Could not put this book down. It was fascinating and made me wonder how much poetic license she used in developing the characters. It clearly illustrates the resiliency of the human spirit.

A professional & fascinating piece of work. Characters are memorable & the family group offer images of poverty & eccentricity, in society, described with eloquence, humor & always, humanity. The book raises serious questions about what is "normal" in society & in human interactions. Cannot imagine anyone not enjoying this read

This book is a compelling read, but not necessarily a rewarding one, particularly if you have a compelling need for justice. I hope that some of the abuses are more fabrication that fact and the author has a higher purpose than describing the effects of her parents demons.

Love the dysfunctional aspect of this book. It was entertaining to listen to it on audio-book .

I could hardly put this book down until I had found out what became of the children in it. Ms. Walls writes the story of her childhood in the style of a novel, with plenty of sensory detail. However, the characters who are most clearly portrayed are the parents, the black sheep of the family.

West Virginia, Poor, Homeless.

This book was in a collection left in a condo in Kauai and I couldn't put it down till I was finished. Made sitting on the beach fly by. It was sad yet fascinating the life they led.

Enjoyable, light and easy reading. Not until Walls realizes her destiny lies in New York does Glass Castle have ambition. Without this direction the first two thirds are touching short stories that hold little connection to one another other than by virtue sharing the same characters.

Didn't love this book. Still pondering the reasons. I felt like something was incomplete about the story told, or slanted perhaps. I don't know. I wish that the author gave more analysis to her circumstances. I fear readers will come to conclusions that will place unreasonable expectations on sufferers of childhood trauma. I come from a family that was rife with neglect and abuse (our family was heavier on the abuse side than the author's was). I am one of five children. All of us children were deeply hindered by our experiences in our childhood home, at least initially. Various dynamics and circumstances had an impact on how successfully one or the other managed to heal from these events, but all of us were harmed significantly. Life milestones were delayed or never reached, social skills and confidence were affected etc...ect... We were like a collection of beaten puppies...flinching, out in the wider world, as though we were still experiencing our original traumas...and making choices as though we were as well. It also affected our relationships to one another. Did we all have less gumption and determination than the Walls children? Absolutely not.

i enjoy this book so much it amazes me of how hard it is moving from one place to another every minute and living a life that is not perfect but they manage to take care of themselves and one another... the only part i found crazy was when jeanette was burned when she was cooking at the stove at age three.... and when she dropped out of the car and roled down a hill and no one noticed until her parents came back for her... ofr when she as well as lori, brian and there mother shopped lift in order for maureen to have somre decent clothes to were for school... or even when there was no food brian and jeanette was going dumpster diving for school and jeanette got raped by bill.. a bo y from her old town... and how he came to the house with a bb gun and how they aimed a pistle at him and almost shot him as he ran for his life ..... this bookj is good because it causes u to think about everything that people go through :)