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Jean

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Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Book & DVD)

by John Medina (Goodreads Author)

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Apr 11, 2013 12:46PM

Jean rated a book it was amazing

The Glass Castle

by Jeannette Walls (Goodreads Author)

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Reading for the 2nd time

read in May 2012

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Jean said: " I am just done listening to Glass Castle. Wow, it is a nonfiction, but it is more than a fiction. So much has happened, not a lot of ups in these youngsters' life in their early life, however, with their insuperable strength and determination, they h I am just done listening to Glass Castle. Wow, it is a nonfiction, but it is more than a fiction. So much has happened, not a lot of ups in these youngsters' life in their early life, however, with their insuperable strength and determination, they have come out of this mire and created a life that they can smile about. I specifically like the Thanksgiving gathering as the ending. It is the contrast to famine; it is the contrast to recklessness. It is bounty and peace.

The part that amazes me is the strength of the siblings, especially Jeannette. People have been wondering what made the three older Walls children such a “different breed”, i.e, resilient and tough. Is it the psychological lessons the Dad teaches them: stare down at whatever scares you and never show your fear but only show who is the boss? Or is it the hunger and humiliation that makes you swear with trembles and tears that you will never be hungry and live indecently ever again as long as you shall live? It made me cry when Jeannette tells her employer, who wanted to hire her to babysit 2 toddlers during a summer away from home, "Take Lori and buy Lori a bus ticket to NYC at the end of the summer." It made me cringe when the parents showed themselves up at NYC: here the children are striving to make on their own away from the destructive alcoholic Dad and the apathetic Mom, the parents will have to continue to wreck the children’ lives. With tremendous guilt, Lori kicked Mom and Dad out of her apartment and moves onto a life different from what her parents led. What makes Maureen particularly venerable? Is it the fear management that Maureen missed getting from Dad and the constant “life will always work out at the end” mantra from Mom? Or is it the heavy dose of frustration that she avoided enduring? Or is it the genes that she got? We might never know.

Another part of the book I love is compassion: how Jeanette transcends her Dad’s destructive behavior including a beating and the “Escape Fund” stealing and continues to love him, involves him in her college studies etc. At the Thanksgiving gathering at the end, someone said “Do not incriminate.” They all have one thousand reasons to clutch the bitterness tight and never let go of it, but instead they have chosen forgiveness and compassion, the magic of a happy life. ...more "

May 30, 2012 02:00PM · see review