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

From the beginning of the book, I was intrigued and could not put it down. I keep wondering though how she can remember all that went on in her childhood- especially with all of the trials and tribulations. I also had a very hard childhood and every single day, I try to remember events that happened but I only have a few select memories, no good ones at that. Its like all of the bad ones over rode everything in my childhood that made me happy at that time. I wish I knew how she could remember these events in such detail. I would love to remember my childhood.

Jeannette paints a good picture of her down and out childhood. I found this book to be an easy read. However, I also think that she makes her parents not to be bad people when in fact they were very selfish people. Who cares how smart they were. I think maybe her parents were more than a little on the crazy side then just plain old non ambitious people. What got to me was the love the kids had for their parent, even though these kids were abused. The author did a great job on how the story ended.

I thought The Glass Castle was very well-written and thoroughly entertaining. But what amazes me isn't Jeannette's "resilience," but the general public's easy acceptance that this story is even remotely TRUE.

Let's just start with the fact that the book begins when she is three. Who else remembers their life from the age of three in vivid detail? C'mon, people. A vivid imagination maybe.

When I was 13, my parents hired an older woman to babysit for me and my three siblings for a week. She turned out to be an alcoholic. I put up with her antics for about 3 days. I then packed up my younger siblings and whisked them out of the house to safety. Didn't anyone aside from myself wonder why these four seemingly intelligent and resourceful children did nothing for 15 years while they lived without food or running water under such deplorable conditions? Mats and head lice? Piles of garbage? Homeless? Body odor and filthy clothes?

Just the personal hygiene issues alone would have been appalling. Jeannette never bothered to mention why their teeth weren't falling out of their heads. Yes, wasn't it cute that she fashioned braces out of a hanger, but I am quite sure they weren't brushing their teeth every night/flossing. And malnutrition would have caused rampant gum disease. And what happened when the girls got their periods? Apparently they went without feminine hygiene products since there was no money in the house. How charming.

Obviously I could go on. But apparently I am the only one who can see that the Emperor isn't wearing any clothes.

I had a difficult time believing that the author's father could be so brilliant on so many subjects yet so irresponsible...that the mother could be a licensed public school teacher and pull some of the stunts she pulled (like driving the piano completely through the house)...that the family could eat lard sandwiches while the mother sat on real estate worth six or seven figures. Over the top.

I would be too ashamed to put this childhood into print. It's not only sad, it's pathetic!

I had to read a autobiography on a person for a school project so I went to Indigo, and randomly picked out a book. I picked out The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, this is by far the most heart wrenching book I've ever read. I admire everything you have done with your life. When you wrote this book I'm sure you helped out a lot of people in different ways, it could have given them courage to be something. If you ever get this review I would really like to be pen pals or something.

I absolutely love the way Jeanette is able to show insanity from a child's view. Some may say this is a story of unconditional love, but what other choice do children have really?

It's amazing that Jeanette Walls could grow up to become a successful person amid her circumstances. Interestingly, she doesn't insert her own emotions but lets the reader form their own emotions to lead the book. At times I was so overwhelmed with anger or frustration at the characters, I'd have to stop for a while. The book allows the readers to sympathize, but Jeanette Walls doesn't need sympathy, showing her tough nature.This story gives the reader a wonderful insight into the lives of the impoverished all over America.