The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
“Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.
Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.” --From Amazon
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I have to say that, although I enjoyed reading The Glass Castle, I found it to be very disturbing. As a mother myself, I found it difficult view a dysfunctional family, from a child’s point of view. At one point in the story, Walls suggests that her mother get a job in order to buy food for the family. Rose Mary, in turn, questions why she should get a job when Jeanette (who is in high school at this time) is capable of working. I have to tell you that there were times when I found myself yelling (out loud) at that mother, kind of like my husband when he's watching a football game.
In the end, Walls and her siblings begin their own lives and learn to accept the living conditions their parents have chosen. While no one’s childhood is perfect, this book is a dramatic glimpse into circumstances that few of us will ever have to experience.
5/5 Stars
Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.” --From Amazon
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
I have to say that, although I enjoyed reading The Glass Castle, I found it to be very disturbing. As a mother myself, I found it difficult view a dysfunctional family, from a child’s point of view. At one point in the story, Walls suggests that her mother get a job in order to buy food for the family. Rose Mary, in turn, questions why she should get a job when Jeanette (who is in high school at this time) is capable of working. I have to tell you that there were times when I found myself yelling (out loud) at that mother, kind of like my husband when he's watching a football game.
In the end, Walls and her siblings begin their own lives and learn to accept the living conditions their parents have chosen. While no one’s childhood is perfect, this book is a dramatic glimpse into circumstances that few of us will ever have to experience.
5/5 Stars
Comment
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Comment by Debi on May 10, 2008 at 2:56pm - Thank you for this wonderful review! I remember hearing about this book somewhere, but had since forgotten all about it. This time I'm heading right off to add it to the old wish list.
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