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Madeline's Reviews > The Glass Castle
The Glass Castle
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I really don't know how I'm supposed to defend my dislike of this book? I mean, what kind of asshole says, "Man, this book about a woman's miserable childhood really bummed me out, two stars"?
But for real - this book about a woman's miserable childhood really bummed me out. Like, if you read Angela's Ashes and thought it just needed more sexual assault of the pre-pubescent protagonist, then The Glass Castle is for you! There's a bit early on where the dad takes his kids to the zoo and I sure hope you enjoy it, because that's pretty much the only truly happy interaction Jeannette Walls has with her parents for the rest of the book.
And it's totally unfair of me to complain about that. Jeannette Walls owes me nothing, and she definitely isn't obligated to gloss over the uglier aspects of her (I cannot emphasize this enough) truly awful childhood just to make readers more comfortable. So honestly, it's not even the fact that this book is XXX-rated Misery Porn that bothers me. What I really don't like about this memoir is that Walls, even as she recounts stories where she and her siblings were being routinely abused by her parents, seems unwilling to look this ugliness fully in the face, and condemn her parents for the way they treated her and her siblings. She ends (no spoilers, relax) on a note of, not quite forgiveness, but acceptance of the fact that her parents were just being true to themselves, and did the best they could.
And that's somehow the most depressing thing about the book. The Glass Castle seems to frequently market itself as a story of an unconventional childhood that was tough, sure, but full of love and adventure. (Probably the movie adaptation, which made major changes in order to make the story more heartwarming, is mostly responsible for this) But in reality, The Glass Castle is just the story of an abusive childhood, written by a woman who maybe doesn't realize how truly toxic her parents really are.
Anyway. If starving kids, alcoholic fathers, dangerously narcissistic mothers, and sexual assault makes up your preferred memoir cocktail, enjoy.
But for real - this book about a woman's miserable childhood really bummed me out. Like, if you read Angela's Ashes and thought it just needed more sexual assault of the pre-pubescent protagonist, then The Glass Castle is for you! There's a bit early on where the dad takes his kids to the zoo and I sure hope you enjoy it, because that's pretty much the only truly happy interaction Jeannette Walls has with her parents for the rest of the book.
And it's totally unfair of me to complain about that. Jeannette Walls owes me nothing, and she definitely isn't obligated to gloss over the uglier aspects of her (I cannot emphasize this enough) truly awful childhood just to make readers more comfortable. So honestly, it's not even the fact that this book is XXX-rated Misery Porn that bothers me. What I really don't like about this memoir is that Walls, even as she recounts stories where she and her siblings were being routinely abused by her parents, seems unwilling to look this ugliness fully in the face, and condemn her parents for the way they treated her and her siblings. She ends (no spoilers, relax) on a note of, not quite forgiveness, but acceptance of the fact that her parents were just being true to themselves, and did the best they could.
And that's somehow the most depressing thing about the book. The Glass Castle seems to frequently market itself as a story of an unconventional childhood that was tough, sure, but full of love and adventure. (Probably the movie adaptation, which made major changes in order to make the story more heartwarming, is mostly responsible for this) But in reality, The Glass Castle is just the story of an abusive childhood, written by a woman who maybe doesn't realize how truly toxic her parents really are.
Anyway. If starving kids, alcoholic fathers, dangerously narcissistic mothers, and sexual assault makes up your preferred memoir cocktail, enjoy.
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Reading Progress
December 13, 2018
–
Started Reading
December 13, 2018
– Shelved
December 13, 2018
–
52.08%
"So far our protagonist, age 10, has been sexually assaulted twice. Something tells me those parts got cut from the heartwarming Brie Larson movie adaptation."
page
150
January 14, 2019
– Shelved as:
audiobook
January 14, 2019
– Shelved as:
memoir
January 14, 2019
–
Finished Reading
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by
The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo
(new)
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rated it 1 star
Jan 14, 2019 05:31PM
I felt exactly the same. Had to DNF it.
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I saw it as being more complicated because her parents clearly had mental illnesses/an abusive relationship so her anger with them was also sad because later in life she could never help them
But they didn’t want help. There were plenty of resources available to Rex and Rosemary Walls if they wanted to improve their lives; their unstable lifestyle was a choice that they stuck to and then inflicted on their children. The protagonist of The Glass Castle made the right choice when she left home as soon as she could (and got her siblings out as well) - I just wish she’d stuck to her guns and cut her parents off for good. I get that they both had serious issues, but it was not Jeannette’s job to fix them, especially not at the risk of her own well-being.
that this book is XXX-rated Misery PornOk, new rating system. Brilliant! Totally stealing it.
One part I remember thinking Jeanette Walls got right was the scary thrill of being with someone in a manic state. There is always a new idea, a new adventure in the wings, the hope that this day will be the best day ever, until it all comes crashing down.
I have never agreed with a review more. If I were to write one, I’d just quote you.
Cognitive dissonance is deeply intriguing.
Mommie Dearest was similar in the way her daughter seemed to be in some denial so she could heal.
Thank you for saving me the trouble. XXX Misery Porn Alert much appreciated.
This book made me so angry for glorifying toxic parents, none of this was love or care. It’s called abuse.
Aw, don’t feel bad. If anyone skilled ever interviewed her I think we’d find out we’ve been taken.
Could not agree more. “Misery porn” is exactly right.
