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The Glass Castle

Jeannette Walls

Start date: September 1, 2017

Finish date: September 30, 2017

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What Members Thought

Aug 09, 2015 Steve Lindahl rated it really liked it

I've never been much of a memoir fan, but I decided to read The Glass Castle because I've seen it on so many lists of great books. I thought it was an interesting read. This is the story of four children raised by a mother, Rose Mary Walls, who is self centered and optimistic to a fault and a father, Rex Walls, who is a drunk with big dreams. Jeannette Walls, the author and narrator, is one of those children.

I loved the way Walls managed to slowly move the story from quirky and fun to sad and I've never been much of a memoir fan, but I decided to read The Glass Castle because I've seen it on so many lists of great books. I thought it was an interesting read. This is the story of four children raised by a mother, Rose Mary Walls, who is self centered and optimistic to a fault and a father, Rex Walls, who is a drunk with big dreams. Jeannette Walls, the author and narrator, is one of those children.

I loved the way Walls managed to slowly move the story from quirky and fun to sad and pathetic. It could have been boring if it was just a simple list of bad parenting choices, but the story has a general arc that works. I also liked the connection between the children, in particular between Jeannette and Brian. They protect each other and support each other when nobody else is there for them. I also enjoyed the fact that aspects of the parents' issues could be admired, if they weren't so extreme. In her Acknowledgments section Jeannette Walls says “...grateful to my mother for believing in art and truth...” and “...to my father, Rex. S. Walls, for dreaming all those big dreams.” Their dreams were admirable. Their decisions to put their dreams over the needs of their children were not.

The one issue I had with the memoir was the way the children were portrayed. It did not seem as if they were looked at as critically as the parents. Maureen's flaws were pointed out, especially late in the book, but Lori, Brian, and Jeannette all seemed to have it together as much as possible. Even their problems, such as Jeannette's early fascination with fire, seemed to be a result of their parents' choices. The story is about survival, but I had trouble believing the children didn't have more of their own issues.

I can see aspects of Rex and Rose Mary Walls in people I know and judging by other reactions to The Glass Castle others make the same type of connections. This is what makes the character strong and I like to think it is what makes the memoir appealing.

Steve Lindahl – author of Motherless Soul and White Horse Regressions ...more

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May 07, 2019 Jessica Burchett rated it it was amazing

5 out of 5 stars for the author having the guts to write this memoir.

How Rose Mary and Rex Walls met, I mean, aside from the actual, physical way they met, seems to something that is written in the stars...that is not supposed to happen. They were the perfect storm of apathy and passion, ignorance and genius, love and callousness.

When I started the book, I thought - they're really not so bad. A lot of families, particularly during the depression, probably went through similar circumstances and 5 out of 5 stars for the author having the guts to write this memoir.

How Rose Mary and Rex Walls met, I mean, aside from the actual, physical way they met, seems to something that is written in the stars...that is not supposed to happen. They were the perfect storm of apathy and passion, ignorance and genius, love and callousness.

When I started the book, I thought - they're really not so bad. A lot of families, particularly during the depression, probably went through similar circumstances and survived. But then I got to the parts about the father driving drunk, letting his daughter accompany older men to rooms without him, taking his mother's side when she was fondling the author's brother. There were so many times when I looked up from the book at my fiance and said "really? Can you believe these people?" and he was chuckle because I am always talking about books, and say "at least we're not that bad."

But truthfully, this is a beautiful book. The connection that Jeannette had with her father was intense, even if it faded as she became an adult. You can find the love in all the faults. Well, I wonder if the mother really loved anyone except herself. The most brutal part of the book, to me, was when Jeannette was telling her mother that she was going to follow her sister, Lori, to New York, and her mother was upset. When Jeannette promised to keep in touch, the mother said she wasn't upset because she was going to miss Jeannette so much, she was upset because it wasn't her going and life wasn't fair.

That is about the gist of that woman.

This left me wanting more. I am definitely going to read Half Broke Horses, but I spent hours reading about Jeannette, Lori, Brian, and Maureen, that I want to know more more more about them. This book was stunning. I almost cried when the father died. After all, what parent doesn't make mistakes? (Seriously, not those kind of mistakes, but mistakes nonetheless.) You can't help but be proud of Lori, Jeannette, and Brian for how hard they worked and how determined they were to make their lives better and follow their dreams. Perhaps that is the best lesson they got from their parents - to follow their dreams. ...more

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May 10, 2014 Rachel Pruchno rated it really liked it

Beautifully written. Reader gets a unique perspective on what it's like to grow up with parents who are mentally ill. Traces family relationships over the lifespan. ...more

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