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

The book was a great read, no argument there. But, 3/4' s of the book was rehashing over and over again the plight of the children, the dysfunctional mother, the alcoholic father, etc. We got it already. In the last few chapters, the children made it to New York, and life was great! All in two or three chapters! Wow. There was a lot of redundancy throughout the book, and I would have likes to have seen more about how the children overcame it earlier. All in all a great book, but could have wrapped up a lot sooner than it did.

As a child of alcoholics in her 60's, I kept waiting for introspection from the adult Jeannette. Yeah, she got out and is rich and successful and so are 2 of her siblings. The memoir would have been much more valuable if we had at least learned what damage they are still repairing. The big trap that children of alcoholics fall into is thinking "I'm okay because I look good, go to work", etc. What about their relationships. None of us is perfect, particularly COA's.

Although I found her story fascinating, depressing, amazing and hopeful, I also was constantly amazed at her ability to remember her past with such vivid detail...call me crazy, but I find it literally unbelievable that she could recall these memories with such vivid detail. Therefore, I had a hard time "connecting" with her story...it felt embellished. I have a hard time remembering conversations from age 31 let alone age 13 or 3!

It may be that I was lucky enough to grow up in a household quite opposite that of the Walls that I am finding parts of this book hard to believe. Could it be that these parents got away with such utter neglect and, in my opinion abuse, because they moved so often? Chapter after chapter tell tales of parental cruelty. I found myself wondering if it could get much worse. I am having a hard time rating this book because while I couldn't put it down, I am left wondering if it was because I felt like I was driving by a train wreck. It was very well written and a moving story. I am left actually hoping that it was embellished.

I am an avid book lover. I read anywhere from 3 to 10 books a week. The Glass Castle was by assigned summer reading by Bowling Green State University. This book is not my kind of book, it's what I call a real life book, and I am into fantasy/science fiction.

I do not enjoy reading books about abused children and almost rapes and things like that. That is just me. I am happy for Jeannette Walls and her siblings for successfully earning a living and managing to feed themselves in New York. They all have spirit, especially after what they had to go through. I only just wish that I didn't have to read this book. I appreciate its appeal to others but to me it disgusted me and made me want to hit the people in it.

OK, an interesting read. But, very frustrating to read the daughter just asking mom if she can do anything. Why in the world would you ask a marginally sane person for answers?
I suggest the author just go and volunteer once a week at a soup kitchen that her mother and dad would consider frequenting. That way, they can keep contact, and be fed nutritious, sanitary food. Heck, why stop there? She could organize a bunch of her Park Avenue neighbors to volunteer as well. Don't ask, just do it!

If Jeanette Walls' story is true (and it feels true to me, but I've been burned before) then this is what I think. Her parents were selfish, narcissistic, immature, and lazy. They (and she?) rationalized their behavior as letting their children be independent, following their own dreams, and being free spirits unhampered by caring about societal expectations and norms (and laws, respect for private property, and so on). In reality, they neglected and abused their children, indulged themselves at their childrens' expense, stole property, destroyed property, and ruined everything they touched. As parents, we have the responsibility to take care of our children and make sure they are safe (not cooking hotdogs at age three, falling out of cars, getting pawed in bed by neighborhood perverts, etc.). Unlike many people who live hand to mouth because of circumstances beyond their control, these people were not poor by accident; they chose to live the way they did, to let their children go hungry, to let their children get hurt. Sure, they "loved" them, but not enough to pay attention to them and take care of them and to put up with the tedium of jobs and taxes and being accountable. I suppose, for her sake, it's a good thing that Jeannette Walls has forgiven her parents. I wouldn't.

I found the book fascinating and a quick read. However, when I was half through with the book, I began to ask myself if this sounded as if it could be true. There were many inconsistencies with reality that I found interesting. Why were the children not removed from the family? How was the mother always able to afford art supplies? How was the father able to produce $1,000 while being a street bum? Why did the mother still retain rights to the Phoenix property without paying property taxes? Why did she receive regular payments on mineral rights or were these checks for oil or gas. In either case, why were there no taxes and why was she able to retain the property and rights. I know these were based on the memory of a child and her siblings, but I continue to wonder...