The Glass Castle

"The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls is not your typical, fun book club story. It is a memoir written by a talented and tough woman who retells her past in a fresh and frank style.  Jeannette was one of a brood of four children that grew up in a nomadic, gypsy-like manner in the United States in the 1960's and 70's. With parents who were clearly intelligent but cut from a different cloth, the Walls children wandered from towns in Nevada, Arizona and West Virginia, growing up in poverty but learning to fend for themselves.

This is a tale not for the faint of heart. Some of the things that Jeannette tells from her past are quite shocking (but not full of abuse- generally neglect and ignorance-likely due to the parents mental illness and alcoholism), and many of us wondered if our child protective services have improved. Though as children they did not want to be taken from their family, much of the neglect would clearly justify them being removed. The gypsy lifestyle showed a clear lack of honesty on the part of her parents, but surprisingly the children appear to have become strong, independent adults despite their unusual upbringing.

It is a riveting read, and one that is almost guaranteed to make any mother or father feel like a great parent in comparison! The writing is not judgmental; in fact,  you can clearly see the love and affection the children and parents share, despite their dysfunctional family life. It is a refreshing read that doesn't victimize the author, but sets her free with her ability to rise above her past. It is loaded with fascinating turns of fate and a strong sense of overcoming one's challenges, helping your family, staying loyal, and unconditional love. Though not as much of a feel good romantic tale, it was definitely a good choice for our book club meeting.