The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Finished March 17th, 2007

Rating: 9/10

Decades Challenge Book #1 (2000s)

The first thing that struck me when I began reading this book was how easily the words flowed together, it was effortless. There was never a point in the story where I lost interest.

The writer is Jeannette Walls who tells the true story of being raised along with her siblings by her dysfunctional and eccentric parents. Their father has grand money-making ideas yet never acts on them and has trouble holding a job for any period of time while their mother refuses to take on the responsibility of raising her children and pursues her dreams of becoming an artist at the expense of her children.

The writer recalls her childhood without judgement or resentment and lets the reader decide for themselves what to think about the story.

This book will make you angry and sad as the parents prove to be neglectful from refusing medical care for their children to letting their children rummage through garbage cans for food to never having enough money for water or electricity and you are left wondering why these people had children in the first place.

At the same time it will touch your heart as you root for these children as they go through their struggles and strive to succeed in making something out of their lives.