Speaking Volumes

I’ve just finished reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.  This memoir made quite a splash when it first came out a few years ago now and Ms. Walls second book, a novel has just been released.

 When The Glass Castle first came out and people were talking, I had no interest.  A tale of growing up in poverty, it looked sad and heart wrenching.  Despite its popularity, I avoided it.  With her new book, the title surfaced again, and this time, I felt I should/ought read it…

 I really, really liked it.

 Was it sad?  Yes.  Difficult at times to get through. Yes. But at the same time, Ms. Walls takes you on a journey that I suspect was very much like her own.  She was loved and she got through.  I’ve a lot of respect for an author that can take a deplorable situation, one in which she and you, as reader, can feel such outrage it is palpable and at the same time be in love with the root cause of that situation.  A contradiction that is very human.

 This memoir has made me think a great deal about family and living situations.  Made me think about choice and values.  I have formed many questions and few answers.  But I would recommend this book, despite its difficult subject matter.  Although I am late on the Jeannette Walls fan club bandwagon, I’m glad I finally boarded.

 Come check out Jeannette Walls’ books @ the library and tell us what you think!