Kate Gilbert’s Reviews > The Glass Castle > Status Update

Jeannette is finally realizing that her parents aren’t really parents at all.

pg. 195 is the first her name is mentioned, I think. As I was reading, I noticed that she always uses her sibling's names, but I never once read hers. Social Services came to their door and Jeannette sent them away, the one thing that could help her the most. Her mom got a job but because of her parents' ways, it didn't help much. Her friend was arrested for stabbing her mom's boyfriend, she was also pregnant.

Jeanette gets in fights with the neighborhood kids. Her neighbor is the neighborhood prostitute, and she notices that they make a lot of money. I hope this isn't foreshadowing to her being a prostitute later in life for money, her dad should be getting a real job and put the family in a place where she doesn't have to consider this.

Jeannette and her family have lived in West Virginia for awhile. They were banished from Erma's house, but she sexually assaulted Brian anyway. They're house is garbage, and they have garbage in their backyard. No one except Jeannette has motivation. When their mom and dad left to go back to Phoenix, I really didn't think they would come back, but they did. Maybe the dad is a drunk because he was abused as a child.

Jeannette asked her dad to stop drinking for her birthday, he did for the summer, but soon became the angry drunk he was before. He bothers me. The things he teaches his children and his philosophies make me uncomfortable.

Jeannette talks about how her family robbed banks and how her father was a raging alcoholic.

The family is living in Phoenix now. The mother likes religion and her art is prospering, the father hates religion and is an electrician now. It seems like this is the best their life has been so far, but I still find myself getting angry at the parents sometimes.

Jeannette had troubles with Billy, and he started shooting at them with a BB gun, and the other kids shot at him with a real gun. The cops came and expected both families at the courthouse the next morning, but the family went to Phoenix to their grandmother's house that night. Jeannette said they hadn't ran in a while, but this is breaking that streak.

Jeannette is talking about how her mom got a job at her school, but the other teachers and principal didn't agree with her teaching style. She let the kids have too much freedom and it was getting out of hand. Money is always tight, but Dad keeps taking the money and saying that he can handle the finances, but he just buys booze and prostitutes. The mom is too afraid to stand up to him, but tries to get money back.