The Glass Castle in Around the World in 80 Books

Mar 18, 2018 Jim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, non-fiction, memoir

This book has a good account of the trials and tribulations of a family that is basically in thrall to a domineering and narcissistic father and a shiftless and more-or-less dimwitted mother. I have first-hand experience of a situation similar to that of the Walls children and I can safely assert that this account has the ring of truth to it. Well, except for the giant rat that refused to retreat when confronted by two active children and a dog, but everyone exaggerates the size of the rat in ra This book has a good account of the trials and tribulations of a family that is basically in thrall to a domineering and narcissistic father and a shiftless and more-or-less dimwitted mother. I have first-hand experience of a situation similar to that of the Walls children and I can safely assert that this account has the ring of truth to it. Well, except for the giant rat that refused to retreat when confronted by two active children and a dog, but everyone exaggerates the size of the rat in rat stories. And then there was the mattress slingshot, a device that was either poorly described or ballistically impossible. But aside from those two points, I personally believe everything Walls has written.

Walls had me calling forth questions I have pondered for years. Questions like: what is it in human nature that causes people, particularly children, to set the crosshairs on those whose path in life is beset by woes not of their making? The kid who goes to school smelling of urine because the sibling(s) with whom he or she shares a bed has voided on them in the night, and there is no water to wash, and no food for breakfast, and the only decent outfit they have is soiled;...this child is guaranteed to have bullying and scornful acts to contend with on arrival at school. The Walls children endured this treatment regularly.

In addition to facing the onslaught of a scornful world, the Walls kids were neglected by parents who were seemingly brilliant at times, and at other times their collective sanity could be assessed as being somewhat south of normal. It was sometimes painful to read, and no doubt painful to write...which causes me to ponder another question...why? Since the family was, incredibly, intact as a unit, why drag up all this grief? If you care so much for your parents and siblings, why air their dirty laundry for the entertainment of the reading public? It certainly isn't written as a tribute to the family, because no one but the author is portrayed in a particularly favourable light.
Whatever the reason, I enjoyed reading this book, but even if I had endured the same experiences I could not have made myself write it. ...more

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Sep 29, 2013 Astrid Lim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bbi, dysfunctional-family, non-fiction, inspirational, america, new-york, dramatic, lovely-heroine, biography-memoir, book-club

This is a hella crazy read. I laughed, cried, cursed, and even threw my book once because of all the turbulence inside. The true story of The Walls' lives opened my eyes that poverty is real, irresponsible parenting happened, and kids are valuable! I think the Walls' parents did not deserve their lovely, bright, unbelievably brilliant children! I especially love the relationship between Jeannette and her brother Brian. It's heartbreaking imagined them scouring the leftover from garbage bin just ...more

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Apr 07, 2010 Joanne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction

Wow - I'm so conflicted. Stuck between amazement and admiration and pity and sadness. Ultimately, I think this should be a story of inspiration to many. ...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Tiffany rated it really liked it

I loved this book. I couldn't imagine being raised that way! Jeannette Walls is much more accepting of her parents than I would be. ...more

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Jul 09, 2017 Jana rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club

I read this book for one of my book clubs. I was shocked by the way this young girl grew up. And why did nobody ever do anything to make those kid's lives better? ...more

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