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[quote=Anonymous]When this forum's name was changed there were people who complained about lack of book discussion.  Every time I try to start a book discussion it never really goes anyplace, but thought I'd give it a try, so here goes -

I've had Glass Castles by Jeannette Walls on my nightstand forever and finally started reading it this weekend.  Essentially, she (and her three siblings) was raised by two badly damaged people - an alcoholic father and bipolar mother, with a lot of love and independence, but not much food, clothing, or reasonable shelter.  The book retells her years from age 3 until she's a young adult.  The book was published over ten years ago so not feeling like I am spoiling it.

I made it to about page 100 when i just thought, I cannot take this unrelenting horribleness of this family's life!  So I skipped ahead and read the ending.  I can't decide if I'll keep reading- I read some last night and found myself just skimming to get the basics but not intently reading.

This is a highly regarded memoir, won a ton of awards, high ratings on Amazon and GoodReads, and I just really dislike it.

I think actually, having read the ending, that I dislike that she was so concretely specific about things that happened to her when she was 3,4,5,6, etc, but very vague and broad brush about how she moved out of that life into what would be considered a successful life.  And there is almost nothing about how her life now is shaped by her childhood (well, there is, but it's vague, and unspecific). Perhaps it leaves room for another memoir of her young adult years.  Perhaps I dislike there is little reflection of What It All Means?  Maybe it means nothing and just is what it is?   She also refers to how much her brother helped her, but her siblings are very flat on the page.  I think it feels very incomplete.

Anyone else read it?  Thoughts?  [/quote]

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