The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

After the James Frye fiasco, I'm typically finding myself reading memoirs with caution. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, is one of these such memoirs that may be considered as far fetched as Million Little Pieces or Augusten Burroughs’s Running with Scissors. The story begins when the narrator is riding in a taxi and sees her homeless mom digging through a dumpster in a dangerous side of town. It’s not more than two pages later that the reader is transported back to Jeanette’s childhood, when at three years old she finds herself on fire. Even the most reluctant reader will find this book impossible to put down, living through Jeannette tumultuous childhood as she experiences a free spirited life on the road with her eccentric parents. The story is told so objectively, that the reader can make up their own mind on how damaging sheer neglect can be. If this memoir has little embellishment, it is a true testament how human beings have an inherent desire to survive. This is a great book club book, so pick some up for your group today. Or, if you find yourself book-club-less, the library has one that meets the last Thursday of every month at 7pm. February’s selection is Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Stop by and grab a copy today.