I recently stumbled upon a fascinating book called “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls. It is a memoir of her childhood, and the unique family she grew up in. Then I heard a movie was made based on the book, starring Woody Harrelson and Brie Larson. After watching it, I decided to give my review of both the book, and the movie.
Vivid Memoir
The book had me hooked from page one. Jeannette writes as if she is in the moment – her memories are so vivid and clear – and she takes you there with her. It is both disturbing and wonderful. Her family was very dysfunctional. Her father was a manipulative, alcoholic with big dreams that rarely matched reality, and an artsy, free-spirited mother who loathed domesticity in all its forms. Jeannette and her three siblings were pretty much left to fend for themselves. It was a modern-day social workers nightmare.
To Rise Above
Through all the dysfunction, neglect and poverty (we’re talking starvation here), the Walls children took care of each other, showing incredible loyalty, love and resiliency. In the end, they all made their way to New York City to find education, careers, and a better life. It amazes me how each one of them, in their own way, was able to rise above their history and apparently lead healthy, functional lives.
Despite all she has gone through, Jeannette is able to view her past with objectivity, insight and forgiveness. She has turned her sad memories into a beautiful reminder to us all that the human spirit cannot be crushed. Hardships can make us stronger and grateful for what we have.
When I watched the movie, I was pleased to see the acting was good, and the script writers seemed to do a nice job capturing the essence of the main characters. However, the movie seemed to “gloss over” some of the more traumatic experiences, and did not show the raw desperation of the family’s situation and trials they went through. It wasn’t bad, but I still prefer the book over the movie. The book has a depth and details that a movie could never show. Jeannette’s “voice” takes you right into the story, and captures your imagination. She is a wonderful writer, with an amazing life story to tell. It is a book you won’t soon forget. You can find out more about her book here, and the movie here. Let me know your thoughts about the book and/or movie.