“The Glass Castle”
May 30, 2010 by jhynes
“This story is like ‘The Glass Castle.’”
“This book reminds me of the girl in ‘The Glass Castle.’”
“The main character had a lot to overcome, but nothing like the family in ‘The Glass Castle.’”
These remarks are just a few examples of what I’ve heard ever since I joined my neighborhood book club a few years ago. Every book club discussion, no matter what the topic, would always come back to “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls.
What makes this book unique? Why do my neighbors, years later, bring up the events of this story? What could be that poignant?
I finally found out.
“The Glass Castle” is unbelievable, remarkable, and true. It’s a memoir based on Jeannette Walls’ life of growing up with parents who were smart and resourceful, but had trouble adapting to traditional societal norms.
Had this story not been true, I would have never believed it. The tales of starvation, drifting, and resourcefulness were absolutely incredible. The human spirit can dig deep. As a reporter, I’ve witnessed some troubling lives, and covered events with impossible odds, but this story touched me deeply. As I traveled with this family from the deserts of Arizona and California to the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, I wondered how they stayed alive to the next chapter. I also thought, their story isn’t the only one of poverty in this country.
This family took poverty head on. The father – brilliant, sharp – as long as he wasn’t drinking. The mother – an artist, a laissez-faire parent – who couldn’t live without her husband, no matter how explosive he would become. Her parents turned poverty into adventure – homelessness into an art form. Just when they were at their lowest point, they dropped lower. Just when you thought, “how could they?”, they do or say something to make you understand.
What I couldn’t wait to find out (since she did write and publish a book) was how Jeannette was going to leave her tumultuous life and “make it.” The simplicity of her escape made it nearly perfect.
I would write more, but I don’t want to spoil the book for you. It’s an experience worth taking.
