Memoirs are a challenging feat. The autobiographical style of writing incorporates the constant challenge of finding a balance between the honest truth and what the audience is interested in. However, in The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls’ childhood is an eye opening, unbelievable story on its own. The chilling memoir focuses on Jeannette’s life growing up as her dysfunctional family moves from place to place. Jeannette writes the memoir’s unimaginable events in a childlike, belittling tone, contributing to the reader’s understanding of Jeannette and her story.

Jeannette’s seemingly honest and captivating portrayal of the characters contributes greatly to the story’s plotline. Throughout the memoir, Jeannette’s parents play a major role in the family’s experiences. Jeannette’s Dad, Rex Walls, a visionary alcoholic, seems to consistently fall short of his children’s low expectations for him. Even the title, The Glass Castle, represents Rex’s unfulfilled promise to his children to build them a palace. Rex’s “little bit of a drinking situation” made it impossible for him to keep a job, drastically abating his ability to provide for his family. Jeannette’s mother, Rose Mary Walls, is quite the opposite of her husband; Rose Mary’s selfish need to provide for herself outweigh the responsibility of providing for her children. Her free spirit mindset carries several uncommon impressions of life and parenthood, none of them beneficial for Jeannette and her siblings. Jeannette perfectly captures the fierce personalities of her family members, making the memoir even more enticing.

With an alcoholic father and an apathetic mother, Jeannette and her three siblings were left to fend for themselves. As an author, Jeannette captures the nature of her family and portrays them perfectly as characters in her memoir. As the Walls moved across the country, running from Rex’s demons, the children endured countless painful lessons; the ceaseless hardships throughout the memoir keep the audience on the edge of their seat. Rex and Rose Mary romanticized these nightmares and, growing up, Jeannette and her siblings were only able to understand life through the distorted perceptions of their parents. Jeannette captures her young and naive outlook as a child, expressing exactly how others treated her vulnerability.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is a must read and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good memoir. In addition, The Glass Castle movie, starring Brie Larson and Woody Harrelson, was released this past August.