The glass castle by Jeannette Walls

[mollyblythe]

Just recently finished this book. Very moving. Couldn't put it down after I was about half-way in. I continued to think about it for days after finishing. One of those stories that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit. I thought how brave the oldest child was in how she left the nest and paved the way for her siblings, allowing some to break the cycle of dysfunction that they grew up in.

This is the kind of book that should be passed along. It was given to me by a friend who hadn't read it. I passed it to a friend who had a difficult childhood and whom I thought might really appreciate the experiences of the Walls children.

[treeluvr]

Originally Posted by mollyblythe

. One of those stories that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.

That's what I thought too. But, I also had the sense that those children were loved--not really cared for, but loved. The father seemed, particularly, to adore the older girl. Crazy parents, totally clueless parenting, but maybe the author managed to get a sense that she "herself" was was a worthwhile being. I bet it's harder to be resilient when one's parents are verbally, emotionally, and physically abusive--and that sort of parenting is a lot more common than the wackiness revealed in The Glass Castle.

[maciesmom]

I agree....compare this with memoirs written by people who had childhoods where they felt unloved and abused. These parents were certainly unstable and incapable of parenting in a way that is acceptable in our society BUT I think for all the horrors, those kids were loved. Ms. Walls wrote the book with compassion not anger toward her parents....

[FlightAttendant]

I just finished Jeannette Wall's memoir, The Glass Castle. I really enjoyed it, in spite of the fact that it was pretty grim at times. Talk about child abuse! Still, I liked the courage and understanding Ms Wall exhibited.

Did any of you read this work, and if so, did you like it?

[maciesmom]

I loved that book.....for many reasons....I think there is already a thread on it from not too long ago.....

What I enjoyed and found refreshing is that she didn't write it as "poor me, boo hoo, I was so abused" - like so many depressing memoirs....My feeling was that growing up when she was younger she had no idea her life was unusual so she saw it all as a big adventure.....She grew to understand it was very different but she also began to understand that her parents were mentally ill and did the best they could. She worked hard to get an education and get where she is today but she does not look down on her parents and understands that they love her and she loves them.....I didn't get any bitterness toward them - but compassion.

[mollyblythe]

I posted to the earlier thread that I loved the book. It was difficult reading at times because I could so clearly envision from her writing the kind of environment they lived in and many of the experiences she described.

It's such an interesting contrast when children grow up in that kind of situation and some, like the author and two of her siblings, rise above it becoming successful adults while others in the same family continue with the overt dysfunction from their childhood.

[Jess5]

Originally Posted by FlightAttendant

I just finished Jeannette Wall's memoir, The Glass Castle. I really enjoyed it, in spite of the fact that it was pretty grim at times. Talk about child abuse! Still, I liked the courage and understanding Ms Wall exhibited.

Did any of you read this work, and if so, did you like it?

I read it, and did like it, but I didn't think the child abuse was that bad. Of course any abuse is bad, but the children were loved. My mother makes Jeannette's mother look like a kindergarten teacher!

[TRosa]

I read "The Glass Castle" a couple of years ago. Loved it and thought it was very inspiring. I especially liked how she didn't waste her energies, like many do, placing blame for every step she took or how she chose to proceed in life in spite of what occured. I could understand and relate to her feelings.

I placed her newer book, the one based on her grandmother's life, on hold at my library.