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- Title: Broken Horses: A Memoir
- Author: Brandi Carlile
- Narrator: Brandi Carlile
- Length: 10:03:02
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 20/04/2021
- Publisher: Random House (Audio)
- Genre: Biography & Memoir, Non-Fiction, Memoir, Art & Music, Women
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s a particular magic that happens when an artist narrates their own memoir – a raw intimacy that no professional narrator could replicate. Brandi Carlile’s “Broken Horses” isn’t just read; it’s “lived” through her voice, with every crack and tremor carrying the weight of her journey. As someone who’s spent years chasing stories across continents, I can tell you this audiobook feels like sitting around a campfire with a friend who’s seen it all, strumming her guitar between confessions.
“”The Soundtrack of a Life””
Carlile structures her memoir like one of her albums – each chapter building toward emotional crescendos, with the included songs (30+ exclusive recordings!) serving as emotional punctuation. I found myself pausing the audiobook after certain passages to sit with her stripped-down rendition of ‘The Joke,’ the way I once stopped my rental car in the Chilean desert when a particular García Márquez passage demanded full attention. These musical interludes transform the listening experience into something multidimensional – part memoir, part concert, part late-night heart-to-heart.
“”Voice as Instrument””
Carlile’s narration style reminds me of those Oaxacan grandmothers who know exactly when to let silence speak. She delivers devastating lines about her meningitis survival or church rejection with matter-of-fact steadiness, then suddenly her voice breaks on a memory of her wife or children, and you realize she’s been holding your heart in her hands all along. The audio production deserves special praise – the mixing makes it feel like she’s singing directly into your ear during musical segments, an intimacy I’ve only previously experienced with binaural recordings of flamenco in Andalucían caves.
“”Themes That Resonate””
As a travel writer, I’m drawn to stories of transformation, and Carlile’s journey from a rootless kid in trailer parks to Grammy stages mirrors the nomadic arcs I’ve documented in migrant communities worldwide. Her reflections on ‘finding salvation through misfits’ particularly struck me – it echoes the universal truth I’ve observed from Marrakech to Manila: that chosen families often heal what biological ones cannot. The chapter about her pastor’s refusal to baptize her, followed by her community’s unexpected support, contains more insight about grassroots grace than any theological text I’ve encountered.
“”Critique Amidst Praise””
If there’s a weakness, it’s that some career milestones get glossed over – I wanted more studio stories about collaborating with Joni Mitchell, more behind-the-scenes tension from The Highwomen project. The audiobook’s greatest strength (Carlile’s emotional authenticity) occasionally becomes its limitation, as she seems more comfortable exploring childhood wounds than industry battles. Still, this aligns with the memoir’s focus on personal over professional transformation.
“”For Whom This Sings””
This isn’t just for Carlile fans. If you appreciate:
– Music memoirs with substance (think Patti Smith’s “Just Kids” meets Glennon Doyle’s vulnerability)
– Nuanced explorations of faith and sexuality
– Audiobooks that innovate the format (the musical integration sets a new standard)
– Stories of artistic perseverance (her 14 moves before age 14 will humble any creative)
…then let Brandi’s voice guide you through this extraordinary ordinary life. Pro tip: Listen with headphones during her a cappella ‘Hallelujah’ cover – it’s a spiritual experience that transported me back to hearing monastic chants in Tibetan valleys, where sound becomes sacred space.
With the volume turned up and the heart open wide,
Marcus Rivera
