Jeannette has a unique perspective in her writing style; I don't recall ever reading anything like her.

She had me at hello.

Started reading this is the morning, finished it that night. Excellent book.

Jeannette Walls captivates her readers with a truth that reveals courage and vulnerability. A page-turner that uncovers resiliency of spirit and the power of unconditional love.

Boring book, not worth it.

It has a great sequence, and is a great read. The only bad thing about this book is the profanity.

I'm writing this review before I'm done with the book bc I must vent! There's only a chapter left and -- don't get me wrong -- I'm enjoying the book. It's one of those stories where I want to scream at the main character (in this case, the author) and knock some sense into her/him. For the writer to be loyal and to love parents like hers, only fills me with anger and disbelief. Bad parents don't deserve love and respect and her parents go way past being just lousy parents. They are truly insane and that mother goes beyond selfish.

The writing is decent but it's a very easy read. I wasn't bored and it held my interest. If I could understand the author's naive loyalty better, I would like the book more. Spoiler: the parents refused to work their entire lives while their children starved. The children should have left and never looked back. I'll finish the book but I'm mostly angry and confused about loving two people that deserve it least in the world.

This book is a masterpiece. I couldn't put it down.

I absolutely love this book, I could not put it down. I hope this authors writes more books. I've referred this book to several of my friends. She wrote it in such a way it's as if you were right there with her during her life. Beautiful and yet made me shed some tears.

I recommend this book to everybody who enjoys a story of success!

Hands down my favorite book of all time. Absolutely love it.

This is one of my favorite books ever. Couldn't put it down.

The Glass Castle was hard to read at first but once you get into it, it's amazing! All the struggles the family faces but still some how over come is fascinating. If I were to ever have to go through the things this family did I'm sure my outcome wouldn't be nearly as good as Jeanette's.

The best book ever. From someone that rarely finishes a book I couldn't put it down.

my favorite book of all time. intrigues you from the very beginning.

Loved it!

I found the book somewhat entertaining at the beginning. Crazy parents, very unusual childhood. But it was not very well written and as I was reading I could tell that the author was trying to sell her parents as charming eccentrics when they were just really bad parents. Her dad was an evil animal killer. It became pointless to finish the book when I knew where it was headed. Horrible people.

I loved the story! Beautifully written and extremely touching. Bravo!

I couldn't put this down

You feel her story, very descriptive. Page turner.

I absolutely loved it!

Loved this book. Great read.

Such an excellent book that is very well written and will have you feeling like you're apart of the family! Good or bad!

I had to read this book for a college writing class and it was actually a pretty good book. It was not something that I would have normally picked up but I ended up enjoying it. It can be a bit dry at times but the more exciting parts do make it worth the read.

I absolutely loved this book... Couldn't put it down.

This book broke my heart repeatedly as I read how Jeanette and her siblings were raised by their very intelligent but crazy parents. Jeanette is an excellent story teller and made me feel as if I were sitting fireside with her as she described her incredulous life. I also appreciated that despite the extreme neglect the Walls children endured at the hands of looney parents, Jeanette was able to sincerely relay positives gleaned from them amidst the misery.

If you enjoy memoirs this one will take you on an adventure. The ups and downs of a girl with a troubled life that is trying to find happiness and success. Very well written. I highly recommend this to anyone that loves reading

This book is just amazing. A must read. My heart ached within the first ten pages. The voice of her younger self is innocent and intelligent all at the same time. Thank you for sharing your story with us Jeannette.

I had to keep reminding myself that this book was about events and people and it really did happen. The Jeannette's life was so bizarre. I'm surprised she maintained her sanity. "What doesn't kill you....,,,"

I thoroughly enjoyed Jeannette's story. She certainly has a gift of words. Her description of the condition of her home was amazing. Her description of her family and the characters they encountered made me feel like I knew them.

Thanks for giving this vivid story about your life, Jeannette. When I look at your picture, I marvel about how far you have come. This would make a great movie!!!

Excellent story.

I'm am so intrigued amazing story so for love the imagery and descriptions its beautiful and I am only thirteen and I love (if ur wondering its a summer reading book)

This book is unbelievable! Amazing! Cant put down! When you think you have gone though a lot, this story comes to knock you down... Cant wait to read the author's other books!

Not only could I not put the book down but it completely made me realize how good we are living today

I love how the story started. I couldn't stop flipping those pages. Even from the start the story moves along through it. But near the end, I would say the she ended it to quick. I just love this book. My favorite quote from the book "you'll still have your stars"

One of my favorite memoirs. Wells writes her story with vivid language and great pacing.

This was a great story and I feel like people young and old can relate!

Half way threw the book and its amazing

Wonderful autobiography from a scrappy, smart

The book is amazing! Had to read it for summer reading and I don't regret it even though I am 14 and not a big fan of reading. If you like adventure and hard life styles, this is a BOOK for you!

An amazing memoir about a not-so-typical life. An easy read that will have you instantly hooked!! If you're looking for a poignant, relevant, light-hearted read for summer travels, the day at the beach, or just a sabbatical from modern-day life, The Glass Castle is the book for you!

Great book!

I could relate to the writer in the most uncomfortable way. The story helped me appreciate the little things in life as well as better understand the homeless.

The book is so much more than this. You won't regret reading it.

I had to read this book for summer reading going into my 12th year of high school and I do not read very often and only books that I have an interest in. I can proudly say that this wouldn't have been my first choice of book but it is a VERY TOUCHING and INTERESTING. Jeannette's experiences are those of no other author of this time period and I recommend this book to anyone whom is looking for A WONDERFUL STORY OF TRIUMPH.

The best ever!

I rationed my time spent reading this book; I did NOT want it to end. I've always thought my dysfunctional upbringing could hold its own against most anyone's, & for the most part - - even after reading this - - it still can. Adversity can be overcome, IF one is willing to persevere. It would be so easy for 'us' to use our early exposure to dysfunction as an excuse for not being prideful or disciplined. If nothing else, The Glass Castle proves that an ill-fated childhood doesn't HAVE to result in an ill-fated & unsuccessful adulthood. Awesome read!!!

Jeanette Walls tells a very tragic and emotionally unstable story of her upbringing in the most compelling and captivating way any author could possibly do. As you read, you just find yourself with a mix of emotions, whether it be anger at her mother, or sympathy/ empathy( for me at least) for the kids, or even happiness for the kids and their achieving feats. I enjoyed every page of this book. I am not a book guy, so reading is a laborious task for me, but with this book, I was glued.

5 Stars for the fact that you can just find yourself Engulfed into the plotline in the story, and how Walls portrays scenes of memories with such precision that would make you think it just happened to her yesterday. Any autobiographical novel should definitely use work this as a benchmark of high achievement.

I couldn't put this book down! It's a must-read!

Absolutely wonderful. I couldn't put it down!!!

The author does an incredible job of portraying her life growing up in abject poverty while still honoring her dysfunctional parents as much as possible--way more than I would have given them credit for their insane logic and downright neglect. What an insight into how some children survive against the most extreme odds and come out on the other side stronger for it. I could hardly put it down but at other times I found it so disturbing it was hard to keep reading. I would highly recommend it!!

This book truly touched my heart! Ms. Walls told her story so "age appropriately" and gave me such appreciation for how children can view their world without bias. It truly made me appreciate how our biases come to be. Thank you for giving the public the ability to understand how character develops! Your parents, with all their "warts," raised truly exceptional children!

Quick read with with some horrific stories. Opened my eyes even more to people who live outside my "bubble world", that includes a house, job and non-alcoholic family members. I appreciate my life more. Walls shows the other side of life in lively detail that make it seem quite the adventure to be homeless. The book never really went anywhere really, it simply tells a story. It does leave me thinking.

Wow!! I don't know if I will be the same after reading this book.

She is very entertaining and painfully truthful.

I grew up in a blue collar neighborhood surrounded alcoholics and

Jannette nailed it!

I am a true fan! You Rock!

Such an awesome book!

What a great read!!!! Funny, sad, and crazy. Loved this book :-)

This is a really compelling story however this digital version is riddled with annoying punctuation errors - I've counted 12 and I'm only halfway through the book. This is the first book I've purchased to read on my iPad and the pathetic editing makes me wish I'd bought a more reliably edited print copy instead.

While a good read, I felt like I was reading a seemingly unending series of tragic events, waiting for some supernatural force to change the course and lead the story in a different direction. Instead, 3/4 of the book was filled with painstaking details of a truly horrific childhood and then there was a "rush to the finish" of, "but in the end, I found a wonderful man, have a great career and live in a big beautiful home. The End." The ending really fell short and flat.

Cannot imagine a more powerful, poignant way to tell the story of a life that would have defeated many. Never self-indulgent nor self-serving. Relating the facts was the most powerful way to engage the reader in another's life.

Everyone should just read this book. Really!

This novel was brilliant and showed the unconditional love that can still be present even in a dysfunctional family. I highly recommend reading it

Hands down one of the best books I have ever read. I own several copies and recommend this book to everyone!

This was an amazing book I could read it a million more times. I read this in my high school class when i was in school about 3 years ago. I'm not one to like reading at all but this book changed that.

Couldn't put it down!

A wonderful, true story of triumph and inspiration. Definitely a must read.

This is by far the best book I have ever read. End of story.

This story is so hauntingly sad and yet very inspiring. These children proved that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Also siblings from bad patents develop a strong bond forever. Jeanette Walls told her story with all the naked facts.

Interesting perspective on life. Wonderful example to illustrate how a positive attitude and a willingness to forge ahead in life brings change.

Very raw; I laughed, cried, smiled and often I wanted to slap the Walls parents, yet I kept turning the page in hopes that things would change. Excellent book.

I am left to decide what I think of each and every member of the Wall Family. It's my own interpretation and mine alone. Yet, Jeanette has it summed up in her heart and mind, what each member means to her, and her alone. The balance and beauty of a reader's interpretation of the Walls matched with Jeanette's, lends a great opportunity for her to write a great deal more about each and every member of her family. I conclude, Louis Sullivan's famous quote about reducing a problem to it's simplest term, is truly, where the heart of solution lies, or shall I say, resolution, in Jeanette's case. With great admiration, I say thank you for sharing your family's adventures and passions for the world to read and hopefully, learn by.

Once I started, I could not stop reading this... Always telling my self it can't get any crazier... It did!!!!!

Wonderful book. Very enlightening. I loved the strength of character of the children. It makes you appreciate your own childhood.

I loved this book and I could hardly put it down. The best book I have read in a long time!

Thank you for sharing your story

Read after I finished "Half Broke Horses"...both very good. I think I enjoyed Glass Castle a bit more: funny, sad, interesting, easy to read.

from the moment you pick this book up to the last page you are hooked! It is the best!

I truly enjoyed this. I found her life to be interesting. Almost unreal. Her parents were incredible. I couldn't put this book down. And I didn't know why I found it so intriguing.

I thought her and her siblings turned out pretty great in spight of everything.

I'll probably read something else by the author.

I had to read this book for a class but I feel in love with it and read it in only two days! This is great, her voice is amazing, the stories are great, and the book is a good message!n

This book is just amazing. I read it cover to cover in 2 days. Each page I kept rooting for those poor children. This book makes me count my blessings every single day.

Written from the heart and soul of a woman who defines the word resilience. My only complaint came after Maureen was born and the family travels in a U Haul. Jeanette forgets to update us about the newborn for what seems like forever. I was worried for the baby, which distracted me until I found out too many pages later that she made it! Otherwise I read every word, as it thrust me through her challenged life.

I love this book! Every single page of it! It shows that it doesn't matter what your past was, to have a successful future!

This book kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. Such a brave and powerful meaning to this story. Truly Is a novel. I enjoyed it

I couldn't put this book down!! I loved the way the author painted the scenes with her words. I felt like I was there in the middle of nowhere towns. I could feel the emotions. I will definitely be reading her other books. Thank you for a great book!! I highly recommend it!! Enjoy!!

A very captivating story is "Glass Castle" - it's a story that can definitely change your outlook on life. Despite the excellent writing skill displayed in this work, the ending was a bit choppy and skipped around.

Disappointing ending. Wonderful detail ...& too tidy end.

I am so glad I was invited by a book club to read this book. At every page turn I could only think "this is a true story".

I enjoyed this book tremendously but it

was so sad think that those kid's went

through all that. I will never complain about my "boring" life again!!

Very well written and a must read for many of us.

The book was great, so easy to read. Totally sucked in...and it was like she just gave up writing the end. Really jumped without much explanation. A captivating story with a quickie ending.

I almost couldn't put it down. It's a chilling account on such a horrified childhood and life struggle. I'm surprised that most of the Walls's kids can survive their childhood relatively unscathed. Such strong people! It's a great read--a touching American story that shows the irony and contradiction between its pioneering spirit and the love of freedom that makes one refuse to conform to a well-established system.

An awesome read! Couldn't put it down!

Really a nice book,

I am not much of a reader, but this book was suggested by a friend. Very well written. It makes you want to laugh, cry, get mad, and be thankful for all the things in your life.

I read this book at school and I reallyy liked it! Good book!

This book never ceased to amaze me. I kept asking myself,

" could this really happen?". To think what these children overcame, and what they made of their lives is astonishing. This book is a great read.

This book is amazing!

It was a wonderful story. Through all the crazy and unbelievable moments in the Walls' life, they still understood and loved each other. I'm glad everything turned out for the best and I can't help but think, "that which does not kill us only makes us stronger." The memoir was interesting and just as the book was recommended to me, I will suggest it to friends.

Wonderful

You're from the beginning. At no point do loose interest. A great read!

Raised in abject poverty by an alcoholic father and a delusional mother, Wall describes her homeless upbringing

In such nitty gritty detail you may find yourself wanting to take a bath yet the gifts of love she receives from them and the life lessons they impart are the foundation of her determination to achieve success. I first thought this would be a depressive book to read, but came away from this book uplifted and inspired by Wall's courage and determination to make it on her own.

this is an honest, book spoken with great compassion and draws you in. you want to read more and more and more till your finished, never have I read a great book like this, holding back nothing.

When the masterful ability to write a great story, and a live worth telling converge something truly beautiful can be created, and that is the way the Glass Castle was brought forth. In this literary masterpiece, Jeanette Walls foretells the hardships of her childhood masked in poverty and the fear of not finding food. This book is one I'd highly recommend to anyone. This is one of the few books, I actually read in one day because of the lack of power of being able to put it down.

Fascinating story! Great writing! Amazing woman to have escaped what could have been a life following in her parents footsteps.

Couldn't put it down! Read it!