Glass Castle: A Memoir
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| Length: | 11 hours | ||||||||||
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Overview
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. What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.
Reviews (28)
Unbelievable
Written by Patti on August 26th, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
Wonderful book! I couldn't wait to hear more. If you're in a bad mood though, might want to wait until you're in a better one. Felt myself getting a little depressed at times because some of the situations these children were in. It was maddening and, at times, I really wanted to shake her parents' necks. However, I still found myself sad when one of them became ill. Made me see how someone who grew up in a situation like that could become so conflicted about what to think of her mother and father. In a twisted way, I did also think that in the author's very early years, she got to experience some interesting things that, as a child, one could appreciate and find to be quite an adventure. Definitely worth a read.
Heartfelt
Written by Sandy Cooper from Woodland Hills, CA on August 11th, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
This story shows just how strong the human sprit can be. When we really want something, we can make it happen as long as we do not give up. Acceptance and forgiveness is the message to take away from this book.
Remarkable
Written by Michelle S. from Redwood City, CA on May 5th, 2008
- Book Rating: 4/5
I enjoyed this book much more than i thought i would (10 disks is a commitment...) Ms. Walls' writing was so objective that she really lets the listener decide how to feel about the choices of her parents. At times I did have a hard time contemplating that this was a true story--she overcame truly remarkable odds. Highly recommend.
LOVED IT!
Written by Anonymous from Sleepy Hollow, IL on March 11th, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
I really enjoyed this book. Yes, the author may have been too accommodating in her youthful acceptance of her very disfunctional family and I too wondered why child services hadn't stepped in, but again, this was the 60's and that was the way of life then. The book was very well narrated and I couldn't wait to get into my car and hear it some more. Loved it! Don't listen to the very few one-star reviewers; this book is a treasure.
Excellent
Written by Laura from Milwaukee, WI on March 5th, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
That Jeanette Walls can tell her story without bitterness is truly remarkable. The love she has for her parents is so apparent. While it may be true that her parents should never have been allowed to keep their children, Jeanette Walls would not be the woman she is today without having had to endure the tragic childhood she grew up in. She tells her story with vibrant, vivid imagery.
Glass Castle
Written by Anonymous on October 1st, 2007
- Book Rating: 5/5
This book was amazing. It was hard to put it down when I started it. It is well written, from the child's point of view. Yet it also showed how the parents viewed life and their lack of means to provide for their children. No matter what, Jeannette had a trust and love in her father that only poverty can provide. It was sad when birthdays and Christmas came around and they knew they would be given something not concrete, but something they knew would always be theirs and was better than a toy. I related to a lot of what she went through. At the end it was difficult for me not to feel anger towards the mother though. Wonderful wonderful book, so glad I "read" it.
The Glass Castle
Written by Victorine Merriman on September 13th, 2007
- Book Rating: 5/5
Jeannette's story about her rise above her dysfunctional upbringing is amazing. Some of the events are so outrageous it's hard to believe it could really have happened. The story is written very well; it is articulate, warm, engaging, funny, sad & poignant. It is written with an open, honest approach and, most hard to believe, not a trace of blame or woe is me. A must read!
Glass Castle:: A Memoir
Written by Nancy Ramsay from Mill Valley, CA on September 11th, 2007
- Book Rating: 1/5
I couldn't force myself to finish this book, but after reading about half of it, I felt annoyed by all the characters, most of all the narrater herself. She was raised by strange self-involved parents who never should have had children -- people who prefer homelessness, poverty, filth, and hunger and who chose to force these values on their children. It is unclear how much of their self-involved, dysfunctional behavior is a result of addiction, of mental illness, or of their own parents' failures. In any case, the author's naivete and seeming lack of curiosity about the underlying causes of her family's sad state, I found downright maddening. The reader's childlike voice didn't help.
A lesson in survival!
Written by Sherry M.-Midwest on September 10th, 2007
- Book Rating: 4/5
A simply written memoir detailing a childhood lived in horrendous poverty among the daily chaois brought on by parents suffering from untreated alcoholism and bipolar disorder...minimally speaking. This account is disturbing but utterly fascinating. You won't be able to put it down and once you do, it will stay with you for days, maybe weeks, afterwards.
Loved this book
Written by Liz on August 3rd, 2007
- Book Rating: 4/5
I'm the type of person who rarely reads or listens to non-fiction. The story gives a real-life account of what it's like to live in abject poverty. I really enjoyed this book and was surprised to find out who Jeannette Walls really was.