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Melki's Reviews > The Glass Castle
The Glass Castle
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This is not a review. There are already thousands of those. Instead, I present an anecdote.
I read this in 2008 for my now-defunct neighborhood book club. I decided that my oldest son, who was then 14, should read it for "Mom's Summer Reading Plan" - also known as the Mom-Forces-Us-To-Read-For-Half-An-Hour-Each-Day-Torture-Program by certain members of the family. I felt it was important for him to learn that not every child gets to grow up in a household that has eight different video game systems. I wanted him to imagine what it would be like if his father came home one night and said "We have to move right now. You can take ONE THING with you."
Well, he grumbled and he whined. Then he shut up and started to read. He never said too much about the book, though he liked the part where the rat would come to eat out of the mother's big bowl of sugar. And then I saw on his Facebook profile that he had listed The Glass Castle as his favorite book. Huh, how 'bout that?
And now, seven years later, my youngest son came home with the book he has to read for English class. Guess what it is?
You got it!
Ah . . . sweet vindication. Yup, yup, yup!
I read this in 2008 for my now-defunct neighborhood book club. I decided that my oldest son, who was then 14, should read it for "Mom's Summer Reading Plan" - also known as the Mom-Forces-Us-To-Read-For-Half-An-Hour-Each-Day-Torture-Program by certain members of the family. I felt it was important for him to learn that not every child gets to grow up in a household that has eight different video game systems. I wanted him to imagine what it would be like if his father came home one night and said "We have to move right now. You can take ONE THING with you."
Well, he grumbled and he whined. Then he shut up and started to read. He never said too much about the book, though he liked the part where the rat would come to eat out of the mother's big bowl of sugar. And then I saw on his Facebook profile that he had listed The Glass Castle as his favorite book. Huh, how 'bout that?
And now, seven years later, my youngest son came home with the book he has to read for English class. Guess what it is?
You got it!
Ah . . . sweet vindication. Yup, yup, yup!
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The Glass Castle.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
June 1, 2008
–
Finished Reading
May 1, 2011
– Shelved
July 23, 2011
– Shelved as:
memoir
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by
Jeff
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Oct 16, 2015 08:15AM
Moms are usually right. Dads, not so much...
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Yeah. Dad wants them to do yard work instead of reading.
It's a good,heartwarming story,and makes me grab a copy.It isn’t easy to encourage my students(I teach English)to read Japanese lit (not manga),much less English lit.From now,I adopt your approach,thanks,Melki.
I read Half Broke Horses and liked it a lot.
I love her either way, but I wish my daughter would read more outside of her school work. I've even tried putting money between the pages of books gifted to her, but I'm sure she just shakes out all the bills.
I have to admit, Mom's Enforced Reading Club only lasted a few years. I usually tried to pick something edgy and occasionally racy, sort of a forbidden fruit that was sure to hold their interest - one year it was Joe R. Lansdale. Neither boy reads as much as I would like, but I hope they'll occasionally continue to pick up a book even if no one is holding a gun to their heads.
I love this story. I do wish i could convince my youngest to read more.
Perfect story for kids that age. Excellent choice, excellent mom!
Erin wrote: "Perfect story for kids that age. Excellent choice, excellent mom!"Thank you, Erin.
Hello Melki! just read the book and can agree with you on everything. I really felt for her.. Although I have one question for you.. I was reading through and I have a general idea of the answer but I want to know what you think.. How does the central conflict in the memoir change or develop the authors identity??
Aye-yi-yi! I read this too long ago to provide a proper answer. For better or for worse, our upbringing always influences our identity. Women, in particular, seem to be shaped by their relationships with their mothers, so much so that many spend their lives in a struggle not to become their mothers. Being raised in poverty is a good motivator for some to strive, try harder and avoid making their parents' mistakes.Aaaa! I realize I didn't answer your question. I tend to remember particular scenes from this book - the terrifying ride in the U-haul, the rat in the enormous sugar bowl - more than themes.
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts, though . . .
That was nice to find your elder son stating that The Glass Castle was his favourite book when he was so reluctant to read it at first! My mom did the most to encourage me to read in my preteen years, introducing me to a wide range of kids' books in the process. I got 1-2 comics to read each week too! But I also saw my dad reading a book every evening while the rest of us watched TV and that may have encouraged me to read more. Once I was in my teens, I often accompanied my dad to the bookshop where we browsed in our respective sections - sci-fi/fantasy for me, historical (19th-century naval) novels/militaria for him. Once I'd made my selection he'd add it to the books he was buying. So while he wasn't strong on introducing me to particular books, he funded a lot of my reading! :D
I wonder how much I would have read as a kid if I had access to 24-hour TV, more than 1-2 TV channels, computer games and the Net?
My parents were both big readers. Friday night in our household meant eating out at the Hamilton, where I would get a foot-long hot dog, followed by a trip to the local bookstore. (Only the restaurant is still in existence, though they no longer serve foot-longs.) Great memories, probably enhanced by great distance and yearning nostalgia.Mom's Summer Reading Program has fallen by the wayside. Sad to say that in this age of persistent electronics, neither of my boys reads for pleasure. But, I never stop hoping that someday they'll join us readers, and pick up a book.
Those Friday nights sounded like a lot of fun! Fast food and books! It's a sign of the times that the bookstore no longer exists though.If your sons are still reluctant readers, maybe getting them some graphic novels for Christmas might be a way to get them hooked?
Greg wrote: "If your sons are still reluctant readers, maybe getting them some graphic novels for Christmas might be a way to get them hooked?"No, not even graphic novels can compete with the siren's call of Facebook, Playstation, and the WWE. The really sad thing is that they read more than all their friends combined. Is it any wonder that about half our country decided we no longer need a "smart" person in the White House?
No I'm not really surprised about that. But do many young people these days even bother to vote? I couldn't wait to do that once I was old enough but so many young people haven't even registered to vote over here. :/ That said, last year, I was involved with a group at the college where I work to encourage students to at least register themselves, providing computer terminals for them to do this, and we actually got some 200 of them registering - so maybe they just need a little encouragement. Of course, registration is one thing, voting is another.How about books tied to movie releases and also game worlds?
I'm giving up on the book thing. That's something they'll have to work out for themselves. At least they're both politically active; they've voted in every election since they became old enough. The youngest one watches the news and political commentary shows. The oldest reads articles on the internet.That's something, anyway . . .
Melki wrote: "I'm giving up on the book thing. That's something they'll have to work out for themselves. At least they're both politically active; they've voted in every election since they became old enough. Th..."That's fair enough. And there can be a lot of (hard to measure) reading on the Net too!
Love your review and of course, love the book. But I especially love your 'eight video game system' comment. I like to 'remind' my kids to read. It's not working. So Melki, I'm going to try this one on them. Thanks :)
Suzanne wrote: "Love your review and of course, love the book. But I especially love your 'eight video game system' comment. I like to 'remind' my kids to read. It's not working. So Melki, I'm going to try this on..."You're welcome, Suzanne. I think you'll like it.
Love the anecdote style review! I prefer those in fact.
I loved this book, and I love your anecdote, Melki. I've found this has always been a good book to recommend to friends in a reading slump.
MomToKippy wrote: "Love the anecdote style review! I prefer those in fact."Me, too. If I want a synopsis of the book, I'll read the ŷ description. I want to know why a book was special to a reviewer. And, as a nosy person, I LOVE reading about other peoples' lives.
I agree with the synopsis style reviews! They're boring. These ones are brilliant!
Doing parenting right! (I also inflicted half hour reading time on my kids and now they are adults they secretly still read...and recommend books to me which is how I know).
That's exactly it Melki!
lol. nice vindication! thanks for the review!
Lara Williams wrote: "lush review xx"Thank you, Lara, and I heartily approve the use of the word lush. I've got to start working that one into more conversations.
How a book affects you, becomes a part of your life, (I think ), when you want to share those feelings with the ones you love, that’s why some authors secretly really write.
"Mom's summer reading program", I love it. Such a fantastic idea. I was born a reader and loved books before I could read them. I adored the library and took the bus to the main library downtown in the summer when I was 8 or 9. I remember the bus drivers smiling when I was on my way home. I was small for my age, lugging two heavy bags full of books. I once met the young adult librarian and I asked for book recommendations. She found me about 20 excellent books that I would not have found without her. Unfortunately, I never saw her again. I'm not sure if I was just unlucky and missed her working hours or her job was cut, but I was sorry to not get more recommendations from her. The library is still a big part of my life, but unfortunately my disability makes it difficult for me to get out. There is a Home Reader program that delivers books to people once a month. The librarian said she really enjoys having someone younger to find books for (I started getting books in my 20s, I'm now in my 40s). Most of the people she finds books for are old ladies who read Danielle Steele and Harlequin romance. I hope your children have continued to enjoy reading as they've grown older. It's such a great way to go places and "meet" people you'd never encounter otherwise.
Kristy wrote: ""Mom's summer reading program", I love it. Such a fantastic idea. I was born a reader and loved books before I could read them. I adored the library and took the bus to the main library downtown in..."Thanks for commenting, Kristy. I enjoyed hearing about your love of reading.
Both boys turned away from reading for pleasure during their college years, as they had to read so much for classes. Now that they've both graduated, however, I've noticed they'll pick up a novel now and then. The oldest one even asked for three books for Christmas last year, so - YAY!
Great your sons are reading a little. My daughters were both readers as kids but the younger daughter hasn’t picked up a book since college and she’s 28 now. The older one occasionally reads still but not much fiction. Funnily, I got this text yesterday “Sharon just learned that I’m illiterate and she’s STUNNED - she says she’s going to find me a book I’ll like� - Sharon is my younger daughter’s boss and around my age. They are both nurses. I sure hope Sharon can encourage her as it’s just really difficult to believe I raised a person who never reads. A few years ago I gave this same daughter Born A Crime for Christmas as she’s spent time in Africa and I knew the story would interest her� but she left it here in her bedroom and never opened it. I did love that book� Ah well.
Seawitch wrote: "Funnily, I got this text yesterday “Sharon just learned that I’m illiterate and she’s STUNNED - she says she’s going to find me a book I’ll like�"We have a young woman who's been working here at the library for about a year. Her mother hadn't read since high school, but C. managed to get her hooked on Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.
Who knows? Maybe in your daughter's search for the perfect book for her boss, she'll find the book that rekindles her own love of reading.
