Glass Castle Review

The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls

Normally, I am not a fan of nonfiction writing: however, this memoir was one of the most fascinating pieces of literature that I have ever read.

First of all, it is important to understand the difference between a memoir and an autobiography. While they both serve the same purpose of telling ones story, a memoir uses elements of a narrative. This makes them a little bit more interesting to read, at least in my opinion.

Jeannette Walls story is one that takes you around the United States. Her family lived a nomadic life style for many years, supposedly evading the mafia. For most of her early childhood, she lives in the western half of the country (primarily in the desert.)

This memoir talks about her family and how they survived against great odds. It showcases her perseverance through her childhood and into adulthood. There is a lot to learn about life and the value of love within a family in Walls writing.

I like to call this the "best worst" book that I have ever read. Walls writing is flawless and will captivate the reader. This book was assigned to me as one of my final assignments in high school and many of the students enjoyed it. The Glass Castle is not a book that is easily put done. The story being told is captivating and will have you rooting on Jeanette and her siblings.

While reading, it made me think a lot about family. Due to their lifestyle, Jeannette does not have many friends which causes her to be closer to her parents. Even though she has a clear love for her family, she is able to vocalize her frustrations. Her mother is an artist that most of the time refuses to work. Her father is an alcoholic who wastes the families money on booze.

Despite the fact that she is frustrated with her current situation, she always makes the best of it. She tries to suck it up and say that her father has never let her down. After all, she is his biggest fan.

When reading this book, it is easy to see how awful her parents were. How they did not provide proper food and shelter. Yet there is a bigger picture to the story. Jeannette grows stronger in the face of adversity. She does not allow for anyone to take away her dreams or aspirations.

On a rating scale, I would easily give The Glass Castle all five stars. If you are looking for a nonfiction piece to add into the mix, I would definitely recommend this.

If you are interested in purchasing this book, here is the Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Glass-Castle-Memoir-Jeannette-Walls/dp/074324754X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1465238840&sr=1-1&keywords=the+glass+castle

Also, remember to use your local library. It's Free!