'Unique' is really the best word to describe The Glass Castle

I read a popular book before Stephen Colbert had the author on his show! I was digging through the bestseller lists and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls sounded like one of the more interesting books. Since I have recently rediscovered the library, I put a hold on this book and then borrowed it.

Who is Jeannette Walls?

Darned if I know. I had no idea who she was before I read this book. Since it's a memoir, I do now feel I know her childhood pretty well. The cover blurb says she's a 'regular contributor to MSNBC.com'. I guess that means she's a known writer, if you read MSNBC.com. She wasn't known to me. Colbert says she's a gossip columnist.

What's the memoir about?

Jeannette Walls and her siblings had an interesting, and I would definitely say, unique, childhood. To say she lived a life of poverty and neglect would be accurate, but it wouldn't be a complete picture. Her parents are intelligent, creative, and brilliant. However, they have a view on life that leads to their children frequently being left to their own devices, including having to forage food for themselves.

She tells the story of growing up in this family. Her father was an alcoholic and never held a job for long, but gives his children the stars and shares his dream of someday building a Glass Castle in the desert for them to live in. Her mother was an artist and a writer and only resorted to teaching when the family was in truly dire straits. Frequently creditors and others would be on their tail and they'd pack up and move to a new location. They lived in the desert, in California, in Las Vegas, and in West Virginia among other places.

There's really no good way to sum up the story of this unique family and her parents' different view on life, but perhaps a quote might help.

Jeannette and her brother found a diamond ring and were excited because they could sell it to buy food and other things they needed. Their mother took it to be appraised and came back to tell them it was a real, two-carat ring, but that she wasn't going to sell it.

"'But Mom,' I said, 'that ring could get us a lot of food.'

'That's true,' Mom said, 'but it could also improve my self-esteem. And at times like these, self-esteem is even more vital than food.'"

What do I think?

Comments like that from her mother remind me of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Except that these people are real. It's a fascinating story, but it can leave you feeling uncomfortable. I shouldn't find that funny, or I shouldn't find that fascinating.

But throughout all of it, you can tell that the family actually does love each other, and you can begin to wonder if their view on life is really so wrong. Is money more important than enjoying life and pursuing your dreams? Well, maybe it is if money means food.

I found the book a very interesting read and it's definitely thought-provoking. I could see a book club really digging into this and finding a lot of things to spark great discussions.

You can read all the reviews and summaries of this book that you want, but you really do have to read it to experience it. She's a good writer and this comes across as a very honest story of her unique past.