The Glass Castle

A Memoir

By: Jeannette Walls

Narrated by: Jeannette Walls

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly.

Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict". Cooking a meal that would be consumed in 15 minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town - and the family - Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor.

©2005 Jeannette Walls (P)2010 Simon and Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"Jeannette Walls has carved a story with precision and grace out of one of the most chaotic, heartbreaking childhoods ever to be set down on the page. This deeply affecting memoir is a triumph in every possible way, and it does what all good books should: it affirms our faith in the human spirit." (Dani Shapiro, author of Family History)

" The Glass Castle is the saga of the restless, indomitable Walls family, led by a grand eccentric and his tempestuous artist wife. Jeannette Walls has survived poverty, fires, and near starvation to triumph. She has written this amazing tale with honesty and love." (Patricia Bosworth, author of Anything Your Little Heart Desires and Diane Arbus: A Biography)

"Just read the first pages of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, and I defy you not to go on. It's funny and sad and quirky and loving. I was incredibly touched by it." (Dominick Dunne, author of The Way We Lived Then: Recollections of a Well-Known Name Dropper)

Outstanding

What made the experience of listening to The Glass Castle the most enjoyable?

Walls told her story without any rancour or bitterness, in spite of the horrific circumstances of her childhood. I found it riveting.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely!

Any additional comments?

Her depiction of her parents evoked unexpected sympathy for them, even while the reader/listener is horrified and outraged by their irresponsibility.

fascinating story

Loved it and hated it at times, but never bored. also read Half Broke Horses which helps to explain family dynamics.

Great story

This book ended perfectly but the story made me shake my head more times than I could count. The fact that Jeanette ends up the way she does is mind blowing after what she goes through.

Wonderful book!

You will not be disappointed in this one! A wonderful story of a family that’s hard to forget . Having the author reading it makes it even more enjoyable.

Shocking

Was shocked at what the author survived. My guess is that the mother was suffering from more than 1 mental illness and the father was struggling with what was probably a horrific childhood of his own.

Compelling Menoir

This book is such a stunning combination of beauty and heartbreak.

As sad as it is, it's also humorous and uplifting. I highly recommend it.

You inspire me!

I absolutely loved this book, even more that the author read it. I felt more in touch with it. I too suffered a hard childhood, and hope to one day become as fierce as she is. a must read.

Best Memoir Ever!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Glass Castle to be better than the print version?

The audio edition of The Glass Castle is superior than the print version because it gave me the means to enjoy a book that has been around for eleven years. I listened while driving, cooking, and walking. I could never do that with the print version. Jeannette Walls also did a masterful job of performing the voices of her family in a way that was intimate and passionate. No one else could have read her book for her.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rex Walls was my favorite character. He was insane but brilliant, cruel but kind. I enjoyed Jeannette Walls' even handling of her father's two-sided nature. As the closing lines affirm, he dwelt in the area between order and chaos.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene I enjoyed the most was when Rex, homeless, forked up $950.00 for his daughter's tuition. I wanted to cry. Despite all of his craziness, the man loved his children.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I wanted to listen to this book all in one sitting but I managed o finish it in several days. The book was riveting unlike any memoir I have enjoyed. I highly recommend it.

Read or listen before though you watch

Loved it. Do read it or listen to it before you watch the movie. Enjoy!

A Diamond in the Rough

Read this memoir and see how through years of "pressure" a diamond is made. Great memoir about survival and perception.