I have finally finished The Glass Castle. Never before have I enjoyed an assigned book for school, but this book changed the game. I found myself laying in bed, planning to read for twenty minutes and looking back at the clock an hour later. The Glass Castle stopped time, and took me into a different world. It created emotions in me I had never felt before.

Jeannette finally got away, like I said she would. She had finally had enough of the way her parents treated them. Eventually, all of the children abandoned their parents and started their lives over in New York City. She created a new and improved life for herself. She followed her dream in becoming a reporter and made a successful life out of her new found career. Jeannette and the children live a happy life all together; with a roof over their heads, heat, water, and food. Sadly, the parents found a way to weasel themselves back into their lives. They were unable to keep a steady job and lived on the streets for years. Thankfully, Jeannette, Brian, and Lori were able to escape the corruption their parents constantly brought upon them, but Maureen was not capable of doing so. While living with her parents, she lost it. She stabbed her mother. This causes their family to drift apart. Maureen ends up in mental institution, and the rest of them go on living their lives apart.

Rex Walls, her father, later gets sick; deathly ill, and sadly passes. This causes Jeannette to reevaluate the life she was currently living; away from her family, hiding her past, she was no longer herself anymore. She longed for the reckless life and inclusiveness of family, her parents instilled in her from the start. She decides to make big changes and began to be proud of who she was and where she came from, instead of embarrassed. She remarried to a man who loved her for who she was and had the same ideals about life as she did. Jeanette was finally happy and at peace; living her life for the present, but never forgetting her past.

This book was life changing in a sense. It really made me think and appreciate the life that I am blessed with. It helped me to see that someone always has it worse than you do. It was honestly crazy to me that this was actually a life that someone lived, and that these stories and experiences were all real. I am so happy that I chose to read this book as opposed to the other options I had, because this book has taught me more than I ever thought it could; in a fun, captivating way.

Currently being only half way done with The Glass Castle leaves me with many unanswered questions, but one specific question has resided in my mind: How much more will the children take?

As I flip through the pages, I find myself analyzing every detail: the way the parents treat the children, how the children react to the unrecognizable abuse, and the attitude each character acquires through different situations. I am constantly wondering how the children are able to tolerate the corruption of the lives they live.

After being driven out of their old “home,” they find peace in a new town known as Battle Mountain. For the first time in a long time they were safe; they had money and a house. This house was not some raggedy house they were used to living in; it was huge and decorated with luxurious decor. The children believed that this was it for them; a chance for a new life, a better life, but sadly that was not the case. Just like every other time they go back to their old ways. Shortly after they established Battle Mountain as their home, the ample amounts of money they once had quickly turned into a few pennies. Their mother introduced them into the idea of stealing and dishonest acts to get money and items they needed. With Rex back to his drinking habits, and no more money flowing in; mother began to introduce the idea of moving east to Rex’s mothers home. They moved in with Grandma Erma, thinking this would solve their problems, and in some sense it did, but their lives were still on a constant downward spiral. Through all the alcoholism, abuse, distrust, and pain the children still remained loyal to their parents. I am confident that their personal well-being will soon come to trump family devotion.