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The glass castle : a memoir / Jeannette Walls.

Walls, Jeannette. (Author).

Summary:
Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever. Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home. What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms. For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor. In the tradition of Mary Karr's "The Liars' Club" and Rick Bragg's "All Over But the Shouting," Jeannette Walls has written a stunning and life-affirming memoir about surviving a willfully impoverished, eccentric and severely misguided family.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9781439156964 (hardcover)
  • ISBN: 9780743247535 (hardcover)
  • ISBN: 0743247531 (hardcover)
  • ISBN: 9780743247542
  • ISBN: 074324754X
  • ISBN: 9780329526016
  • ISBN: 9780329556433
  • ISBN: 0329526014
  • ISBN: 0329556436
  • ISBN: 9781602855571 (library binding : alk. paper)
  • ISBN: 1602855579 (library binding : alk. paper)
  • ISBN: 9781501171581
  • ISBN: 1501171585
  • Physical Description: 288 pages ; 24 cm
  • Publisher: New York : Scribner, 2009.

Content descriptions

Target Audience Note:
1010L Lexile
Study Program Information Note:
Accelerated Reader UG 5.9 12 12 105049
Subject: Walls, Jeannette.
Children of alcoholics > United States > Biography.
Children of alcoholics > West Virginia > Welch > Biography.
Dysfunctional families > United States > Case studies.
Dysfunctional families > West Virginia > Welch > Case studies.
Poor > West Virginia > Welch > Biography.
Homeless persons > Family relationships > New York (State) > New York.
Children of alcoholics > Biography.
Dysfunctional families > Case studies.
Homeless persons > New York (State) > New York.
Families > United States > Case studies.
Families > West Virginia > Welch > Case studies.

Available copies

  • 180 of 192 copies available at SPARK Libraries.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 192 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Abington Community Library 92 WALLS (Text) 50687010724881 Adult Nonfiction Available -
Abington Community Library YOUNG ADULT 92 WALLS (Text) 50687011169672 Young Adult Nonfiction Available -
Abington Community Library YOUNG ADULT SUMMER READING 92 WALLS (Text) 50687011169649 Young Adult Nonfiction Available -
Abington Community Library YOUNG ADULT SUMMER READING 92 WALLS (Text) 50687011169656 Young Adult Nonfiction Available -
Abington Community Library YOUNG ADULT SUMMER READING 92 WALLS (Text) 50687011854570 Young Adult Nonfiction Available -
Albright Memorial Library 92 WALLS (Text) 50686013212506 Adult Nonfiction In Transit -
Albright Memorial Library 92 WALLS (Text) 50686013342212 Storage Available -
Albright Memorial Library YOUNG ADULT 92 WALLS (Text) 50686015489706 Adult Nonfiction Available -
Albright Memorial Library YOUNG ADULT 92 WALLS (Text) 50686016197563 Adult Nonfiction Available -
Albright Memorial Library YOUNG ADULT 92 WALLS (Text) 50686014239581 Browsing Available -


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