shy on stage. She says a little about her younger sister, who came along later. Although living with her father’s drinking was difficult and she mentions that from time to time, she doesn’t dwell on it. She does talk about feeling like a misfit in school. She fell ill with bacterial meningitis when she was five, and that greatly affected her outlook on life, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
  
  Whenever she became stressed, Brandi got sick with sore throats. It made me wonder if those early infections were what gave her voice that unique quality, although she did pay the price much later. She became very religious, but that, too, came back to bite her when she came out as a lesbian when she was a teenager and was dealt a devastating blow by the pastor on the day she was to be baptized. Yet, she continued to practice her faith in her own way and to follow her own path.
  
  She found meaning in relationships with family, friends, and music. She speaks openly about family, stating in the acknowledgments that she had permission to share her side. She is also brutally honest about her relationships with women, most of whom were older. She had solid friendships, especially with Elton John, whom she admires and adores, as well as Phil and Tim Hanseroth. “The twins” are longtime bandmates, friends, and as close to family as non-blood humans can get. They have written many of her songs, and their harmonies are fantastic.
  https://www.seattletimes.com/entertai...
  
  It is clear that her marriage to her wife Catherine and her two daughters, Evangeline and Elijah, are most important to her now. It’s fun to see her admiration and adoration of two gay icons, Elton John and Ellen DeGeneres. She’s clearly in awe of them, much as many LGBT (and straight fans) are of her.
  
  The narration may seem a bit willy-nilly, but Carlile hits the things that seem most important to her. She takes great pleasure and pride recalling some of the producers and artists she’s worked with. One of my favorite stories was her yarn about T Bone Burnett and the rat! LOL! She pays tribute to John Prine, and talks with joy and affection about Joni Mitchell. Also, in Chapter 20, she relates some of her experience with Tanya Tucker. She goes into some detail about organizing the Highwomen, an all-women supergroup that performed at the Newport Folk Festival, including Judy Collins, Sheryl Crow, Maggie Rogers, Maren Morris, Linda Perry, Jade Bird, Amy Ray, and others, including surprise guest, Dolly Parton.
  
  https://variety.com/2019/music/news/d...
  
  The very best part of the audiobook, however, is that each chapter ends with Brandi singing a song or two. In the opening chapters, she sings Dolly, Elton, and she even sings her very own first song that she wrote when she was eight years old! After that, she sings her own songs, accompanied only on guitar or piano. It’s wonderful to hear her solo voice. There’s something magic about it that made me really listen. There is a long bonus “album” at the end. If you can possibly get the audio version, don’t miss it!
  
  5 stars
• 
  Kathy (Bermudaonion)

  I’m rather embarrassed to admit that I started this book thinking it was written by Belinda Carlisle (of The Go-Go’s fame) and, of course, quickly realized I was wrong. I wasn’t sure who Brandi Carlile was but stuck with it because I found her story so fascinating. Carlile had a poor, tumultuous childhood with plenty of struggles but she’s tough and overcame the challenges to have a successful musical career that has allowed her to be a champion for others. I appreciated her honesty and admired her tenacity and drive as a I listened to this book. I LOVED that she broke out in song throughout the audio book and have added some of her songs to my music library. Fans of Carlile and memoirs will want to read this book and I recommend experiencing it on audio.
• 
  Megan

  I was prepared to adore this book. I just didn’t. It’s missing a story arch and cohesive elements. As a long time fan I loved hearing some of the stories behind the songs but it hard pressed to believe anyone other than fans would be truly drawn to this memoir. I will admit the second half is more engaging than the first, but I just was not all that impressed with the book.
• 
  Camie

  If you are interested in this book do yourself a favor and get the audiobook. Brandi Carlile came from humble beginnings and struggles to make it to the top. I enjoyed learning the history of the songs she wrote and then listening to them throughout the story. We just listened to it on a road trip to Seattle and really enjoyed it.
  4.5 stars
• 
  Kristy

  A great memoir for music fans
  
  BROKEN HORSES is Brandi Carlile's story. She grew up poor in Seattle, moving constantly as a child. Her family was musical, giving Brandi a love of music as a young child. She knew was gay since she was a teen--something that wasn't always appreciated in her rural town. She tells her story from childhood, where her love of music began, to coming out, to her marriage and life with her two children, to her musical successes.
  
  "I was a mean, scrappy little trailer girl with the wrong clothes and a very sensitive soul that I was hiding behind a bravado that I had developed performing onstage."
  
  I adore Brandi Carlile and have for a long time. Having such a talented out singer in our community makes us all feel proud. "See her, she's one of us!!" Having followed Brandi's career from the beginning, I know a decent amount about her. Hence my problem with a number of celebrity memoirs I read: if I read a memoir about someone I really love and already know a lot about them, if they write a fairly superficial memoir, I only learn so much.
  
  Don't get me wrong, Carlile has written a good and interesting book. She's a fascinating person, and I enjoyed learning about her rather wild journey. I didn't know much about her childhood, so I found those pieces to be the most intriguing. She was a wild and tough kid, who was so musically talented from the beginning. Imagine being one of the people who heard her perform in a pageant or talent show when she was a young kid or teen!
  
  After going through her coming out story, Carlile talks about her musical career, and it's all really amazing, but sometimes feels fast and glossed over. I always love knowing the history of songs, but would have liked knowing more details about things. We skip over full albums, time periods, and more. And, as many celebrity memoirs do, it often feels a bit preachy and overly me-oriented at times (something she'll laughingly and freely admit to). When we get to her meeting her wife, it's a fun story, but also really quick. Still, it's so nice to see a queer woman's story so normalized, and to have someone talk about gay motherhood so matter of factly.
  
  Overall, I'm so glad Carlile decided to share her thoughts on her life. She's such an amazing individual who has lived such an intense and fascinating life so far. I wish she had gone more in-depth with her stories at times, but this is still a great book and certainly worth your time. At some point, I hope to get the audio version, as she sings versions of the songs she discusses in each chapter.
  
  I read this book as part of my new reading project--choosing books off my shelves based on their Goodreads rankings. This is my second book of the project, forcing me out of my comfort zone and to try books in genres I don't usually read!
  
  
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• 
  Mehrsa

  I really love Brandi Carlisle and it was fun to read the backstory to each song but a lot of the book is her meeting her heroes and agents and records produced. I loved the parts about her childhood and her stories of coming out and finding love, but I am less drawn to the music industry ins and outs
• 
  Amy

  Absolutely breathtaking !
  
  Carlile is a beautiful storyteller 💖 the emotion 💖
  The bonus chapter of music is amazing.
  
  One of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listen to.
• 
  Sarah

  I mean- she's my favorite. How could I not give it five stars? Brandi writes like she sings- with truth and heart.
• 
  Katie Crosby

  I’m fascinated by Brandi Carlile. As if forming a southern accent while living in the Pacific North West is not enough to capture my attention, I think it’s also because she defies categorization. You simply cannot put her in a box.
  
  Brandi draws a diverse crowd. Traditional soccer moms and misfit lesbians both share bread at her table. I’m not sure why she speaks to such different people, but I have a hunch it’s because of her honesty. Whether a person agrees with her conclusions or not, no one can deny Brandi seeks to tell the truth. In a world where social media filters are rampant and society is married to materialism, her down to earth candor is refreshing. Fame does not seem to have changed her.
  
  Most of us spend our lives trying to escape from the expectations others place on us and Brandi offers an example of how to show up completely ourselves. She is candid about her ego and aware of her blind spots, but she strives for growth without abandoning herself. All of these themes are woven into this memoir.
  
  Brandi knows deep hurt and rejection, but through those experiences she also found forgiveness and redemption. This does not make what she’s been through acceptable, but it demonstrates the beauty of transformation when we refuse to define ourselves by what’s happened to us. I loved getting a window into the stories behind her songs as well as her process of personal healing. I found myself aching for more.
  
  We share a common spirituality and I day dream about getting to discuss Brennan Manning and Martin Luther with her one day! I admire how she champions people. When Brandi believes in someone, her tenacity, confidence, and admiration are unparalleled. The church may have shunned her, but the way she advocates for the downcast reminds me of Jesus. Her stories about Tanya Tucker moved me to tears. A true reflection of the “good news” if I’ve ever seen one.
  
  I felt a connection to how she described the children in her life. I really identified with what she wrote about being an aunt. My niece and nephews are my world so this part of the book was sacred to me.
  
  I’m grateful I get to walk the earth at the same time as Brandi Carlile. I look forward to watching her story progress and continue witnessing the people she will uplift and enfold. Surely it will be a part of book #2 and I’ll be the first in line to pre-order! She will always be one of the most fascinating people I know.
• 
  jess

  I barely knew who Brandi Carlile was before I read this memoir, which I know might be difficult to believe. I learned a lot reading this. Carlile is a charming storyteller, and I enjoyed her extensive, earnest, endless fangirling over Dolly Parton, Elton John, and Joanie Mitchell. I appreciate how dorky she is and how she is honest about her terrible decision-making.
  
  I also loved her reflections on learning who she is, coming out, reconciling her lesbianism with her religion, and moving through the world as a queer woman. There is a scene where she wants to get baptized and the pastor tells her she needs to repent her homosexual lifestyle. Yikes. Her stories about creating a family with her wife, and about the uncertain, shifting legal and social standing of their marriage and family are familiar. Ouch!
  
  If you read this, I highly recommend listening to the audio book since she plays a lot of songs in between the chapters, including some lovely covers. I think there are *hours* of music in the audio book. Unless you hate her music, I guess. Then don't listen to the audio book.
  
  Oh, also, and it's freaky to read a book by a musician who lost their whole touring/performing career when the global pandemic hit and they're writing to you with no idea about how it all works out. I hope this all works out....
  
  I also felt a lot like Brandi Carlile is my dad? Not my Daddy but she is like my actual dad, with the bargain horses and fishing/guitar obsession and spending all your money on a boat. It is weird to understand your dad as a millennial lesbian pacific northwest country singer. I told him about it, and he seemed impressed that she knows some good fishing spots, and later he told me she even has two albums out.
  
  If you read this far, thanks for reading my ridiculous emoting about a country singer's memoir. Brandi, if you read this, please take my dad fishing. I am not the right kind of daughter for that. But I am the right kind of reader for this book!
• 
  Carmel

  Yaaaaaaaas to this book!!
  
  I am not a lover or listener really, of music. It’s never really been a part of my life, and I’ve never felt like I was missing anything. Music just doesn’t really interest or grip me the way it does others. I have some favorites from high school, mostly connected to memories of being young and with friends. I picked up this book having never heard of Brandi before. From the title, I assumed it was about country music. And whoooa was I wrong.
  
  Brandi reads her own book with a slight twang and a “gee shucks” tone that made me fall in love with the story. She writes about growing with hardships all around her, but while not romanticizing poverty, not really wishing for much different. She was motivated and curious and when she started singing in front of people, she was hooked.
  
  Her story is about music, but this is not a memoir of her life in music. It feels like what Michelangelo said of David and that all he did was scrape away the excess marble to find the sculpture inside. Brandi is a musician who just lives and breathes music, it comes out of her in a way that burps come out of the rest of us.
  
  While her story is marked with surprises (her religiosity was a surprise to me—after how much she was hurt by the church, her Christianity is still a central part of her). She recognizes her privilege while making it clear that being a woman in music, let alone a lesbian woman, is a difficult place to be.
  
  The BEST part of this book though, is the music. At the end of every chapter, she sings a little ditty (as the book progresses, the songs get longer). The songs relate to that part of her life somehow, and the reader is uniquely married to that song forever—you will never again hear that song without thinking of the story that she told in front of it. It’s beautiful.
  
  Highly recommended. Audio is a must.
• 
  Amy | Foxy Blogs

  The only thing I knew about Brandi Carlile, prior to reading this book, was her song "THE STORY" which was played on Grey's Anatomy over a decade ago.
  
  She has lived an interesting life. Finding out she knows Dolly Parton was fun. But what fascinated me, even more, was that she's good friends with the legendary Elton John.
  
  I listened to the audio and at the end of each chapter, Brandi sings a couple of songs. And the last 20% of the audio is her singing. It's like having your own personal concert performed by Brandi Carlile.
  
  

  Audio book source: Libby
  Narrator: Brandi Carlile
  Length: 10H 3M
• 
  Sonya

  The audiobook version of this memoir is a must. More to come.
• 
  JulesGP

  I’m sure it has happened to everyone. You’re in the car and a new song starts playing and it strikes you to your very heart. Can’t even leave the car even though you’ve reached your destination because you are so affected. For me, it was in 2018, when WXRT in Chicago was playing The Joke by Brandi Carlile. I sat quietly, feeling everything. Fast forward to the pandemic years and a couple of newfound friends shared their love for Brandi’s music with me, reminding me of that moment a few years back. Surprisingly, I had never listened to Brandi’s music again since that afternoon in my car. But when people I respect tell me they are fans of something, I have to go see about it. My opportunity came up rather soon because Brandi was playing down by the lakefront. I won’t go into details about the show but I will say it was a devastatingly emotional two hours because of her performance, the power of the songs, the fact that it was the first concert I had been to since 2019, and most of all, because it reminded me of how fortunate I was and am to have people looking out for me no matter how far away they are.
  
  Brandi’s book is an incredible memoir. Her phenomenal songwriting skills translate easily to prose. She’s an amazing storyteller and I was engaged from beginning to end. The details of her personal life are intertwined with the music which led me to appreciate specific songs even more as she unfolds the backstory of her creative process and collaborations. She has had her share of loss and struggle but hope and the burn to succeed are a recurrent theme. In the end, what makes the book so rich is the honesty and the love expressed in her own words. Family and friends are her tapestry. Listen to the audiobook because Brandi narrates and sings in every chapter. If you are a fan of her music or a fan of memoirs and autobiographies, I highly recommend.
  
  Special thanks to Sandra and AGirl for being big Brandi fans with me.
• 
  Becky

  ❤️❤️❤️ This book is simply wonderful. I loved reading about Brandi’s life and seeing how it is reflected in her songs. Often times lyrics and poetry in novels are annoying to me, but here they were magic! Her early life stories were relatable and inspiring. After reading this book, I am excited to listen to her albums with a new appreciation and understanding of their meanings. Whether you are a fan or not, Brandi’s story can be an inspiration for finding yourself!
• 
  lori light

  My love of music is just a much a part of me as my love of books, so when one of your favorite artists writes a memoir, you know it's going to be a winner. When the musician happens to be very close to your age, there are countless things that make it feel like you're reading some of your own stories. I related to so much of Brandi's life...the medical trauma, the religious trauma. The weight of feeling like the world is changing fast, but maybe not fast enough? So much about this book really gutted me. Growing up in the '90s, when everyone had opinions about AIDS and how it was God punishing the world for homosexuality. There is so much fucked up stuff that came out of that generation and we are still living some of that trauma today. And then there are living angels like Brandi, who are brave enough to live their truth, chase their dreams, and use their voices for change.
  
  After finishing this book today, I laid on my floor and had a serious ugly cry. As of today, I've had three major ugly breakdowns during the pandemic, and two of them were in relation to music. The other was about a much anticipated, cold, delivery burger, but that's another story. The first was in May of 2020 when I watched Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires play in Nashville for an empty room and thousands on Zoom. It was the first time the weight of what losing live music felt like for me came face to face what losing live music meant for the artists, musicians, and the countless folks that make the shows happen every night meant. The weight of it all hit me like a ton of bricks and I laid on my floor that night and cried for nearly an hour. I don't think I would have been able to peel myself off the floor if you'd have told me that night that nearly a year later and we are still not able to sit in rooms and listen to music and we are only just now getting to hug our friends. And yet, just like Brandi mentions in the book, there has been pause and space to grow things where there wasn't time or space before.
  
  I'm so grateful that some space allowed Brandi to complete this memoir and allow those of us who love her to peer inside her world and read her stories of legends like Dolly, Joni, and Elton. The true love that exists between her and music, her and the twins, her and Catherine, her and her fans.
  She's a gift to us all.
• 
  Mary

  4.5/5
  
  I first heard about
  Broken Horses after Howard Stern interviewed
  Brandi Carlile on his show and I am so glad he put it on my radar. I wasn't familiar with too many of her songs and didn't know much about her life going into the book, and while it is a memoir it didn't go as in depth as I thought it would. She did gloss over quite a few things that I thought she would have elaborated on more, but that didn't stop me from completely loving every minute. I especially loved the audiobook which Carlile narrated, and one of my favorite things about it was the inclusion of her music. She sang a mix of her own songs and covers and would do anywhere from 1 to a few different songs at the end of each chapter. I thought she especially killed it with her rendition of Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors, and her singing managed to bring tears to my eyes almost every single time.
  
  Even though I decided to listen to the audiobook thanks to Carlile narrating, I highly recommend grabbing a physical copy as well. There are a ton of pictures in it as well as a brief description of each by Carlile herself, and it was super helpful as well as fascinating. She also included lyrics to a bunch of songs including songs that she doesn't sing in the audiobook. I don't know if those were really all that necessary in the context of the book, but they are nice to have in case you don't want to Google them yourself and are interested. The audio also included a music section at the end where she sings every song that she also sang throughout the book. I was a little disappointed that she didn't sing any of the other music that she had the lyrics listed for, but if you want to listen to the songs all at once after the memoir itself now you know you can. I really hope she will write something else at some point so I can find out more about the actual details of her life, but Broken Horses was a great overview and definitely worth the read!