This heart wrenching memoir of Jeannette Walls was probably my favorite of all the books we experienced during this blogging journey. I actually listened to the cd version on my way to and from CT over break. The up side of this was that the narrator was excellent and the story unfolded in a truly captivating way; the down side, I couldn't skip to the last page to see how it all turned out in the end!
I'm not sure where to begin. There were times I found my self shouting at the dashboard, "Don't you dare give him any money...are you crazy!??" and then other times I needed to wipe a tear or two from my eye. I think what surprises me the most about Walls's work is her lack of sentimentality. She tells her story with much objectivity and honesty. She does not blame or excuse her parents, as one reviewer said, "The author's tell-it-like-it-was memoir is moving...she neither demonizes nor idealizes her parents..." I, however, found it easy to demonize them!
To be honest, at times her parents impressed me. In the beginning I thought, They're a bit odd, but not so bad,and they were raising bright, creative, unconventional thinkers, but as Rex spiralled downward and her mother went from flighty to unstable, their unconventional ways became a curse.
For me there were a couple of very poignant parts of the book. The first was the section where Jeannette talks about how much she loved the bookA Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and how much she was like Francine- both having alcoholic fathers and tough childhoods. I too loved this book as a young girl when I read it. I didn't have an alcoholic father, but we certainly had some rough spots and struggled as a family. I believe that it was my immersion in books, especially those like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, that gave me the incentive to do better and be more.
The second situation that gave me pause and made me think was the section where Jeanette's mother and older sister are gone for the summer and Jeannette is "in charge." She started the summer thinking she was going to be in control and then realized how hard it is to stand up to her father. This was the section in which I yelled at the CD player. And it broke my heart when Rex lets her go up to the apartment with the pool player.
Would students read this book? I think it definitely has an audience in the high school, especially for older students. I could almost see this as a good lit. circle book, paired with Angela's Ashes or even A Child Called It (which students love to read!) I wonder if any of the upper level ELA classes do a unit or circle on the memoir? Anyone know?
I am anxious to see what everyone thought!
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I loved the book! I enjoyed the way Jeannette's told her story and appreciated her honesty. I am eager to read her next book, where she tells the story of her grandmother, Rose Mary's mother. I admired the way the children supported each other and became their own strong, family unit despite the disfunction of their parents. The parents were such complex characters, I became as intrigued with the many facets of their personalities as Jeannette was with her stones. The one scene of the children left alone in the darkness of U-Haul was haunting. I can't let go of the image of Maureen left in the arms of a little girl for safe-keeping, while the parents are riding in the security of the car. The other piece of the story that captured my interest was when Rose Mary revealed to Jeannette that her mother's land was worth a possible million dollars. Like Jeannette, I would like to know more about what the land's actual worth is. Is Rose Mary, still alive today I believe, a millionaire? By the way, you can actually view some of Rose Mary's paintings on line
ReplyDeleteYvonne
Yvonne,
ReplyDeleteThanks for tip about the paintings. I went online and read about Jeannette and her live now...but didn't explore the mother. I will have to go on and check it out. As an art teacher can you say if she had any talent?
And, I agree with Yvonne's comment about the children becoming their own family unit...despite their parents. Great way to look at it.
Wow! All I can say after reading this book is wow. It is amazing to me that Jeanette and her siblings actually managed to escape from their childhood and grow into functional adults.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started reading the book, I felt excited for Jeanette, who was growing up in such a unique and interesting situation. I did feel somewhat bad for the children though due to the fact that they never seemed to establish roots in any city that they lived. As the family started becoming more and more dysfunctional, I was saddened by the fact that Jeanette and the other children lost their childhood and were forced to take on the role of parent to their actual parents.
The behavior of Jeanette's mother simply screamed to me MENTAL ILLNESS. It was amazing to me to read Jeanette's description of her mother's mood swings because they were symptoms of classic manic depression. Unfortunately for the family, Jeanette's dad was not capable of stepping in and taking charge of the family. I wonder if, to some degree, his alcoholism was his attempt to escape his failure as a father and the shady events of his childhood.
I would have to say that this book was probably my favorite of the ones we read, although I do with the Jeanette would have spent more time discussing her present life and situation (maybe next book!?) Thanks for the tip Yvonne, Im going to look up some of the art on line!
I loved this book, just could not put it down. In trying to describe living conditions in developing countries to my classes, I always compare the poorest Americans favorably to the poorest in the world. I may have to revise that, although Jeannette Walls admits that her parents would not access the social services available to them. It is amazing that all four Walls children overcame their disadvantaged beginning to fulfill their dreams. It is inferred that Maureen made out OK in California at the end. It is a great lesson that they took advantage of a free public education and post high school opportunities to accomplish their goals. It also explains well that some people are happy with their lives even if they do not conform to others’ expectations. While Rex had to deal with his alcoholism, he was brilliant. Jeannette’s Mom seems to suffer from some sort of mental illness: Manic depression? She always sees the positive side of her children’s situations while her own mood changes regularly. Her freedom loving, no responsibilities attitude prevents her children from growing up with the conventional necessities: regular meals, heat, sanitary living conditions, and stable home but they seem to understand that is just her way. This book reminds me that any complaints I may have, in perspective, are minor compared to the things others have overcome.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book but I have to admit I wanted more. It started out very strong but after the half way point I felt as though I was reading the same two page chapters-different faces on the same demons. I wanted to hear more about how the three older children felt about their experiences and how they were able to break away. She glossed over some of the crucial events of young adulthood. I wonder if one of Jeannette's invisible scars was emotional. Even in the video of her as an adult see seemed emotionally distant.
ReplyDeleteAs for her parents, it was difficult to see such potential lost to mental illness and alcoholism. Her parents managed to educate the older children while instilling confidence, creativity and independence. My favorite scene was when Rex gave Jeannette Venus as her gift. It was the increasing neglect, abuse, and selfishness that makes them detestable by the end. Their acceptance of sexual abuse and violence was particularly difficult to read. Knowing the mother had a two carrot diamond ring, Texas land worth a million, and money for alcohol and art supplies while the children foraged for food, wore rags and slept in the cold was sick. It's amazing how resilient children are.
The book is straightforward and easy to read. I could see it appealing to our students as it reads like fiction.
I think Rose Marys' art went the way of her mind. She has talent but it does not live up to it's potential. It may have been more personally beneficial to her as an outlet for her own demons.
I must say it's been a long time since a book made me feel so many emotions...and sometimes conflicting emotions within one chapter! The parents' contradictory attitude towards raising their children left me bewildered. One moment they're neglecting their most basic needs but in the next breath they're teaching some great life lesson. I loved the scene when Rex shows Jeannette how to overcome her fear of the "demon" in her room. He gets out his knife and hands her a pipe wrench and they search the room for it...confronting her fear. When they discover that there is no demon monster, Rex says,"All you have to do, Mountain Goat, is show old Demon that you're not afraid." A great lesson! Of course, perhaps her fear was rooted in the fact that they never stayed in one place for too long, so she was feeling very insecure.
ReplyDeleteThe chapters in Welch, West Virginia, were especially familiar to me because Jeff and I lived in Athens, West Virginia, for four years and both of our children were born there. I met some of the kindest, most genuine people I've ever met while Jeff was teaching sociology at Concord College. We also saw poverty and hopelessness that left us depressed for days. The description of Welch, West Virginia-- the houses jutting out of the hillsides with no doors and windows, sagging porches, people in rags, and a general suspicion of outsiders--are also part of my memory. After coming home from a drive through Welch and the rest of McDowell County, one of our neighbors told us, "You're living next to the poorest county in our country today."
The resilience of Jeannette and her siblings and their ability to make it on their own in New York City at such a young age shouldn't surprise us after the life they'd had. I can't imagine riding in a taxi in New York and seeing my mother picking through the garbage...how could I move on to the next moment of my life?...but Jeannette had been trained to do just that.
I can certainly see reading this with an older group of students. Although thematically this book would fit right into my freshmen literature, I'm not sure it would keep their attention. I will most certainly suggest it as a read for friends and family and for mature readers in my class for independent books.
I would love to sit around and discuss this with all of you. This book is so rich that blogging seems too slow in response time. Oooooh,to have a few moments to sit and talk about a book!
This was definitely my favorite of our books this year, as well. It certainly allowed for some deep thought and reflection. What kept going through my mind as I was reading was the idea that life is not always black and white.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the book I went back and forth from thinking that Jeannette's parents were completely abusive to thinking how much they(particularly the father) seem to love their children. It was hard to grasp the concept that abusive parents can still love their children and want what is best for them (even if their ideas of what is best didn't often conform with the norms set by society).
I remember as a child always thinking that there is right and there is wrong and no in between, but as you come of age you begin to see that there are a great number of gray areas that some people refuse to consider. I think as teachers we need to keep that in mind as we look at our students.
I agree that this would be an excellent book for literature circles with older students. It would generate a great deal of discussion around a variety of topics such as abuse, alcoholism, conforming to society, family relationships, etc.
One of my favorite quotes from the book:
"Things usually work out in the end."
"What if they don't"
"That just means you haven't come to the end yet."
Overall a great book to end out our year.
wow, this book really grabbed my attention and I couldn't put it down. Each time I picked it up, I was overwhelmed with emotions. Even now as I sit here and look through parts of the book and reread sections I get all worked up by the neglect, abuse, and am disgusted with how the parents treated their children. I think there was many times that as the reader I was more bitter and upset with her parents than she actually was.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the book, Jeannette showed so much generosity, appreciation and affection for her parents. It was a continuous battle for me. Their parents taught them so many valuable lessons, but there was so much neglect and unnecessary heartache (sleeping in cardboard boxes, hiding in the bathroom stalls during lunch to avoid bullying, digging through garbage cans to find food, coloring her legs so her ripped clothes were less noticeable.) The parents were wise, witty, funny and determined, but selfish, abusive and neglectful. This book brings me inner turmoil - from love and hate - the father bought them stars for Christmas, but boozed all of their money leaving the family starving. He said there was inner beauty about her and I think he really did love his children. He was just a sick drunk who didn't find his way out. The mother had to have been mentally ill but even she tried to teach the children good values – to be a good friend, to appreciate what you have, to have compassion for other people and to be truthful.
I am just in shock at how the human spirit of these children and how they persevered and triumphed through so much horror. The fact that they got scholarships, graduate from high school, achieve their dreams and stick together through it all amazes me. It became incredibly sad when the children started to have more than the parents. I really do not understand how the mother was happy with her life and content living off the streets, being a squatter and digging through garbage cans instead of selling the land or pawning the diamond ring. It is hard for me to understand and to see beyond her being selfish and not looking at what was best for everyone, instead of just what was best for her.
In the end, the children grew up in a family with an alcoholic father and a mentally ill mother. Despite their heartbreaking childhood, Jeannette and her siblings persevered either because of them or despite them. They weren’t able to understand their parents’ choices, but they were able to find compassion and affection for their Dad’s big dreams even though they didn’t get to build the glass castle they sure made fond memories planning it. This was an excellent book and a great way to end our book blog. I welcome the opportunity to talk to others about the book in person.
This book reminds you that we all have a story, we all have a past and we all need to have a little more compassion and faith in people. Kathy, thanks for reminding me about that quote. love it!
I agree, this was my favorite book that we read in this blog. I had read, Glass Castles prior to our blog so I re-read it and I think I enjoyed it more the second time. I have to say, I did go out and purchase Walls new novel.
ReplyDeleteI found the children to be resilient and able to overcome so many obstacles in their lives. I want to believe they are all doing well today, without falling victims to mental illness or alcoholism. This family was never able to set up roots, constantly moving and having to leave many places without evening taking all their possessions. Some of the lessons and interactions were great, especially when they had no money for presents and Rex gave Jeanette Venus. Prior to the family moving to Welch, Rex and Rose spent quite a bit of time with their children, which can be just as valuable as materials goods. I am not saying that their lives were perfect, but being together is a good thing too.
After the move to Welch, I felt my heart break. How could any father offer up their daughter at a bar! It makes me wonder how some can live like they do. I was so happy to see these children overcome their unstable childhoods and move on. It was great to see how they stuck together. I found it unfortunate that the kids had to take care of parents in the end.
This is a good story to read, I would be careful to share with some students it (unfortunately) may hit to close to home.
I just stumbles upon this post, but I did read this book and loved it. I learned so much about different ways that people are raised and it made me think a lot about the story behind the people we see. I also read Half Broke Horses by the same author and enjoyed learning about her grandmother and mother. It gave a lot of background that helped me understand why the author's mother was the way she was in The Glass Castle. I look forward to reading the latest book by this author, as I haven't read it yet.
ReplyDeleteLoved reading all the comments!
~Jess