Lima Abe
Set in the late 20th century, The Glass Castle encapsulates the life of journalist and author Jeannette Walls over the course of 2 decades as she navigates the obstacles that she is faced with throughout her tumultuous and unconventional upbringing and early adulthood. Originally published in 2005 and later adapted into a film which was released in 2017, the memoir went on to sell over 5 million copies and has been translated into 31 languages ever since. Ultimately, The Glass Castle is a touching memoir which confronts readers with the lurid reality of the life of Jeannette Walls, and is a must read for readers of all genres.
The book begins in present-day New York City, where Jeannette unexpectedly encounters her homeless mother. From there, it delves into Jeannette’s past where she faces poverty, neglect, and her parents’ unorthodox lifestyle, causing her family to move from state to state throughout the book. One of Jeannette’s earliest memories in Arizona includes her burning herself while boiling hotdogs alone when she was only 3 years old. This event in the book foreshadows the harsh conditions which Jeannette grew up in, and displays the lack of responsibility of her parents. The story is split up into 4 parts, each of which follows Jeannette through different phases and locations, and portrays the changes she undergoes and the shift in her perspective surrounding her family as she matures and becomes more independent from her family. The book ultimately succeeds in displaying the positive and negative experiences that Jeannette had encountered in order to be the person she becomes.
Prior to reading this book, memoirs have never been a genre I’ve been interested in, or read often, apart from the occasional required reading for class. When I was recommended The Glass Castle by my English teacher earlier last year, I was not particularly interested in the book as I stuck to reading works of fiction which I was much more comfortable with reading. It was only after I was bombarded with recommendations of this book from my friend during the summer that I decided to even read the synopsis to have some level of context about the book. Nonetheless, I’m grateful for my English teacher and friend for recommending me the book and the people in book club (which you would enjoy if you enjoy reading and should totally join) for voting for the book, as it opened my eyes to the stories of resilience and agency of countless individuals which are portrayed in the form of an memoir. Although memoirs may be intimidating at times due to the raw portrayal of emotion and the authenticity of the situations, I hope that my experience with this book encourages you to pick up this book (even if you are not particularly fond of memoirs), and are able to step out of your comfort zones and interact with a wider range of perspectives.
Whilst the general consensus of the book has been overwhelmingly positive, the book has also been criticized and banned in some high schools within the US due to some of the explicit content which is present in the book. As the book is a memoir, the book paints the full picture of the consequences and effects on the family as a whole as a result of each person’s individual actions. From the criticisms which have been voiced by school officials, it is worth noting that The Glass Castle contain elements which may be potentially triggering to some such as neglect, alcoholism and sexual violence. At times it was difficult for me to grasp the extent of the actions that Jeannette and her siblings were being put through, and I would forget that this book was a memoir as it was difficult for me to imagine how Jeannette and her siblings were able to survive the different environments that they were put into. However, it is also my belief that one of the main reasons that I was able to resonate with this book was due to the honest and vulnerable tone which was used throughout the book.
The Glass Castle illustrates the struggles that Jeannette Walls and her family faced and signifies the treatment that some children undergo behind closed doors, and is a memoir that I wholeheartedly recommend to readers of any genre.
Lima Abe