Jaclyn’s Review: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The Glass Castle
written by Jeannette Walls
published by Scribner, 2006

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Did I enjoy this book? Oh my goodness! I absolutely LOVED this book! I’m really not sure how this ended up on my TBR list, since I do not care for memoirs. I’m so glad it slipped past!

The way this book opens immediately puts you at ease. You meet Jeannette as an adult living in New York City. She tells a quick anecdote about her current life–no more than 2-3 pages. The book immediately jumps you back to her childhood. This was great because there are many scenarios throughout her childhood where you could really see potential for devastating things to happen. However, since you already know that she is doing well in NYC as an adult, you can read the difficult parts with a little bit of reassurance. Her life is nothing short of amazing. I loved reading about the challenges that her family faced through the eyes of a young child. She truly had no idea that her lifestyle was . . . unique. This was a great read!

 

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! I’m torn on whether or not I’d like to watch the movie. I think it has potential to be great, but I’m usually let down when books are made into movies. If anyone has seen the movie, let me know how it is!!

 

About the book – from Goodreads: A tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that, despite its profound flaws, gave the author the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children’s imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn’t stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an “excitement addict.” Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town — and the family — Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents’ betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story.

 

 

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** This post first appeared on Every Free Chance Books (everyfreechance.com) on September 7, 2018.