The Glass Castle Paperback – 18 Sept. 2017

This is a well written book and something of a page turner. The writing is vivid and I felt almost as though I was involved in this family's life. It is a tale of terrible parental selfishness and neglect and at times made me feel so angry that people can treat their children in this way. Somehow the author survives intact without any bitterness towards her unbelievably eccentric mother and drunken father, and despite everything and what they have put her through manages to still love them both. I almost had to stop reading it at one point as the mother made me feel so angry at her unspeakable selfishness and the father taking money from his teenage children who had to work part time out of school to survive, but generally the book has a happy ending - although inevitably one of the four children suffers badly, but we never know what really happens to her. Well worth reading.

This book was a recommendation and not the crime thriller I usually go for and yet I was more taken by this novel, keener to get back to it than most of the thrillers I have read. There is a lot of exquisite detail. I can find lengthy descriptions boring, however well written, but I read every word, was not tempted to jump any passages because all the detail totally took me in. The characters are amazing. There us no sentimentality. They are fresh, irascible and authentic. Their lives astound and horrifying. Foolhardy, reckless, insanely brave. Extreme hardship is accepted with a matter of fact equanimity and the job of survival undertaken with resolute perseverance.Essentially it is the integrity of the characters in all their waywardness in the cases of the mother and father and the solid endurance of the main protagonist that have left a lasting impression on me.

An autobiographical account by the author, who was brought up by neglectful parents, who by choice lived a maverick, hand to mouth existence in America. They were both highly intelligent, creative individuals, who inherited land and property and could have given their children a comfortable life, yet they despised and spurned conventional lifestyles. Instead, believing themselves to be morally superior to others, they become drifters, moving from one place to another, dragging their children along with them...often living in abject poverty.The wilful neglect of the children is shocking and heart breaking. At the age of three the author receives extensive burns and nearly dies when she is allowed to use a gas hob without any parental supervision. One child does die in infancy, though it is claimed to be of natural causes (I rather doubt that given the neglect described).In addition to neglect, there is the mental torture ...one child, when in her late teens is so tormented by her mother that she stabs her and ends up spending time in jail.This is not the sort of book you are likely to "enjoy", but it is certainly worth reading. It is inspiring in so far as thesurviving children come through it all and go on to lead happy and fulfilling adult lives and that is a remarkable achievement.The book also raises philosophical questions...as to what is good and bad when raising children. For instance did it widen the children's horizons by living in so many different places? Did they in fact learn to be independent due to the neglect...ie was it good for them in some ways?. Can children be truly "happy" in such families? ...Can it be said that despite all the neglect, that underneath it all these parents loved the children? Regarding the latter, the author seems to think they did and I can understand that. But I doubt it.Yes the parents may have shown occasional kindnesses, but I can't see that these are sufficient to compensate for the overall neglect. I might have had more sympathy for the parents if they'd had no choice...if they had done their best under difficult circumstances, if they had made an effort, but my impression from the book is that all they cared about was themselves and having their freedom to do as they pleased. I'm sorry if that is unfair and obviously I never met them and have never walked in their shoes as it were....but I just couldn't see any love there.

Wow, what an eye opening read! It is very well written and really draws you in to her experience so that you can relate to how it must have been for her growing up like this.Shocking at times, I found myself feeling awfully frustrated with her parents! I do believe that they love their children in their own way but just have their own warped, weird outlook on life which is actually very damaging and worrying.It is interesting to read about all of the different places they lived in their life too, you get a real feel for the surroundings and culture of different parts of America. The Appalachian mountains included!It is an inspiration to me that this lady managed to change her life for the better despite her difficult circumstances.I’ve seen the film too, but in my opinion he book is better as there are bits that they left out in the film.Highly recommend!

This book teaches you to fight against all odds. It teaches you to be patient and resilient and give in all you've got. It teaches you to get the best out of every opportunity. It teaches you to tackle hardships and not let anyone bring you down. It tells you that all your struggles are worth something. It makes you dream while keeping your feet on the ground. It teaches you the importance of family. Lastly, it tells you to skeedadle when you've got it rough.The innocence in the writing makes you nostalgic and grateful at the same time. It feels like entering a picturesque garden after climbing the toughest rocks.I've always felt that every moment in our lives is leading us to a grand ending. Walls' memoir made that belief a little stronger. You may not have it all figured out now but it's important to keep faith in yourself.

This book had been on my reading list for many months. It had wonderful reviews, but (as I know from experience), great reviews does not necessarily mean that I would love the book too. I had to read it myself. And when I did - I was blown away. To summarize the book in just a few lines - it's the real life story of Ms. Walls; she grew up with a set of appallingly selfish, impractical and self centered parents, shuttling from town to town, and living in abject poverty. Her father is basically alcoholic, and her mother irresponsible & self centered. She loves her parents (as all children do), but it takes her many years to understand that this love is one-sided, and her parents love just themselves, and perhaps each other. How Ms. Walls and her siblings manage to break free of their parents, and how they rise above their circumstances (against all odds), the bond the Walls siblings share (a bond borne out a shared, miserable childhood) forms the rest of the story.What makes the book all the more powerful is one, the writer seems to harbor no anger against her parents, two - Jeanette Walls is a well known journalist in the US, & perhaps a part of NYC high society. To write about her deprived childhood would have required a lot of courage. Hats off to her.I rarely re-read books, but in this case, I just might - maybe just to remind myself all over again what a wonderful set of parents and what a loving & priveledged childhood I've had.

This is a superbly written book and a remarkable story. However after reading it I couldn't help wondering if the author's unwillingness to hold her parent's responsible in any real way, or to express any anger, is actually a coping mechanism of denial on her part. Her parents were criminally negligent in the extreme - and this romanticising account of their behaviour of repeatedly starving their children (when it turns out the mother was actually a millionaire) is morally flawed. This account of childhood mistreatment, pulls the reader, with its well written entertainment value and positive ‘all’s well that ends well’ approach, into this moral collusion.

I found it so difficult to believe the life and the parents that Jeannette Walls had. So unlike my own and truly harrowing at times. But very interesting and likeable characters however eccentric. Jeannette rose up from her poor beginnings and upbringing to be a true success story in spite of the lack of support both financial as well as emotional and physical of her family. A great , eye opening gob smacking read.

A beautiful thought provoking book about a child's survival and ultimately moving beyond parental neglect and abuse. It is written from the child's perspective, innocent of knowing her experiences are neglectful, this is the only life she has known her parents to her are loving. though the subject matter is heavy it is not depressing. It highlights the importance of the need for teachers, doctors and neighbours to advocate for children and give them a voice when they don't have one.On following up on the three children in the story the situation affects them each in a different way. Everyone has a story that is unseen and this book reminds me to be non-judgmental and kind to others for I have not walked their journey.

I could not put this down! To know this is a memoir is mind blowing! this book sucks you in from the very start and I guarantee you will not be able to put it down. The childhood these kids endured is shocking to say the least. From assault, poverty, alcoholism, mental illness and everything in between, this book is an incredible memoir that should be a must read on everyones list

This is one of the wildest and most fascinating books I've ever read--in a lifetime spent mostly with my nose inside one book or another. Better yet, it's true! I won't go into the details of the life Walls and her family lived, but I want to say that I simply couldn't put this down. Written in a manner that shows her generosity and love for her increasingly dysfunctional family, it's got pride of place in my library, along with other books I'll take with me to my last days. What a journey!

Another book about the triumph of human spirit when faced with a childhood rife with serious problems caused by abusive parents. Easy-to-read; difficult-to-absorb; an inspiration for anyone, whether experiencing similar circumstances or living a “normal” life.

En realidad solamente podemos controlar nuestras emociones respecto a lo que vivimos porque una gran parte de nuestras vidas está determinada por factores externos. La historia de El Castillo de Cristal son las memorias de la infancia, adolescencia e inicio de la edad adulta de la periodista y escritora Jeannette Walls.

Gritty, bluesy book, written as autobiography. If it's all true, what a life! What a family! It was hard to put down, so I read it in one sitting. Then, it was hard to get out of the mindset. Now, I'm about to read the prequel: "Half Broke Horses". Jeannette Walls has me hooked.

A roller coaster of a ride for young Jeannette. As the reader, the author takes you on a graphic journey detailing the young heroine’s life from a young child, living an extremely deprived life, to a successful adult (is she happy with enough though?).When is enough, enough?

Waa a little disappointed in this recommended book. Sad the book is based on a true story. I felt the novel was slow and repeated itself over. I will see the movie. I have been told the prequel helps you u understand the characters. But I wont be reading it.

Great book. I read it after North of Normal (see my review of that) because the author of North of Normal wrote her book after reading The Glass Castle. Truly amazing memoir that really shows just how resilient kids are even in the face of some of the most useless parenting you're likely to read about. The parents in this story truly infuriated me but without them there is no story so it is what it is. I highly recommend this book and North of Normal.

..., dass das eine Autobiographie ist und sich mehr oder weniger so abgespielt hat! Absolut fesselnd, mitreissend, tragisch, komisch! Ließ mich aneds nicht zur Ruhe kommen, bis ich es zu Ende gelesen hatte!

The Glass Castle” had me hooked. This is one book which I not only just read but lived it in my head while reading! Such a compelling story and more importantly a gripping relay of sequences. A fantastic memoir about a dysfunctional family and an inspiring story of q Walls who shines irrespective of the odds! Enjoy this good read folks!!