Author of Dish (2000), The Glass Castle (2005), Half Broke Horses (2009), and The Silver Star (2013).

Jeannette Walls

CareerJeannette became a Jeannette became a

columnist for several columnist for several newspapers/magazines newspapers/magazines

in New York - in New York - including New York including New York Magazine. Later, she Magazine. Later, she quit to become a full quit to become a full time novelist after time novelist after

publishing her most publishing her most famous book, famous book, The Glass The Glass

Castle: a memoirCastle: a memoir

Over

2.5 million

copies of The Glass Castle have been sold as

of 2007.

“It’s a story like none other I’ve read before. It will leave you with a different view of your day to day life, I guarantee it.” www.reederreads.com

“5 stars!”

www.amazon.com

“It represents the hope I have for others, and myself.” www.hubpages.com

The Glass Castle’s film is in the making and

JenniferLawrence

is cast to play Jeannette.

In Part I of The Book, which is only a few

pages, Jeannette talks about a time in her later life when she’s

living on Park Avenue.

“I was sitting in a taxi wondering if I had overdressed for the evening, when I looked out the window and saw Mom rooting through a dumpster.” Walls, page 3

As stated on the first page of Part II of The Glass Castle,

Jeannette’s earliest memory is catching on

fire while living in a trailer park in southern Arizona.

“The doctors said I was lucky

to be alive.” Walls, page 10

Jeannette was only 3 years old at the

time. She was cooking hot dogs on the stove by

herself.

“ They [the doctors] asked what I was doing cooking hot dogs by myself at age 3... “Mom says I’m mature for my age,” I told them, “and she lets me cook for

myself a lot.”” Walls, page 11

The Walls family moved around the desert, particularly Arizona and Nevada, for many years. Sometimes they would just sleep in

their car.

““All this running around and moving All this running around and moving around was temporary, Dad around was temporary, Dad explained. He had a plan. He was explained. He had a plan. He was going to find gold.going to find gold.”” Walls, page 22Walls, page 22

Rex’s excuse for all their moving was that the FBI or the mafia was

after him, but it was all a lie.

““Mom, however, told us that the FBI wasn’t really after Dad; he just liked to say they were because it was more fun having the FBI on your tail than bill collectors.”” Walls, page 22Walls, page 22

Their time in Phoenix was probably the best, most stable couple years of Jeannette’s life. During this time the kids actually had bikes. It was a big

deal for the kids to own anything, let a lone bikes. They were also enrolled in school which was somewhat rare

as well.

QuickTime™ and aH.264 decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

In Welch the family stayed with Rex’s parents. The kids hated In Welch the family stayed with Rex’s parents. The kids hated staying here. Erma, their grandmother, was likely sexually staying here. Erma, their grandmother, was likely sexually

abusing Brian and she was very hard on the kids. If they mis abusing Brian and she was very hard on the kids. If they mis behaved, they were locked the basement for days on end behaved, they were locked the basement for days on end

without food.without food.

Eventually, the Walls got their own house in the mountains of Eventually, the Walls got their own house in the mountains of Welch. This is when things got worse for the family. Rex was in Welch. This is when things got worse for the family. Rex was in his worst state of alcoholism - even stealing Jeannette, Brian, & his worst state of alcoholism - even stealing Jeannette, Brian, &

Lori’s savings from their piggy bank.Lori’s savings from their piggy bank.

New York CityNew York CityJeannette and Lori planned to move to New York to get away from Welch and

have a chance at a better life. Lori moved there first and started a life for herself, Jeannette followed, and soon Brian did

too.

Jeannette got her degree at Barnard College in New York and eventually became a columnist for New York

Magazine.

Lori (left) is Jeannette’s sister, Rex Walls (middle) is Jeannette’s dad and to his left is Jeannette’s

mother, Rose Mary Walls.

Lori WallsLori Walls is the eldest of the Walls children. She is an artist

like her mother and is often seen as “the brains”. Lori was the first

to go to New York after graduating high school, followed

immediately by Jeannette.

“Lori was the smart one, Maureen the pretty one, and Brian the brave one. You never had much going for you except that you always worked hard.” Walls, page 47

Brian Walls is Jeannette’s younger

brother. He and Jeannette are easily the closest of the siblings because they

have the most in common. The two love to go exploring together in

all the places they’ve lived. Later, they found out that

maybe the Reason why Lori never joined was

because she had terrible eyesight and it wasn’t as

fun for her.

Rex WallsRex Walls“If you don't want to sink, you better figure out how to swim.” Walls, page 66

Jeannette’s dad, Rex, has a large role in her life. She was the closest to him out of all her siblings because she had a soft spot for him. She was one of the only

kids who really believed in him.

““He told me I was his favorite child, but he made me promise not to tell Lori or Brian or Maureen. It was our secret. “I swear, honey, there are times when I think you're the only one around who still has faith in me,” he said. “I don't know what I'd do if you ever lost it.” I told him that I would never lose faith in him. And I

promised myself I never would”” (Walls, page 78-79)

Rex is a big source of conflict in the book. He is unable to hold a steady job, so the family rarely has money for even just the necessities. His alcoholism is the source of many of the family’s issues with money.

Rose Mary WallsRose Mary Walls

Jeannette’s mother is an artist. She Jeannette’s mother is an artist. She doesn’t have as much of a roll in the doesn’t have as much of a roll in the memoir and I believe this is because memoir and I believe this is because

she was somewhat of an absent she was somewhat of an absent mother. She often did not put her mother. She often did not put her

kids’ needs before her own. kids’ needs before her own. Whenever things got too tough, she Whenever things got too tough, she would get a job as a teacher, but this would get a job as a teacher, but this

never lasted. She favored her art never lasted. She favored her art over other things, even though it over other things, even though it

didn’t make them any money.didn’t make them any money.

““Mom started crying. "I can't help it," she Mom started crying. "I can't help it," she sobbed. "I'm a sugar addict, just like your sobbed. "I'm a sugar addict, just like your father is an alcoholic." She told us we father is an alcoholic." She told us we should forgive her the same way we should forgive her the same way we always forgave Dad for his drinking. None always forgave Dad for his drinking. None of us said a thing. Brian snatched up the of us said a thing. Brian snatched up the chocolate bar and divided is into four chocolate bar and divided is into four pieces. While Mom watched, we wolfed pieces. While Mom watched, we wolfed

them down.them down.”” Walls, page 87Walls, page 87

““But on that first day of school, Mom But on that first day of school, Mom refused to get out of bed. Lori, Brian, and I refused to get out of bed. Lori, Brian, and I pulled back the covers and tried to drag her pulled back the covers and tried to drag her out, but she wouldn't budge.out, but she wouldn't budge.”” Walls, page 89Walls, page 89

Jeannette now lives in upstate New York with her journalist

husband John Taylor.

And here are some words from Jeannette herself.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naAy_juIOQk