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The Glass Castle

Jeannette Walls

Start date: January 9, 2020

Finish date: January 10, 2020

Discussion: Reading Sprints!

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Reading Sprints!

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* Reading Sprint Catch Up
By Aqsa , Dracarys! · 19 posts · 97 views

last updated Feb 08, 2019 02:49PM

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What Members Thought

Aug 15, 2017 Matthew rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017, coming-of-age, non-fiction, audio, library, biography, tear-jerkers

Who here has seen the show Shameless? (I am thinking of the American version, but I know there is a British one, too, that it is based on.) To me, that show could have been inspired by this memoir. Frank Gallagher and Rex Walls are the same guy!

I enjoyed all the vignettes from Jeannette Walls' life. She did a great job throwing them all together to create a story even without a specific plot. I am not sure that any of the stories lasted more than a few pages, but each one of them was interesting ...more

345 likes · Like · see review

Sep 19, 2009 Dem rated it liked it

Shelves: bookclub-reads

An extraordinary account of Parental neglect to the point of where I kept asking myself....could All this have possibably happened in one family?

I first read this book back in 2009 and didnt even write a review as I found the book depressing and relentless. This time it was nominated for my sit in book club and when the nomination was announced THE GLASS CASTLE I took a deep breath, gritted my teeth, smiled and thought Ok might just pretend I read again and wing it when it comes to discussion An extraordinary account of Parental neglect to the point of where I kept asking myself....could All this have possibably happened in one family?

I first read this book back in 2009 and didnt even write a review as I found the book depressing and relentless. This time it was nominated for my sit in book club and when the nomination was announced THE GLASS CASTLE I took a deep breath, gritted my teeth, smiled and thought Ok might just pretend I read again and wing it when it comes to discussion night. But my friend who knew my dislike of the book encouraged me to read it as but this time as a BOOKCLUB READ with the discussion questions in mind and perhaps I may get more from the book second time around.

While reading this book I thought about my own family get-togethers and stories that would get told from our childhood days and while I remember very little to the point where I often asked " are ye sure I belong to the same family"? As I seem to remember so little and this is where I am amazed at how much the author remembers from her childhood.
Having said that if my childhood was eventful and full of as many odd characters as Jeanettes then perhaps my memory would serve me better.

And while my initial thoughts still remain I did mange to get more from the book, as this time I found the humor and the hope and while I do think perhaps many of the situations are a little embellished for the good of the story there is no doubt the Walls as kids saw some rough times and their parents really were in a league of their own when it came to parenting. How you come through a life like this and come out the otherside a well rounded and capable person really does say alot about this family. Overall I found this an interesting read and there are funny passages and moments throughout the story which second time around seemed to come through better for me than the first and perhaps this is because second time around I knew these kids were going to make it and I could relax a little.

Glad I took the time to read it again and looking forward to the discussion on this one. ...more

88 likes · Like · see review

Jul 15, 2015 ☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ rated it it was amazing

Incredible, darkly compelling read. Cringeworthy moments of childhood on the edge. People can definitely be forced to survive through a lot more than one would think possible.
And here it goes once again... Parenting should be a licenced occupation so that no ~~patently idiotic~~ couples would torture their children with stupidity, negligence and overlooking their basic needs. Yes, I know - a vastly exploited line for a dystopic society would follow shortly since such order of things would proba ...more

63 likes · Like · see review