I wanted to continue here where our discussion left off yesterday because it didn't seem like everyone got to share all of their ideas. So, which parent did you like least? Why or why not? What scene was a sort of "tipping" point for your disdain toward either parent? Both parents? Why do you think Jeannette, despite everything, never condemned her parents?
Our debate yesterday was filled with a lot of discussion over the neglect of the Walls children. Jeanette and her siblings were having to take care of themselves at a young age. They were always hungry and never had a permanent home. As parents, what did Rose Mary and Rex "owe" their children? What do you think parents, in general, are obligated to give their children? Do children "owe" anything back to their parents?
Overall what did you think of The Glass Castle? Did you like or dislike the memoir? Why or why not?
What a great memoir to end our reading list! :)
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I want to start by saying I absolutely enjoyed reading the book. It was so well composed and interesting. I like the memoir genre because I always find it really exciting to read about true life events, even if they are in a creative light. I thought the book was great!
I was completely appalled with the way Rex and Rose Mary Walls treated their children. I don't even have a tipping point. I pretty much thought they were insane and horrible five pages into the book, after Jeannette caught on fire when she was three. I think their subsequent actions just made me despise them even more to the point of no redemption.
I still can't understand why Jeannette forgives them. As a reader, I was so suprised and shocked that she can even reflect on her life without any complaining or bitterness. As a reader, I couldn't even forgive the actions of her parents. I feel like familial obligation made her forgive her parents. They were still her parents, regardless of how bad they were.
When I was reading this book, I seriously wondered if the Walls children would have been better off in child services. I know that most stories about kids in foster care are pretty horrible, but compared to the way these kids were living, I seriously wondered if maybe this would have been the one situation where the kids would have been better off in child services.
Parents owe their children basic physical care, which the Walls parents fail at. More than that, I think kids deserve their parents' best efforts at raising them, and their unconditional love. Kids owe their parents their best efforts at growing up right, and generally not being ungrateful brats. Later in life, there's probably also going to be an obligation for kids to take care of or see to the care of their parents when they're old.
Back to the book, though: Rose Mary and Rex Walls should have put aside their pride and their stupid ideology and taken care of their kids as well as they d*nm well could. There are way less harmful ways to have adventures and instil self-reliance than through neglect! D:<
I thought The Glass Castle was very well-written book (hmm, that seems to be the first thing I judge a book on!) and an incredible story. One of the things that I liked best about it was Jeanette Walls' total lack of sentimentality and self-pity.
I still think that overall Rex was the worst of the two evils that Jeannette got to call her parents. Her mom was more sympathetic to me because she seemed do childish and immature. Rex just made me mad because he made promises to his children that he could never keep. Both parents, however, made me mad because they could have provided so much more for their children; Rose Mary was sitting on a million dollar property, and Rex was able to raise a thousand dollars for his daughter in no time later in the book.
In this way, I think that all parents owe their children the fundamental basics for the kids to at least survive. They also owe them love and support since it was by their hands that they brought them into the world. In the perfect circumstance, parents should teach their children how to be successful and good work ethic, morals, ect. but since sometimes adults don't even have that, they should at least give their child a chance to learn it from someone else. I think also that parents should do their very best to get their child an education. Children in return owe gratitude, obedience, love, and respect; as long as the parents have fulfilled their share.
I really liked the Glass Castle! It was so well written and really exciting the entire time. It's so crazy to believe that she lived like that. It makes me wonder what other people around me have gone through.
I think that most people said they did like Rex better than Rose Mary because we tend to look for redeeming qualities even in the worst of people. I still disliked Rose Mary more because she was just a cry baby and the whole time you just wanted to slap some sense into her! She complained and did absolutely nothing about her situation! There were several points in the book where I absolutely hated this woman. To name two biggies: when she was hoarding the chocolate bar under her blanket and didn't want to share with her kids, and also when Jeanette told her not to be sad she was leaving for New York and her mom told her she wasn't sad she was leaving, she was sad that she was being left behind. At least Rex made an effort at some points, although much of his behavior was unexcusable as well. The fact that he was Jeanette's favorite parent was also why he was the one who let her down most, the people you care most about always hurt you more. I think Jeanette felt sorry for her parents for a long time.
The whole time I was reading this book I was just so alarmed by the whole family's situation. I can't even imagine living like they did. I think we all know that Rex and Rose Mary definitely needed to step up their parenting skills. If parents bring a child or children into this world, then they owe it to those kids to take care of them, feed them, clothe them, and teach them everything they possibly can in order to help them be prepared to face this world on their own. Even a parent who gives their child up for adoption has this done. They may not be a part of the child's life, but they still have ensured the child has what they need to survive without them. If anything, Rex and Rose Mary's lack of providing taught their children how to overcome this.
When I started reading the book, everyone on my floor couldn't say anything about it other than it looked really boring. I thought that was funny because I was interested right from the start. It's amazing how someone else's true life story can be so drastically different from your own; it just draws you in. I really enjoyed the book and our class that focused on it was definitely my favorite.
Ok so I absolutely loved loved this book and I was infuriated while I was reading it. Jeannette's parents both disgusted me and while there were a few times where I felt the dad had a slightly redeeming moment, overall I despised them both with a fiery passion. I thought the mom was evil and selfish and she kept talking about how she needed to do things for herself, when that's ALL she did. And Rex...I think I reached maximum hatred for Rex when he let that creepy guy take his daughter upstairs, knowing what he wanted. It's hard to pinpoint an exact turning point though because there were so many of them throughout the whole book. I also was super mad when he stole their money and was like what? how could you blame me??? I wanted to smack both of them and I am amazed at Jeannette's will power and strength when being raised by that. I really think that this book has become one of my new favorites though.
I think in a normal family, the parents owe their children love and the basic support and necessities the children need to grow up. The children are then expected to respect and care for their parents in return when they are older. However, I feel that the Walls children really don't owe much to their awful parents. Jeannette's continued affection towards them really shows the unconditional love that comes from being family. Familial obligations make parents and children owe each other certain things, but I think being a family just has certain aspects like unconditional love--not things that are obligated, but things that are just there.
I really enjoyed this book. Jannette was able to write her early life story so that it was just real and raw without being self-indulgent (which, given her childhood, I wouldn't have blamed her for). I still think that Rose Mary was the worse of two evils in her children's lives. By no means were either of these people fit to be parents, but I found Rex as a little sympathetic, while I couldn't find much redeeming about Rose Mary. He at least tried to do things for his family, while Rose Mary was completely selfish. These two, Rex and Rose Mary Walls, were not fit to be parents, but I do think they were perfect for each other. They both sunk to extreme lows and both had a lot of misplaced pride and were too stubborn for their own good.
I think that parents, by choosing to bring a new life into the world, owe it to their children to provide what I feel are necessities: food, water, safety, a place to call home, and unconditional love. I think that children "owe" their parents gratitude for the things that they did give them.
I disliked both parents immensely. That being said, my reasons vary from their attitudes to their actions, and it is hard to decide which parent I like the least. Rex was kindhearted toward his children, but he never truly tried his best to kick the addiction that in many ways destroyed his family's well being. Rose Mary failed in both attitude and action. She was a completely selfish and despicable character from the beginning, and she used her husband's faults to excuse her own refusal to try to make her children's lives better, which she had the means but not the will to do.
The scenes which stood out to me were Rose Mary's keeping the diamond ring, her conversation about Jeannette moving to New York, Rex letting Jeannette go with the bar pervert, and Rex's stealing the children's money out of the piggy bank. These scenes disgusted me as these parents blatently refused to fulfill their parental duties and let their children suffer through the consequences.
I was surprised Jeannette did not condemn her parents, because unfortunately I don't believe I would have been so strong in her situation. She surprised me by not dwelling on her difficulties, but rather emerged from them even stronger. I think that can only be because she truly was a strong individual, and appreciated the little things as she grew up poor and underprivileged. It has been my obsevation that generally, those who are blessed by much are less grateful than those who are blessed with little.
Rex and Rose Mary owed their children first priority in their lives. We could see that that is the area they failed the most in, and that is why they failed as parents in most of our perspectives. What broke this family apart was the parents' selfish ways and irregard to the truth that was so obvious: their children were suffering and they could have prevented this. These two parents consistently rationalized their behavior, and their children kept quiet because they either respected their parents or did not want to cause more problems.
Parents in general do owe their children top priority and the means to survive. As every one else has mentioned, they are responsible to provide survival essentials: food, clothes, and a roof over their heads. Children may not "owe" anything to their parents, at least not in that the parents deserve it, but they ought to respect and submit to their parents in all situations while they are still under their authority.
The Glass Castle was a wonderful memoir and full of interesting stories and dialogue. Jeannette Walls portrayed a great writing ability and also the capability to show events as they happened without verbalizing what her readers are thinking: "What the crap is wrong with these people??!!" I was impressed and pleased by the book overall.
The book was interesting. My curiosity was played by the validity of the scenes in the memoir. With nothing to believe but the author's perspective, I was continuously thinking of all the ways Jeanette could have fabricated her memoir. Unfortunately, that is what usually deters me from this genre of book.
Glass Castle was the first memoir I actually enjoyed.
That being said, the characters in the book are what make the entire book what it is. Broken people trying to raise perfectly healthy kids, the basis of the book weaves into a compelling adventure founded on misfortune and alcohol (for the father at least).
I genuinely disliked both of the parents because they both abandoned and mistreated their children in their own ways. First off, Rose May was completely selfish and mentally unstable. No matter what, parents should put the needs of their children first because they are much more capable than them. She continually said how she did not get to accomplish her dreams or live the life that she wanted, but under the circumstances she should have been more willing to make a better life for her children rather than offer them a miserable life. The thing that bugged me the most about her is that she never did anything to stop Rex from drinking or leave him to give him some perspective. Secondly, Rex was just awful. Yes, he did have a personable personality, but that does not make it okay that he continually lied to his children, did not provide for them, put them in unsafe situations and unsanitary conditions, spent all of their money on alcohol, stole his children's hard earned money, did not support their dreams and sabotaged their efforts to better their lives to name a few.
I don't think Jeanette ever condemned her parents because she is a strong person. She did not make excuses for anything in her life, she just worked her hardest to make it better. Jeanette was too focused too be sidetracked by her parent's antics.
Once adults become parents, their main concern should be their children no matter what. Parents have to nourish, nuture, teach, discipline, love and provide for their children. They are responsible for another's life and well-being; they play an extremely important role in the future of their children. I think children owe something back to their parents. A parent-child relationship is just like any relationship, it requires action from both parties to be healthy and prosper. Children owe back love, repect and may even have to take care of their parents physically or financially if a situation would persent itself where that was required.
I think the Jeannette's forgiveness towards her parents was a good thing. A lot of you have said that it was hard for you to see how Jeannette could have forgiven her parents in light of all the things she and her siblings went through, but I don't think Jeannette could have had that attitude. First, as readers who are totally removed from the situation, we have no attachment or incentive to like Rex or Rose Mary Walls. As their daughter, Jeannette had that familial love and obligation, like Ruth said. Second, fostering that kind of resentment isn't healthy. Jeannette needed to forgive her parents not just for them, but in order to move on with her life and become a strong and successful adult. Although, I think we all agree, the parents were awful, forgiveness was the best resolution for that family.
I generally like the memoir style of novels because it is really interesting to me to read about someone else's real stories. Jeanette Wall's story was definitely an interesting one, and on top o that it was very well written. I very much enjoyed this book.
Now, as for the parents, they were on the opposite end of my "like" spectrum. As everyone else has mentioned, they were completely awful as parents. However, if Jeanette's parents had not been as terrible as they were, the story would not have been as compelling and enjoyable. My hatred towards them and my curiosity to see how things would turn out is what compelled me through the book.
Similarly, I think that Jeanette never condemned her parents because she was still able to learn from them and from her terrible situation. It's the old saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger". Her situation sucked, but she did not let it get the best of her; Jeanette instead overcame her adversities. If she had had a great family life and childhood, her adulthood would have been completely different and we would not have had the opportunity to read such a great story.
I absolutely could not stand the mom! She acted more like a kid than anything throughout the novel. She hardly put in an effort to contribute to the family either. Plus every time the children would ask for food she'd just say they couldn't afford it, when the whole time she had land that she could have sold to buy them the basics. She also could have sold the house her mother left, but she was much too prideful for her own good. The thing that made me dislike her even more was when the kids were going hungry, she was pigging out on a chocolate bar! I know Rex definitely did not deserve the father of the year award, but I felt like he made more of an effort to benefit the kids.
I don't think that Jeannette ever condemned her parents because of how things were when she was little. The Walls' children did not know they were poor until they were older. I also think she appreciated things more because of how little they had.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It became one of the few books for me that I could not put down.
I disliked both parents equally but in different ways for obviously different reasons. I couldn't believe that Rose Mary was hiding the chocolate bar from them and then was stupid enough to be eating it under the blanket in front of them!? Come on lady, it's not an invisibility cloak. :P Rex irritated me throughout the entire memoir but the biggest things for me were his countless empty promises, especially filling the whole the kids had dug for the glass castle with trash!! The absolute worst, undoubtedly, was when he allowed that gross, creepy guy take Jeannette upstairs!? I could never imagine anyone going through what the Walls children did. It's so strange to think that people live like this in our own country despite the help that is available. I think Jeannette never condemned them because they showed her the life she didn't want to lead. How she did it? No clue. If those were my parents I would never be able to have a relationship with them.
I believe that Rose Mary and Rex owed their children a safe place to live, food to eat, and clothes to wear. If they were not willing to accept "charity" from welfare or homeless shelters, they should have given the children away for adoption. Everyone deserves a good quality of life and Rose Mary and Rex were by no stretch providing that for them.
This memoir was probably my favorite text on the entire reading list. It was one of the few I had never read before and I loved the way Jeannette wrote it and how she never took on a bitter tone despite everything that had happened to her. I never thought memoirs would be a genre I was interested in but I really want to read others!
Rex and Rose Mary owed it to their children to actually be parents. It doesn't get any simpler than that. Rose Mary acted like a child and didn't even want to be a mom. If Rex wasn't around she would have abandoned her kids long before they were grown. Rex tried at times but his attempts fell through every time. He also gave the impression that he did not want to be a father either.
In general I think all parents owe their kids basically their attention, love, and care. Also, parents are responsible for their kids. If someone decides they want to be a mom or a dad their whole life has to change and become focused on their children.
So I agree with everyone that parents have obligations to their children and owe them the basic life necessities and love. However, I was just wondering, when those parents do not meet these obligations and do not give their children enough of what these children need, is it okay for someone else to step in and do what the parents could have done?
And also, Amanda, I was wondering about your comment that children ought to respect and submit to their parents at all times while they are under the parents' authority. What if the parents have misplaced authority? If the parents are like the Walls telling their kids to basically starve instead of accept "charity", should these kids still submit to these awfully misguided and delusional parents?
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