Agawam Pageturners Book Club's Discussion of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The group had an interesting discussion of The Glass Castle. Most people enjoyed the book, even though the subject matter was difficult. Jeannette Walls told what iit was like growing up in a dysfunctional family. She and her brother and sisters often did not have enough to eat, didn't have clean, warm clothing, didn't even have a toilet, bathroom, or running water. The father was an a bright man but an alcoholic and the mother had some form of untreated mental illness. One member whose personal background was that of a teacher said the more she read the book, the angrier she got that these children lived like this and others continue to live like this. Nothing has changed. Despite the children's circumstances, most turned out well, with the exception of the youngest, Maureen. Although there was contempt for the parents, especially the father, there was also love. When he couldn't afford to give the children Christmas presents, he gave them each a star, or in the case of Jeannette the planet Venus. Also the father educated the children on lots of different things. They did well in school. Social Services came once, but the children saw to it that they did not come again; they did not want to be split up. Some thought the mother did not love the children, that she was self-absorbed. They felt the father, when he was sober, did love his children. What is remarkable is that the children did love their parents. However, they all left when each was around 17 or 18, to move to New York City. They did well because they were educated and street smart. The parents followed them and became homeless. A member thought the author was a snob in not wanting people to know her mother was homeless. Some thought the book was sad and depressing and depicted child abuse and neglect; there was no happiness in the book. Others thought there was happiness in the book. All agreed that the children were survivors, and the story was cathartic for the author.