What readers think of The Glass Castle, plus links to write your own review.

As a mother, I want to hug that child who, copes with every miserable situation that she and her siblings have to endure. At the same time I want to strangle the parents for shirking their responsibilities. How can, for instance, the father set up his teenage daughter at a bar with some sleazy character and then tell her he knew she'd be able to take care of herself? But, by the same token, the parents, in some way, miraculously were able to feed their children's minds with science and math and awareness of beauty in simple things.

This is a must-read!

An amazing read of the thinking and behaviors of the average alcoholic family. It's all there: The denial, the people pleasing, the mother who chose to look the other way as her coping mechanism until she could not see reality at all. While I had nowhere near the hardship of Ms. Walls, I could so relate to the dynamics of that family. I will seriously recommend this book to all my friends, but especially to the ones in Al-Anon or AA.

The glass castle is an addiction. Once you start to read, its near impossible to put down. I began reading Jeanette Walls memoir and found myself deeply entranced in her life story of living with her 3 siblings, and two chaotic parents. It's incredible, even mind blowing to read what loving, caring words that are written about her seemingly careless, mind-scattered parents. Glass Castle is a story of family, love, and even pain. You'll laugh, cry, and wish at times your family was as adventuresome as the Walls.

This is the first book that made me want to meet the author.
Having had a traumatic childhood myself, the characters were relateable, though there remained room for shock, horror and disbelief.
The way Walls writes is explicit, entertaining and witty. She doesn't drool on about the hardships she and her family faced, (although I'd understand if she did) rather she tells her tragically moving story with an upbeat 'I can handle it' tone.
I have adult ADD and I find it difficult to give my attention to books. However, this book I could not put down, I wanted to find out how her story ended. I wanted to know what outcome this grimacing life produced in an adult.
I loved this book.

I prefer fictional books. when it said it was memoir, I was a bit reluctant to read this book. I didn't even read the first page, I was caught from just reading the back and from there it was even more interesting. One thing though, I would really want to know what a psychiatrist would say about the mother.

I see the author of this article writes:
"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 you see as betrayal, I do not believe the children saw as betrayal, and yes, they did leave home, but old enough to go to school and do something with their lives. The fact that Jeannette became a journalist shows that the parents gave her something that you can't see. I think when the father gave them a gift of a star named after them for a Christmas present, was far better than the lies we tell our children about Santa and some of the junk we waste our money on.

I had to read The Glass Castle by: Jeannette Walls. I normally do not like reading Biographies but The Glass Castle is an AMAZING book, that I think everyone should read!! I enjoyed it and I think others will to.

I started reading this book and had to finish it. I have rarely been so moved by a story; I think the author was so skilled in the way that she told her story; she retreated from a judgmental adult view of those incredibly selfish and immature parents instead took the approach of how she viewed them as a child; I remember someone I was close to telling me that a child always wants to love and be loved by their parent, even as he or she is being abused...this is what makes the story so sad.It rang so true and has undoubtedly been experienced in varying degrees by some many of us. I am filled with respect toward Jeannette and her siblings. Truly an amazing literary work that should be required reading in schools and colleges.