I typically write my reviews in a timely fashion. In fact, I typically have a rule that I can’t start my next book until I write my review. It keeps me honest, up to date and together (because I always want to start the next book). Well, rules went out the window after reading this book. I have no idea what it is about it, but I was altered by The Glass Castle. I didn’t want to write about it, I didn’t want to stop thinking about it…I basically just reread it three times in a row. This is a weird occurrence for me…I’m more of the “hit it and quit it” kind of girl of the literary world.
If you don’t know about the book (my book gang [like a book club but edgier] and I were late to the party), The Glass Castle is a memoir written by Jeannette Walls. It begins with her at the age of three being admitted into the hospital because she burned herself after her artist mother allows her to cook on the stove. From there we’re introduced to the entire Walls clan. Her father, Rex is a brilliant but an alcoholic who has wanderlust. Her mother, Rose Mary is an unstable artist whose desire to have a life of interest outweighs the children’s need for stability. Jeannette, along with her brother Brian, older sister Lori and (the often neglected baby Maureen), navigate the world together often being more responsible than the parents.
Similar to Frank McCourt in Angela’s Ashes, Walls has the ability to make you smile and even laugh at events that are tragic. On the first read, I just tore through it. On the second read, I tried to diagnose her mother (rather, tried to figure out if there were mental issues that added to the already existing problems in Walls family). On the third read, I focused on how often the youngest child Maureen seemed to be neglected. As all memoirs are based on one person’s reality, I tried to read if any other members of the Walls family spoke out after Jeannette’s book rose in popularity. Her sister Lori wasn’t excited about the prospect of it, her mother says that she saw it a different way but respects her POV, her father has passed away, and her brother Brian stood by her as she wrote. Maureen? I have no idea what Maureen is up to but I hope she’s ok (she lives in CA, estranged from the family from what I read). If you have a chance, check out this book-it’s one that will stick with me for a long time because it made me feel every emotion possible. I still don’t have any idea how they survived, let alone how she walked away from it all relatively unscathed and able to maintain a relationship with her mother.
This book made me thank my lucky stars that I was given the parents that I have. I know Ms. Walls believes that the way her parents raised her made her strong but I can’t imagine ever trading my kids’ stability in, regardless of the appeal of wild adventure.
Reading this from a parenting perspective was also deeply affecting. How did they foster a relationship without providing the stability and nurturing that kids need? I still can’t figure it out.
I had so many thoughts about that. I have 3 kids, I can’t imagine doing what these kids were subjected to unless I was mentally ill and couldn’t see things clearly.