Each month I meet with three girlfriends to play mahjong and talk about a book. This month’s book is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. I just finished it last night and thoughts are still tumbling through my mind. Questions I want to discuss at mahjong, thoughts about the book. Everything is jumbled, but I will say this. I loved the book. It was heartbreaking and some parts were simply agonizing to read, but the ability of the human spirit to presevere and succeed is amazing.
The Glass Castle is the story of Jeannette Walls’ childhood. Its a memoir written with such clarity that, at first, I questioned the validity. I recall very little of my childhood and none with such detail so I was amazed that she was able to write about her life since she was three years old. In speaking with a couple different people though they stated that people usually recall traumatic life events. This story speaks of homelessness, abuse, hunger, alcoholism, but it is told with almost a kindness and caring towards the very people that inflicted these traumas upon her. I think most people would be filled with hate and anger if they were raised in similar circumstances, yet Jeannette seems forgiving towards her parents and has used her past to build a solid life. I’m not going to go into details about this story because I want you to read it first. After you read it come back here and let me know what you think. Go, buy this book, borrow it from a friend, check it out of the library, whatever you need to do. Just read this book.
rating: 5/5
