'The Glass Castle' is a memoir by Jeannette Walls. She colorfully describes her childhood with her alcoholic father and her eccentric artist mother, two sisters, and one brother. The Walls family is often moving from place to place, and is often homeless, sleeping in the dessert. The parents label their trials as "adventures" and the children must play the game of acting as if they are having a grand time and on a wild adventure, instead of what they really are: cold, dirty, and hungry. Often times it is the children taking care of the parents, each other, and themselves. There are moments of happiness and childlike wonder of course, but for the most part, they have to grow up rather quickly. This story is heart-breakingly beautiful. Walls is a true storyteller and takes you on quite the narrative. I had a hard time putting this one down and found myself reading late into the night, just praying for a happy ending.
“One time I saw a tiny Joshua tree sapling growing not too far from the old tree. I wanted to dig it up and replant it near our house. I told Mom that I would protect it from the wind and water it every day so that it could grow nice and tall and straight. Mom frowned at me. "You'd be destroying what makes it special," she said. "It's the Joshua tree's struggle that gives it its beauty.”
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