Fireball: The true story of a Tennessee plowgirl who overcame poverty, abuse, and eleven husbands with wit, wisdom, and tenacity

by Hazel Lindsey, Julia Walker

My name is Hazel Lamb…Lindsey, but my momma called me Fireball. I am 84 years old. I only got one year of schooling, but I am self-taught. I worked hard all my life. I plowed fields, cut timber, raised hogs, and managed several businesses. I got married 11 times. I buried two of my babies, but I brung up three children of my own and four step children. I met some of my husbands – and lots of boyfriends – while playing guitar, singing, and buck dancing at country jubilees. I survived cancer, and one of my husbands choked me to death, but my sweet momma brung me back to life. I shot one husband a little bit, and later, when he was dying of cancer, he was stole from the hospital, and, to this day, I don’t know where he is buried at. I like to tell people I am a movie star, cause I played the wife of a coal miner in the movie October Sky. My life started out hard with poverty and abuse, but all-in-all it’s been a pretty good life. This is my story, and I’d like for you to hear it and learn that no matter how bad things gets, you can overcome and be happy.

196 pages, Paperback

Published September 28, 2015

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 for me...Very strong and independent lady. Hazel dealt with a lot, but could her attitude have brought some of it on?

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing is interesting, and the vernacular is a LOT of fun to read if your family is from the area as mine is. In fact, the author is my cousin. There are a lot of fascinating stories in the book. That said, please take them with a slight grain of salt. Hazel is in her 80's and her memory is a bit fuzzy. Two examples, Aunt Stella Ricker was never married and Grandma Ricker did NOT die in childbirth, she miscarried my uncle about a month or so before she passed. In fact, as she was dying she kept saying that she heard her baby crying and the family was unsure if it was the baby she lost or my Uncle Otis that she was asking about.

Overall, a good read.

[Beach026 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would call BS on some of the stuff except that I personally know a woman that's lives a very similar life. Same first hand. Some of the same crazy situations she found herself in by having no fear. I really wish they would make this into a movie. I'd buy a ticket

[Terry Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book that is a little dated, but is worth the read. Even if half of what, Hazel, went through is true, she had quite a life. Hazel and her co-author decided to write this memoir in the vernacular of the South, which I found most interesting. Thumbs up.

[MaryChris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good short story of a young woman's arduous journey from an impoverished girlhood in Tennessee who, with "gumption" was in charge of her life even in old age.

[Amanda Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, easy read. All the right sadness and laughter. Hazel really is a Fireball.

[Kelly Mcdonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a different way of life. A very strong and feisty lady

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting at first but it did get tedious

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book, loved the stories, and loved Hazel Lamb. What a life! Living in Athens, not far from Decatur and Oak Ridge, I recognized and could picture so many of the areas she described. I wish I had come to know her. Fascinating woman!