The Glass Castle : : a Memoir

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Go-to Memoir submitted by monkk on June 27, 2011, 6:10pm As a heavy reader of memoirs, when people ask my favorites, this one always comes up. But if you don't usually like non-fiction, not to worry! Jeannette Walls' story is unbelievable!

remarkable story, but not artfully written submitted by 21621031390949 on July 9, 2011, 11:14am This memoir is a remarkable story of a girl raised by street-people parents. Amazing that out of such a life of scavenging and poverty in America, she becomes a highly successful New York journalist. However, the writing is amateur -- there is no beauty in her words. Recommend it for education about homelessness and mental illness (her father likely has bipolar affective disorder, which he self medicates through alcohol) but not as good literature.

Conflicted submitted by Enzy on August 13, 2011, 1:18pm The Glass Castle is an incredible memoir about rising above a background entrenched in poverty. However, I often found myself conflicted. The depiction of Walls' family makes it seem as though she admires her parents for, what I took to be, an incredible selfishness.

Throughout the book, Walls' parents demonstrate a unique outlook on life. They understand differences between race and culture better than most people who surround them, they strive to provide their children with an incredible education, and they instill a sense of adventure in their family. However, I felt as though all of these qualities are overshadowed by the fact that the family lives in increasing squalor and neglect due to the parents' decisions.

Walls' mother often says that she has raised her children and now it is time for her to invest in herself and her art. This decision leads to the children eating sticks of margarine because her mother refuses to work. Her father is an alcoholic who takes his 14 year old daughter to a bar and then sends her upstairs with a man who intends to have sex with her. It was at this point in the book where I really started to dislike her father. Up until this chapter I felt as though he was a victim of alcoholism and deeply loved his family. My opinion changed as I began to think that he was just too selfish and proud to get help for his addiction.

While this book was incredibly entertaining to read, I often felt guilty about reading it for entertainment. Being a passive observer while children are raising themselves in poverty was a little more than I was prepared for. This novel touches on many important issues, though it lacks self-reflection. Walls never really concludes anything from the experiences but merely states them. I finished reading the book with very conflicting feelings regarding Walls and her upbringing and I can only conclude that Walls herself is conflicted. Overall, I would recommend this book but felt as though the telling leaves something to be desired. I also agree with the previous reviewer who commented on the writing. The story could be so much more powerful if it were well written.

Mixed feelings about this one submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on June 17, 2014, 8:17pm Here's the thing with this book. Walls is a great storyteller. This book is a memoir of her childhood, and it's fascinating. She does an outstanding job drawing you in to the experience of being a child of two parents who are creative, schizophrenic, free spirits, alcoholic/ co-dependent, neglectful, countercultural, lax, or some some combination of all of the above. It's the most artfully told train wreck I've ever had the privilege or horror to read.

But it gets a mediocre rating from me solely for this: what *I* want out of a book is to encounter people making decisions and living with the consequences of them. It takes more than 75% of the book before the author begins to become an *actor*, rather than the recipient of her parents' dysfunctional actions. I know you need set-up, but the proportion was way off for me... no matter how brilliantly she tells the train wrecks of her youth.

I liked this submitted by KOH on August 12, 2017, 7:19pm A really interesting story. I heard there will be a movie about this. Curious to see how it turns out.

Meh submitted by A2AE on July 24, 2018, 10:31pm I know this was a best selling memoir that many enjoy, but it was too much for my taste. Too sensationalist. Too much of a train wreck for rubber neckers to ogle over. If one enjoys talk shows where guests spill all their secrets about their horrible parents, this is the book for them.

Amazing submitted by TLW1998 on July 28, 2019, 7:54pm I highly recommend reading this book. I loved it.

My favorite book! submitted by jcnnifer on August 15, 2019, 10:14pm This memoir is truly an incredible story. The author grew up poor but still was able to learn from her experiences and unorthodox lifestyle to become a successful journalist, however, her parents remain homeless throughout her adulthood. Stylistically, this book is extremely well written.

captivating submitted by dailyreader on June 13, 2020, 12:51pm Stunning to read what experiences the author had as a child. So different from my own, and a thus such a good reminder that we all come from different places, and we have the power to use whatever experiences we have to shape our futures.

great submitted by kelleyc on July 26, 2021, 9:01am I really enjoy this book and have reread it several times. It's a fascinating tragic backstory to a very successful person.

Amazing story submitted by jgetty on September 8, 2021, 4:38pm A very amazing story of a chaotic life full of good and bad things. I loved that it is a memoir. It is lucky she and her siblings had strong personalities and sense of right and wrong, and could overcome the stresses and confusion of family life, but it was quite a troubled life. There were good parts in her life too. A very interesting and memorable life story.

Found this book on Obama’s list submitted by bcartm01 on June 21, 2022, 8:09pm I really enjoyed it, and did get invested in her story. It was remarkable how she and her siblings’ lives turned out in the end.

Really Good submitted by tess_ on June 9, 2023, 3:54pm While this book has some mixed responses, everyone should still read it. The story feels so unreal but Jeannette Walls does such a good job with making it not feel like non-fiction.

Still think fondly of this book submitted by akrrr08 on August 9, 2023, 10:38pm I read this book about a decade ago, so I don't remember the details but I do recall reading the book furiously. I related to the topic of family dysfunction and found it cathartic as a teenager going through my own struggles.