The Glass Castle in The Complete Idiots Guide to the Ultimate Reading List

Jan 17, 2010 Sunflower rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library, non-fiction-read-2010

Anyone who thinks they got a bad deal with their parents should read this book. This book is a memoir of a childhood with parents who were neglectful, selfish, and even abusive at times, yet the author never portrays them as anything worse than eccentric. She puts a positive spin on them, and on their life as a family, during which they were so poor that the children were more often hungry than not, wore threadbare clothes and shoes, and lived in the worst of circumstances.
They are clearly inte ...more

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Feb 26, 2008 Julianne rated it did not like it

Shelves: never-finished

Well, I listened to the first CD of this one and took it right back to the library. I was so disgusted by her parents after they "sprung" her out of the hospital that I couldn't stand to finish a book about them. I have no problem not finishing this one.

P.S.-this is the second memoir on my never finished list. I think I'll steer clear of them for a while (it might be a trend for me). ...more

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Mar 22, 2011 Andrea marked it as to-read

I saw this book earlier on a best-selling list.. and was open to reading it until I saw what it was about. It sounds too similar to my life for me to want to be interested in it (except for the whole 'love for the parents' thing.) But now, a couple of people have told me that I really should read it. And I still really don't want to. I see nothing appealing in a family that moves everywhere, a mother that does nothing, a father who is gone except in those rare moments that he teaches the kids am ...more

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Mar 02, 2009 Jennifer rated it it was amazing

This is easily on the Top 10 list for books I read in 2008. Jeanette's experiences growing up with such damaged and selfish parents is heartbreaking and infuriating. And somehow, at the end, you get that the author did not write this book to be the victim or complain or even chastise her parents. It was more about rising above it all. Skillfully done. Inspiring. And a great read as well. ...more

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Feb 15, 2008 Kristi rated it it was amazing

Parental dysfunction as its finest. Jeanette Walls tells the story of her family - totally chaotic, many times scary, yet loving and creative. An incredibly emotional read - you hate the parents and just want to shake them, and at other times, you cheer for them. Roller coaster of feelings abound in the reader, to say the least. The author is superb. I was amazed at the tenacity, love and intelligence between siblings.

And most of all, I was touched by how she was able to tell the story, as a mai ...more

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Mar 28, 2008 Stephanie rated it really liked it

Shelves: bios, non-fiction

I've never been one for memoirs and biographies, but this book was amazing. Not necessarily the writing so much as the story. The writing was nice, but I loved the storyline the most. I was sucked into the crazy life of the Walls. At first, I wanted to live a life like that; crazy, unpredicatable, always traveling and on the move. But of course they had their troubles, and after they moved to Welch, I realized how hard it was for them. The book was really good, and the ending was a great way for ...more

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Mar 12, 2008 Jana rated it really liked it

This was indeed a page-turner. I was appaled at these parents. It is one thing to choose to live like they did as adults but it is totally different to bring your kids up starving in a garbage heap. Thank God for self-determination and intelligence- the only way 3 of the 4 made it out.

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