Jeannette Walls: Memoir Summary

Jeannette Walls Currently

The Glass Castle is a memoir written by Jeannette Walls. She begins her story in New York, when Jeannette was no longer a child. An unexpected sighting of her mother leads into the book, and begins the tale of her childhood. Being brought up by Rex and Rose Mary was a difficult task but Jeannette along with her siblings Lori, Brian, and Maureen, were all able to do so. Page after page you become aware of the situation Jeannette was put in, and the struggles she was faced with, along with her family. Her parents weren't like most, their priorities and expectations were slightly shifted. Money was put towards alcohol and supplies for attempting to fulfill her parents goals. There was constant question where the next home would be and when the next meal would come. Rex and Rose Mary lived off of excitement, preferring to be on the run rather than settling down and having a stable life. Because their parents had no stability, the burden of running a home was given to the children. It was also from an unstable home that the Walls children found difficulty finding friends. However, despite their parents being unfit, they were not stupid. Rex and Rose Mary were actually very intelligent when it came to the books, which contributed to their children all being well educated. Even though her parents would often put themselves first, and neglect the children, they provided loads of wisdom. This wisdom led the children to understand that the only way they would be able to achieve their dreams, would be to leave their parents behind. It was when they lived in Welch (one of the longer residencies) that Lori and Jeannette began to save for New York.  After a little while it was one child after the other flocking to the "Big City".  Rex and Rose Mary also relocated and found new dumpsters to call home in New York. After multiple attempts to take their parents under their wing, the children gave up. Jeanette also later finds out that her family was never really short on money, but instead held millions in assets. Although Rose Mary could sell her family land she decided she would never, and actually preferred to be homeless. While they were living on their own Rex Walls becomes sick with tuberculosis, and shortly after dies from a heart attack. After the passing of her father Jeannette divorces her newly wed Eric, and moves away. A little while later Jeannette remarries to a man named John, and the family holds a reunion, updating everyones current situation.

Read and Believe

Her main goal was to get out of her house and move to New York to become an author.

Jeanette Wall's childhood is unimaginable, however the book allows readers to have a better understanding of what it is like for children whom are less fortunate. I believe the controlling idea is subjective depending on the type of reader. For instance, if they share a similar backstory to that of Jeanette, they could be inspired. She is living proof that hard work and dedication can get you anywhere. She grew up basically of off nothing, and she was still able to overcome her hardships and make it as an extremely successful author. She set goals, and dreams for herself and worked her way up to the top. You don't need money, or popularity, to achieve your goals, and Jeanette showed just that. So many people pity themselves for the life they live, and everything it lacks, but she was able to use that nothingness and make something from it. You have to use that anger and frustration or hope to motivate yourself and push yourself to be everything you want to be. Jeanette truly is an inspiration and by reading her memoir I believe that if you really want something that badly you have to work as hard as possible for it.

Optimism in Hardships

"Hitler loved dogs"

"She added that you should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. "Everyone has something good about them," she said. "You have to find the redeeming quality and love the person for that."
      "Oh yeah?" I said. "How about Hitler? What was his redeeming quality?"
"Hitler loved dogs," Mom said without hesitation. "

In the passage I selected Jeannette's mother talks with her about how she should not hate anyone, let alone her grandmother Erma, despite what she had done. I chose this excerpt from the book because it gives a better understanding of Rose Mary's (Jeanette's mother) parenting style. Although Rose Mary proves to be an unfit parent majority of the time, she still manages to teach her children valuable lessons. Throughout the book you become to know her mother as optimistic, always reassuring the family that everything was okay, and choosing to look at life from a different angle. Although she would have her fits, and self pity, she was able to bounce back. She felt strongly about compassion towards others, and I believe that the quote reveals that. Rose Mary found ways to see beauty in even the most horrifying scenes.

Why a Glass Castle?

A real Glass Castle 

 
   In the book The Glass Castle the meaning of the title of the book is revealed when the author reminisces about her dad's plan. All her life, Jeannette Walls (and her family), moved around quite extensively. One of the main reasons for relocating so often was the feds, and another was because her father, Rex Walls, intended to strike it rich by finding gold. He would often tell the children stories of what would happen once he did find the glorious gold, and how it would change their lives when he did. One of his goals was to build a Glass Castle. Despite her fathers unrealistic goal of finding gold, Rex was a very smart man and worked out all of the engineering and mathematics that would be necessary for building their dream home.

      I feel that the author uses the title The Glass Castle because it was a sign for hope. As a child she wasn't quite aware of everything that was going on around her, but as she grew older she was able to get a better understanding. Her dad would use the Glass Castle as an excuse to move and it instilled hope into the children and trust for their dad that he had a plan. Before I read the book I assumed that a Glass Castle served as a metaphor for a fragile life, and now I understand why it was titled that.