The childhood and adolescence of Jeannette Walls are filled with contradictions and ironies that surround her family. They live a lifestyle knee-deep in backwards logic and rationalizations that confound the reader yet grab their attention. Without the fussy emotions and complications of an overly dramatic storyline, Walls uses her bizarre and unconventional upbringing not as material intended to entertain the reader, but rather to explain her childhood in a meaningful, complex, but principally honest, way. The complexities come from the struggle between love and irresponsibility her parents demonstrate repeatedly. Adding to this depth is Walls' voice—which she shifts as her memoir progresses—reflecting her maturing perspective.

The material in The Glass Castle is raw. Her matter-of-fact narrative style, which allows the reader to build his or her own perspective by avoiding personal reflection, is honest and humble. With careful attention to the changing perspectives of the reader and herself, Walls brings the two together. It is then, once the reader can empathize with her story, that she breaks away from her narrative, disregards the reader's opinion, and concludes her story the radical truth only she can hold.

The profundities of the conclusion of The Glass Castle are rooted in the contradictions of Rose and Rex Walls' undeniable love, yet backwards parenting, including negligence of their children. In the midst of this childhood reality Walls is forced to grow up in unprecedented ways, leading to her eventual independence yet acceptance of her unconventional childhood. The reader is abruptly introduced in the second chapter to the wildness of Walls' life, where, at the age of three, she recalls the scarring experience of being severely burnt across her side, as a result of boiling hotdogs, with her mothers approval, alone on a gas stove top. Soon after, her mistrustful father steals her from the hospital and brings her to 'safety'. And upon her return Walls returns to cooking hot dogs at home again at the approval of her mother, who commends her, saying, "Good for you.... You can't live in fear of something so basic as fire". This shocking opening sparks judgment and anger in the minds of readers, at the Walls parents neglect to their child's well being, along with the absence of condemnation from an adult Jeannette Walls. However, within each irresponsible action lies what her parents perceive as an act of caring and protection. In their eyes her independence fosters maturity, stealing her from the hospital is a noble act, saving her from the "heads-up-their-asses med-school quacks”, and her fearlessness is the seed of resilience. This distorted view of love and protection becomes the centerpiece of Walls' internal struggle as she gains true independence.

The Glass Castle is structured so the reader recognizes changes in the narrative perspective as Jeannette grows older. This organization of stylistic changes gives the book the dimension of maturity, rather than drawing upon a static reflective perspective for the entirety of the memoir. The absence of retrospective anger at her parents in the second chapter—and most of the memoir-serves multiple purposes. Structurally though, it marks the beginning of the book as a time when she, as a child, accepted her life without question. The absence of condemnation of her parents is not left empty but filled with a childlike acceptance and spirit of adventure. One of the ways this is shown is through her relationship with her father. As an innocent child she greatly admires her father and looks forward with certainty to the Glass Castle that he has promised her. According to a young Walls, "all of [Rex Walls'] engineering skills and mathematical genius were coming together in one special project: a great big house he would build for us in the desert". However as the book progresses it is clear that many of these promise went unfulfilled; money was wasted booze, savings disappeared, jobs were squandered, and the "Glass Castle's foundation slowly filled with garbage”. As the cyclical nature of her fathers promises and shortcoming continue, Walls fluidly allows her narrative to grow in doubt and mistrust. Eventually coming to a climax when Walls tells her father "Go ahead and build the Glass Castle, but don't do it for me”. This progression is stylized seamlessly not only giving the book motion and dimension, but also providing a foundation from which to unravel these same contradictions.

In the conclusion of the book Jeannette Walls slowly draws her perspective and the readers back together, allowing her to possibly spark empathy in the reader. As discussed earlier, the reader is brought to anger in the beginning of the book, while Walls accepts her situation. But as we see Walls' perspective shift, the readers shifts as well from witnessing some of the redeeming aspects of her reckless parents. For Christmas, her dad gives her a planet, which is not made thoughtful through the gift, but through the sincerity with which it is given. Rex tells her, “Years from now when all the junk (other children] got is broken and long forgotten... you'll still have your stars," and indeed it has a lasting impact it on Walls. Another more physical example of Rex's love for his daughter is when he stops drinking for her because it is the only birthday wish she has. Rex goes through days of delirium and physical torment fighting his own demons, and although this can never reconcile all the times he has failed and hurt Jeannette, it represents an undeniable love for his daughter in a tangible way even the reader can grasp. In context with Walls' personal maturation, the two, at first opposite perspectives, are slowly woven together, as the reader's and Walls' perspective widen to include the other.

Only once the reader and Walls come to the same point does Jeannette stretch the reader to grasp the complexities of love and acceptance. There is a point where the two perspectives meet, and the reader can empathize with Walls. It is ironically before they were ever formed-in the first chapter of the book. In the first chapter Jeannette's mother advises her to “Just tell the truth... That's simple enough". At that point in her life Walls' was afraid to give up control of what others thought of her. At that same point in the book-somewhere in the middle of thefourth chapter -Jeannette Walls, as the author, gives up control as well. Although the reader is ata point where they feel they can empathize with Walls, she abandons that comfort in order to face her truth. The truth that her father "loved [her] in a way no one else ever had”. In her memoir Jeannette Walls demonstrates the humility to tell a genuine story, leaving its readers asking themselves if they are ready accept and bear their own truths.

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Ordinarily, when kids were not well treated during their childhood, when they grew up, they would feel embarrassed for themselves and blamed on their parents. However, sometimes it just took a little aspect of the father or the mother could be able to retain a significant influenced to the kids and they would love their parents unconditionally. It was happened to Jeannette Walls. In The Glass Castle, she was narrated her childhood memories spent with her father, Rex Walls, as a life full of misery but she always believed in him.

Jeannette described some of the best moments when she was young, despite of the irresponsible and destructive that her father brought into her life. Jeannette still loved him until the day he died because to her, Rex was the hero, he had the ability to make her feel special and because he was an inspiration that never ends.

Sometimes during the Christmas night, Rex gave Jeannette Venus as a present. He knew how to make her feel unique, he knew how to change daily stories into some significant memorable moments that she would never forget. "And he gave me Venus," short but transmitting multiple meanings, emphasizing the actions of her father gave the special present to her and the word "me" referring the fact that she was differenced, she was unique, she could receive a whole planet while her siblings just received the stars instead. Jeannette consecutive mentioned Rex as a perfect, loving father. She couldn't hide the admiration, pride and satisfaction in her voice whenever she talked about him.

It was continued, when Jeannette played matches with her brother, Brian, and accidentally setting fire to the house. If that was happened to a normal father, then the child would be kicked out on the street for a few days. But Rex didn't do that, as I said before, he turned that accident into a memorable experience for his daughter. "Snapping yellow flame," "dissolving into an invisibleshimmery heat" he even told her "the boundary between turbulence and order", obviously, he tried to demonstrate the ability of himself to make her feel special, as she was one of the only girl who "got a little too close to the flames. He also helped defuse tensions of the situation at that time and used it as an inspiration for Jeannette, ending of an emotional memoir.

In another chapter, while Jeannette tried to learn how to swim, Rex had deliberately threw her into the water, he said "you can't cling to the sink your whole life," and "if you don't want to sink, you better figure out how to swim”. She insisted believed that he just wanted to inspire her to learn.

Jeannette tried to justify for her father's action that he was teaching her the lessons of life. Though, still difficult to accept, if a normal father or a mother nearly let their kids drowned just to teach them how to swim, it was probably too extreme and intolerable. But completely beyond of the reader imaginations, Jeannette agreed happily with the absurd explanations from him with all her heart. His influenced continued on when she said "I figured he must be right because there was no other way to explain it". She didn't even need to think about it before she forgave him, it proved the power of his influenced on her. Even though what he had caused to make her suffered, she always found a way to convince herself and others that he just wanted to do what was best for her.

There was a time when he led the children to the zoo, Jeannette was not worried or afraid when she touch the cheetah. Because she totally believed her father when he said it wasn't dangerous. When the security and visitors saw it, they had threatened to kick them out, but Rex once again reaffirmed his position in Jeannette's heart when he clearly distinguish the difference between "his kids" and "these fools,". What he said made her feel all the way special because she had dared to do the things that no one else would, "none of them had ever had their hand licked by a cheetah”.

I found this was the most emotional passage when Jeannette visited Rex because he was dying, despite all of the sad stories had happened before to both of them, she had to admit that he was always a source of inspiration for her life. She wrapped her thoughts in two sentences "but despite all the hell-raising and destruction and chaos he had created in our lives, I could not imagine what my life would be like what the world would be like without him in it...As awful as he could be, I always knew he loved me in a way no one else had". But also, ironically, he was the only one who loved her and she was the only who responded to that love with all of her heart, even though he had brought somuch pain into her life. As opposed to a long sentences full of mood, she simply said "just smiled" and "and then she closed the door". Maybe it was because she finally became completed herself, sufficient to reassess the education she received from Rex and realized that she would never be able to get out of his influenced, even when he was about to leave her forever.

Finally, throughout many challenges, collapses led to Jeannette success. It seemed that she had changed from an innocent girl into a more mature and stronger in both mind and personality. Whenever she recalled the memorable moments full of smiles and tears in her life, she always referred to her father, the one who taught her so many lessons in his own way and spent every time he had to help her overcome the moments of weakness. However, still couldn't deny some horrible actions of him to the kids, he failed to protect them, refused to take responsibility for them and even stole from them. Those thing was directly or indirectly hurt them so much, but except "Mountain Goat" – his affectionately named for her, the only kid still kept faith and love for him. Despite the bad things he had done, she still loved him unconditionally, loved him because he made her feel special, loved him because he was an inspiration for her life, and loved him because he made her to believe in him when no one else would.

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A brave woman named Jeannette Walls reveals her difficult childhood with her neglectful parents to the world in her memoir The Glass Castle. Jeannette can recall memories as far back as when she was three years old. Readers can learn of the many hardships she and her siblings had to face. Her father Rex Walls and mother Rose Mary Walls, to say the least, are terrible parents. Rex was a controlling alcoholic while Rose was a self-absorbed, bipolar mother. Rex imagined a fantasy where his family would be living in a glass castle. Jeannette, his daughter and the narrator of the story, had faith in her father that they would achieve the dream of making the glass castle. In the book, the reader can follow the struggles the family deals with in trying to make their dream become reality. The children did not have much of a childhood for they had to grow up quickly. This book review of Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle will explain the author's motivation, the strong and weak points of the book, and my impressions of the book.

Jeannette Walls was motivated by the many events in her life to share her story. In an ABC News interview, Jeannette says she was worried that she would lose her job if her story got out. At the time, her parents were homeless in New York City. Jeannette says, "There were a few times when the story did almost get out -- my parents were becoming sort of high profile squatters and kept on being interviewed in newspapers and on television -- but for a variety of reasons, it didn't" ("Jeannette"). Knowing this, Jeannette must have felt pressure to release her story. I could tell from her writing that she wanted every detail about her parent's behavior in her book. She wanted people to know that she was not from a privileged family like many people may have thought. Another reason why she may have wrote this book was to gain sympathy. All her life she had gotten no sympathy from her parents. Sympathy is probably not the main reason she wrote this book, but she might want just a little. Jeannette may want to influence people to be kind to other people because no one knows that person's past. Jeannette has gained many readers that look up to her for her perseverance. Throughout the whole book, we see Jeannette overcoming many hardships with a lot of optimism. She has become a role model for many kids who could be in her situation. It would be an honor to meet this woman because of all of the things she has dealt with.

The Glass Castle is filled with Jeannette's many life stories which help make the book strong. All of these stories keep readers attentive and easily engaged. Her voice does not bore readers. Her voice changes from a child to an adult. Changing it up like Jeannette did helps keep readers interested.

There are many themes in the story. Some include; nonconformity, fire, and self-sufficiency. Nonconformity is seen when Rex was always running away from the law. He did not take responsibility for his actions and so he changed homes all of the time. Fire never seemed to escape Jeannette's life. She explains, I wondered if the fire had been out to get me.

I wondered if all fire was related, like Dad said all humans were related, if the fire that had burned me that day while I cooked hot dogs was somehow connected to the fire I had flushed down the toilet and the fire burning at the hotel. I didn't have the answers to those questions, but what I did know was that I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire. It was the sort of knowledge that kept you on your toes.

The fire can be a symbol telling us that Jeannette's life was chaotic. The family never settled down and the children's school was always being changed. Nothing had been easy for Jeannette. Lastly, self-sufficiency plays a role in all of the children's lives. If the children wanted to live, then they had to find food by going through dumpsters. Jeannette had to get a job to help with the funds to go to New York. She describes, “I was afraid that Mr. Becker wouldn't give me the job if he knew I was only thirteen, so I told him I was seventeen" (Walls 42). A child should not be getting a job that young. It is the parent's responsibility to take care of their children until their children grow older. The Walls children could not rely on their parents and had to do most things for themselves.

With many writings, there are always some weak points in the story. I found Jeannette hard to believe when she talked about her three year old memories. According to Ellie Zolfagharifard from Daily Mail, she says, "Scientists believe people only recall memories from 3.5 years old onwards. But study found that children postdate earliest memories by up to 9 months. Girls were more accurate in being able to recall early memories than boys" ("How"). Many times I found the beginning of the book hard to believe. Jeannette provided such intricate details that were too hard to trust. Research does show that one can remember that far back. Jeannette's events, especially with cooking hot dogs and burning herself, may have been so traumatic that she recalled ever single detail. I find that Jeannette is more credible as she grows older.

Before reading this book, I thought I would be reading about how much Jeannette hated her parents and wanted nothing to do with them. However, throughout the whole story Jeannette still loved her parents and cared about them, even when Rex almost let her drown.

She learned from this experience and believes, "If you don't want to sink, you better figure out how to swim" (Walls 66). Rex may have almost let Jeannette drown until she learned to swim, but they both still loved each other. Rose Mary was too delusional to see that her children were suffering, and even then, Jeannette still loved her and had forgiven her.

I like how Jeannette did not leave anything out of this book. She did not care about hurting other people's feelings, especially her parents. All she wanted to do was to tell her story. If she left out some of the important stories, the book would not have had such an impact. One of the things I did not like about the book was how Jeannette did not talk much about her sister Maureen. It was all about Jeannette, her sister Lori, and her brother Brian.

One of the few times we heard about Maureen was when she went to a mental institution for stabbing Rose Mary in the back. I wanted to know more about Maureen and what she was thinking. What would have made this book even more interesting is if Jeannette got her siblings opinions and memories as well. Since Lori was born first, she had an idea of what Rex and Rose Mary were like before everyone else was born. It might have given the readers insight into what the other siblings thought of their parents. Even then, Jeannette should write another book on the same subject but from the point of view of Lori, Brian, and Maureen.

The author provided a new view on life that most people could hardly imagine. Most people do not grow up in these situations. I am glad that Jeannette released this book because she wants people to know her story and we want to know hers.

I wished that Jeannette would have gone into further detail about her parent's childhood. We did learn a little bit about Rex's mom, Erma, and how she was an alcoholic. If Erma was a better parent to Rex than he probably would have been a better parent to his children. If we learned more about the parent's background, then we might feel more sympathy towards them. Readers look at Rex and Rose Mary as the antagonists in the story. If readers knew more about the parent's past then maybe we would think otherwise on how they treated their children. I am not saying that their parenting is right at all, but we might understand why they were the way they were.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read. It is about a dysfunctional family that is trying to find a place in this world. The Glass Castle can be very relatable to many people. Jeannette has no shame in revealing what happened to her when she was young. This shows how strong and courageous she is to put her life story out to the public. This book is a good place to start if one has not read a memoir before. It is a simple read and very easy to understand. In releasing this book, Jeannette may have found a better way to cope with what happened to her. For Jeannette, her life was forever changed by the events that happened to her in the past. Rex and Jeannette's glass castle did come true when Jeannette found a happy life for herself.

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