Comments on The Glass Castle

Hey Ladies! I hope the reading is going well out there. In light of the book this month, I found this comment I found on the Segullah blog very touching. This lady responded to a blog entry about which bokk or books have made the greatest impact in your life. Most books people mentioned could be described as "classics," but I found her description of why The Glass Castle meant so much to her very touching. If you'd like to read the post, or other responses, go to www.segullah.org.

"There are far too many books in my past to keep track of, but one that will forever stand out for me I only read six years ago: The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls.
It’s probably the best account ever written of a dysfunctional family, and I marveled at the courage she had to recount the details of her rather bizarre childhood, which although it’s like none other and is so dramatic, I completely related to. I found bits and pieces of my own parents in Rex and Rose Mary Walls, and suddenly wanted desperately to find pieces of Jeanette in myself, because I was expending so much energy hiding my past that I had nothing left over for the present.
Her book illustrated for me how someone who had a very difficult upbringing could turn out to be a person others would enjoy knowing, and not just feel sorry for or pity. She managed to tell her experiences without manipulating the reader’s emotions, and never with any hint of victimhood. Even more amazing to me was the affection and deep love she had managed to retain for her parents. I yearned to be in that same place.
Before reading TGC, I felt like if anyone knew the details of my childhood, that would be the end of that. I spent so much energy suppressing the past there was little left to really start healing and moving on. Her book helped me come to terms with my own life.
My journey isn’t over yet, but I really do credit Jeanette with helping me get started."