We took an extended break because of the holidays and new year ... but I don't know about you - I am READY to get back into reading some good books. The first book of 2009 is my pick - and I chose "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls. It's a memoir by the author about her childhood growing up with an alcoholic father and mentally ill mother. I've read that it's as haunting as it is humorous - as delightful as it is sad. I can't wait to get started!
I've also got some older reviews I need to post to get caught up to date ... so if we read a book that you're dying to discuss (I know you are, Jill!) then I should have them all posted in a few days! :)
8 comments:
Oh good, we have talked about this book forever! I am glad that we are finally reading it. I am in total agreement, I am so ready to read a good book, I miss them.
This book is excellent but very raw as well. Sometimes I wonder how people can possibly survive lives filled with such adversity and still function. Looking forward to hearing what you both think.
I read this one with my book club and loved it. It was a tough read at parts, but so powerful to think all that her and her siblings overcame.
I really liked this book! How did you guys like Fortune Quilt? Erin can I borrow it? I just started Book Borrower and it is ah so far....
xo
I started reading this book a little over a week ago. I listen to audio books to and from work. I am about 1/4 of the way in. So far so good.
I thought this book was great but totally crazy! Can't wait to talk about it.
I just finished this (better late than never?) and didn't like as much as everyone else! I was so angry at the parents and just could not believe what their obvious mental illnesses forced their children to live through. The numerous sexual attacks on at least 2 of the kids, as well as all of the other horrible things the kids went through (like freezing) it was so difficult to read. I couldn't believe they didn't get more calls for children services to take away the kids.
It was extremely well written and I thought it was amazing that she could write this story without any real emotion in it. It was very much just a factual story of event after event without any real tirade on what her parents had done to her and her siblings.
I just found it so upsetting it was a tough read for me.
If this book had been a work of fiction, I'd say it was interesting, but kind of off-the-wall-ish. But since it's not fiction, and is a factual account of a family, currently living in the United States, I was horrified that this can actually be happening. Right now. In my country! 2/3 of these kids were able to pull themselves out of the mess their parents forced them to live in, but how many other kids haven't had those same chances and opportunities, or even the guts, to get out of a horrible life they are living right now? I am so angry that this is going on right here, under our noses. What can we do? And what happened to the initiative the Kennedy's started years ago? Do we just sit back and let it continue to go on?
OK, ask me how I really felt about this situation.... :)
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