Comments on: “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls http://nonfictionlover.today.com/2009/01/07/the-glass-castle-by-jeannette-walls/ The stories of a part-time librarian mixed with nonfiction book reviews. Join in the fun! Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:28:22 +0000 http://www.today.com/version-2.3.1 By: Chris http://nonfictionlover.today.com/2009/01/07/the-glass-castle-by-jeannette-walls/#comment-4869 Chris Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:27:27 +0000 http://nonfictionlover.today.com/2009/01/07/the-glass-castle-by-jeannette-walls/#comment-4869 That's sad, I hate it when parents are neglectful or lazy...in my opinion, it's only a fraction of a millimeter above abuse. That’s sad, I hate it when parents are neglectful or lazy…in my opinion, it’s only a fraction of a millimeter above abuse.

]]> By: Hava http://nonfictionlover.today.com/2009/01/07/the-glass-castle-by-jeannette-walls/#comment-4272 Hava Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:48:47 +0000 http://nonfictionlover.today.com/2009/01/07/the-glass-castle-by-jeannette-walls/#comment-4272 Karen >> I completely understand what you mean. Although my parents emphasized self-reliance with us children, it was certainly <em>not</em> to the point that these parents did. My parents took very good care of us, and we always had a stable home life, something that Jeannette's parents never provided. I was frustrated with the father, that he kept going back to drinking, even after working so hard to quit. That was difficult for me to read. The education point was a good one - both of her parents were very smart, and could have done so much more with their lives. At least they did push education with their children, which was Jeannette's saving grace. In the interview I linked to, Jeannette talks about how there is lost potential there - that you will never know what her parents could have done if they had actually wanted to (ie, stopped drinking and started living productive lives). One thing she didn't mention in her interview that I'm curious about is what happened to the younger sister. Jeannette ends the book with the younger sister not doing well, and I'm must wondering what happened to her. I suppose I could do a Google search and find out... Ker >> I went to your site and looked at the post that I commented on before, and couldn't see a response from you. So then I went to your most recent posts and read through them to see if you had responded there, and again didn't see anything. So I missed your response - sorry about that. :-} As for <em>Glass Castle</em>, I felt the same way. I would alternate between loving her parents (when they did something good, like emphasize education, etc) and hating them when they did something stupid (like drink the money way). By the end, it was mostly hate, because the parents had long stopped taking care of their children, and it was making me a little crazy. I think it shows true strength of character that the author was able to pull herself up by her bootstraps and do so well out in the news world. She is an inspiration. Hava Karen >> I completely understand what you mean. Although my parents emphasized self-reliance with us children, it was certainly not to the point that these parents did. My parents took very good care of us, and we always had a stable home life, something that Jeannette’s parents never provided.

I was frustrated with the father, that he kept going back to drinking, even after working so hard to quit. That was difficult for me to read. The education point was a good one - both of her parents were very smart, and could have done so much more with their lives. At least they did push education with their children, which was Jeannette’s saving grace.

In the interview I linked to, Jeannette talks about how there is lost potential there - that you will never know what her parents could have done if they had actually wanted to (ie, stopped drinking and started living productive lives).

One thing she didn’t mention in her interview that I’m curious about is what happened to the younger sister. Jeannette ends the book with the younger sister not doing well, and I’m must wondering what happened to her. I suppose I could do a Google search and find out…

Ker >> I went to your site and looked at the post that I commented on before, and couldn’t see a response from you. So then I went to your most recent posts and read through them to see if you had responded there, and again didn’t see anything. So I missed your response - sorry about that. :-}

As for Glass Castle, I felt the same way. I would alternate between loving her parents (when they did something good, like emphasize education, etc) and hating them when they did something stupid (like drink the money way). By the end, it was mostly hate, because the parents had long stopped taking care of their children, and it was making me a little crazy. I think it shows true strength of character that the author was able to pull herself up by her bootstraps and do so well out in the news world. She is an inspiration.

Hava

]]> By: Hava http://nonfictionlover.today.com/2009/01/07/the-glass-castle-by-jeannette-walls/#comment-4262 Hava Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:27:51 +0000 http://nonfictionlover.today.com/2009/01/07/the-glass-castle-by-jeannette-walls/#comment-4262 Lidian >> Wasn't it a wonderful book? That's great that your family enjoyed it also. I didn't used to read nonfiction, so perhaps that's how I missed this book the first time around. ::shrug:: AnnieZS >> Yeah, the parenting style in this book was definitely very "freeing." As Jeannette said in the interview I linked to, it was basically that her parents treated them as adults, even at a very young age. "I gave birth to you; now it's time for you to take care of yourself," was their philosophy. Some of things they lived through...Jeannette's just lucky that she actually did live. And you're welcome! I love helping people out. :-) Hava Lidian >> Wasn’t it a wonderful book? That’s great that your family enjoyed it also. I didn’t used to read nonfiction, so perhaps that’s how I missed this book the first time around. ::shrug::

AnnieZS >> Yeah, the parenting style in this book was definitely very “freeing.” As Jeannette said in the interview I linked to, it was basically that her parents treated them as adults, even at a very young age. “I gave birth to you; now it’s time for you to take care of yourself,” was their philosophy. Some of things they lived through…Jeannette’s just lucky that she actually did live.

And you’re welcome! I love helping people out. :-)

Hava

]]> By: anniezs http://nonfictionlover.today.com/2009/01/07/the-glass-castle-by-jeannette-walls/#comment-4260 anniezs Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:25:12 +0000 http://nonfictionlover.today.com/2009/01/07/the-glass-castle-by-jeannette-walls/#comment-4260 Hi, I read the Glass Castle about 2 years ago, and it was great! I read such books with caution because I cannot read books with abuse, especially of children, in them, it is way too disturbing. This book cleared the mark, though some might place the parent's parenting style pretty close to abuse or neglect. Actually, their parenting style was quite freeing, allowing the children to learn, yet giving them enough knowledge and support to keep from harm. It was a great book, but I wouldn't want to see my own kids raised this way! Ann PS Thanks for the linking advice in the Forum. AnnieZS www.godfamilycrafts.today.com www.truequotes.today.com Hi,
I read the Glass Castle about 2 years ago, and it was great! I read such books with caution because I cannot read books with abuse, especially of children, in them, it is way too disturbing. This book cleared the mark, though some might place the parent’s parenting style pretty close to abuse or neglect. Actually, their parenting style was quite freeing, allowing the children to learn, yet giving them enough knowledge and support to keep from harm. It was a great book, but I wouldn’t want to see my own kids raised this way!
Ann
PS Thanks for the linking advice in the Forum. AnnieZS
www.godfamilycrafts.today.com
www.truequotes.today.com

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