There's No Escaping "The Glass Castle"

The book, The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls is a stark look at Jeannette's childhood growing up. Growing up, Jeannette lived with her mother, father, and three siblings. Her mother was mentally ill and could not keep, or most times, even want a job. Her mother was an schoolteacher by trade and she was also an artist who really took the term "starving artist" to a whole new level. She rarely put forth any effort as an artist. Instead she would dream her days away or make excuses as to why she was not practicing her art or teaching in the local schools. Her father wasn't much better; he was an alcoholic who could not keep a job.

For readers looking for a happy escape, this book is not for them. Jeannette takes a real, sometimes sad, and often infuriating look at what life was like for her and her siblings growing up. From her young years growing up in the Southwest United States to finally moving and settling down in Welch, West Virgina, the Walls family had many adventures along the way. Maybe because of commitment and love of family, the Walls children suffered through poverty, drunkenness, sexual abuse, and overall neglect. This book is a definitely a real look at a not-so functional family and how they work together to try and keep their family unit alive.