The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
This memoir was heartbreaking, empowering, sad, happy, joyful, depressing and hopeful. I couldn’t keep it out of my mind that these children were real and that they really lived through these “adventures” concocted by their own parents.
To some extent I think that it made them stronger but to the other extreme it made me sad that they never really were cared for like I try to care for my own kids. I could never fathom letting my children go hungry and then hiding food from them because I was hungry too. Or deny them clothes and food because you don’t want welfare but also don’t want a job.
This was a tough story to read. I will admit that the first chapter actually had me laughing at the ridiculousness of their lives. But as the story went on, it was more disturbing to know that the parents were intentionally keeping their family poor. I feel that there were many levels of mental illness and simple laziness happening in the parental dynamic of this family.
I know that there are things that can be viewed as situations that make people stronger but most of the situations that these kids were put in were sometimes dangerous and definitely exploitative! This book was difficult to take when the children were denied food and a clean home. It was difficult to read that they were sexually exploited. It was difficult to know that the parents didn’t believe them when others harmed them.
This book made me feel like we are all just one bad decision from being homeless, from starving, from poverty, and from dysfunction. If my husband and I were to suddenly lose our jobs and not be able to replace them, it would be detrimental to our family. But, I would like to think that I would do anything to keep us from not feeding our kids or from clothing them. I would do everything in my power to make a decent home for them. I could never just sink into my bed and not come out of my room. Unless, I was mentally ill. I think this book says a lot about the mental state of people and their ability or inability to make rational decisions. Who lets their 3 year old make their own dinner on the stove? Who lets their 3 kids and a newborn ride in the back of a moving truck?
I do feel like the dad really did love his children, especially Jeannette, but he sure had a strange way of caring for them. He also couldn’t get passed his own demons and alcoholism. I’m still not sure I forgive the mother. After all, she should have protected her babies no matter what. I feel like the kids were an inconvenience to her. Although this family lived a very bizarre and tortured life, their many situations made them into a family. The kids became closer because they had a common mission…to survive!
What was your initial view of this book? How did you feel at the end?
Who do you think was to blame for the dysfunction of the family? Why?
Was is difficult to know where this family was coming from? Do you know similar families in this type of situation?
What would you have done differently?
Does it amaze you that the children (most of them) became successful adults?
How did they survive?
Would you survive?
Jennifer, your review was spot on and I agree with everything you said.
This was a difficult book to read because the constant abuse that the children endure is unending.
I was angry throughout the book that Jeannette was not more judgmental and angry at her parents. Because of this, the reader doesn’t feel any closure or redemption. I realize that is silly, seeing as how this is all based on a true story and the fact of the matter is that the real life people in this story probably didn’t get closure or redemption. It is so hard to read about the dad stealing the money his kids had worked so hard to save in order to start a new life. Or taking kidnapping Jeanette from the hospital after she received treatment for first degree burns. Or the mother’s apathy towards everything.
I completely blame Jeanette’s parents for the dysfunction in their family. Her parents seemed to bring out the worse in each other and were enablers for each other’s bad behavior. They were also both extremely selfish and never put their children’s needs before their own.
I have never experienced the extreme levels of neglect or poverty that Jeanette and her siblings endured, but I do understand what it is like to live with someone with mental illness and/or a person that puts their own needs before their family. As a child growing up in that environment you don’t necessarily realize that this behavior isn’t “normal.” As you get older you look past it and do what you need to in order to get by.
I’m not sure if Jeanette and her siblings could have done anything differently. It is easy to say “tell someone” or “report it to the authorities,” but the outcome isn’t always better when that happens.
I am amazed that Jeanette and her siblings survived, let alone became successful. I like to think I am a very strong person, but I am not sure if I would have survived this situation or not.