Jeannette Walls - The Glass Castle: A Memoir

Pros: a straightforward memoir that refuses to become maudlin

Cons: none

The Bottom Line: Don't miss Jeannette Walls's compelling memoir of growing up on the edge of homelessness.

Review: Here's a sad observation: if prospective parents had to pass a qualifying test before having children, as they now must do before getting a driver's license, there'd be a lot more childless people among us. In one specific case I can think of, the book ...

Pros: I highly recommend this book.

Cons: None

The Bottom Line: The Glass Castle: A Memoir is an amazing book and I will never, ever forget Jeanette Walls' story.

Review: I just finished reading The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls and I have to say, I am overwrought with emotion and absolutely floored by the book.  The Glass Castle is Walls' memoir, and she shares her life story, which is ...

Pros: An engaging life story that is incredibly amazing.

Cons: Lack of emotion leaves the reader disconnected with the author.

The Bottom Line: This is a definite recommend-- you will hug your kids tighter after reading it.

Review: Imagine opening up your lunch at school to find lard slapped between two pieces of bread. Imagine your brother sleeping under an inflatable raft in a house that constantly leaked when it rained. Imagine four children, the youngest just a few months ...

Pros: Well-told, unemotional account of a horrific childhood

Cons: No way to verify anything

The Bottom Line: Frank McCourt, and now Jeannette Walls... how many other stories of childhood horror are there?

Review: Remember Frank McCourt’s book, Angela’s Ashes? It came out about ten years ago and raised a shiver of horror among readers who obsessively turned the pages of this incredible story of a childhood that defines the term “neglect.” I was among those, and ...

Pros: Well-told story of her childhood.

Cons: Might make you uncomfortable.

The Bottom Line: If you're ready to read an honest memoir of a less than ideal childhood, you probably can't do better than this one.

Review: I read a popular book before Stephen Colbert had the author on his show! I was digging through the bestseller lists and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls sounded like one of the more interesting books. Since I have recently rediscovered the ...

Pros: interesting storyline, easy to read

Cons: I sometimes wondered how much of this story was fiction.

The Bottom Line: The Glass Castle is definitely worth reading. I wonder how much of the story is embellished but, at the end of the day, it's a fascinating book.

Review: I received this book several months ago as part of a present. For some reason the back cover information just didn't generate any interest to make me start reading. The Glass Castle sat in a basket collecting dust for a long time... and then I ...

Pros: Fantastic writing and an absolutely heart-wrenching, true coming-of-age story.

Cons: Nothing.

The Bottom Line: I borrowed this from the library and now I need to get a copy for my collection. It's that good.

Review: Jeannette Walls sees a homeless lady rooting through a dumpster in New York City and is horrified to realize that it's her mother. And so begins Walls' memoir, The Glass Castle --- a look back on a childhood and life that she used to be ashamed ...

Pros: inspiring story, full of hope

Cons: Needed more photos

The Bottom Line: This is worth reading. It was easy to read,very inspirational.

Review: Some of you may be familiar with the name Jeannette Walls. She is the gossip columnist for msnbc.com who delivers the scoop on celebrities Mondays through Thursdays. Ms. Walls has written a very inspiring personal memoir. She tells a story of ...

Pros: This incredible memoir is filled with specific detail, realistic events, and interesting story lines.

Cons: You won't be able to out this vivid memior down till your done reading!

The Bottom Line:

This book will pull every emotion right out of you.  Through Jeannette Walls outstandingly vivid detail you'll get pulled right into the book.

Review: The Glass Castle; a Fascinating Memoir            The Glass Castle is wonderfully written memoir by author Jeannette Walls.  Jeannette has vividly recollected her memories ...

Pros: Emotional. easy reading (not complex sentences or anything)

Cons: You might lose some sleep because you just can't put it down!

The Bottom Line: A great story to read because it makes you think about your own life, no matter how bad you have it, it's probably better than this

Review: This memoir is deeply moving. It is the story of a Jeannette Walls, woman who overcame a life of poverty and lack of parental support to become a very successful adult. About the Author: She is now a reporter for MSNBC and looking at her you would ...