The Glass Castle #2

I know I already posted about "The Glass Castle" this week, but I don't think I really did the book justice in the first post. I chose to read this book because my Mom recommended it to me. As I carry it around, lots of people have commented on what a great book it is, but how sad too. I agree that it is sad, but so far I also see lots of happiness, contentedness, in the simplicity of Jeanette's life.

This book is written in short chapters, most of them 2-3 pages long. Each chapter is a different story/incident that happened to Jeanette. In one chapter, when they are living in Phoenix, Jeanette's father decides he is sick of the city and wants to go back to the wilderness. So, he takes his kids- Lori, Brian, Jeanette, and Maureen- to the zoo. Jeanette felt horrible for all the animals in the zoo, she wanted to sneak in some night and let them all free. Her father led them to the cheetah's cage and this is what happened: "Dad squatted outside the fence opposite the cheetah. The animal came closer to the bars and studied him curiously. Dad kept looking at him...The cheetah looked back. Finally, he sat down. Dad stepped over the chain fence and knelt right next to the bars where the cheetah was sitting. The cheetah remained still, looking at Dad." And the next thing you know, the Walls family is petting the cheetah at the Phoenix zoo. The chapter ends with them leaving the zoo, people muttering mean things about them under their breath, but this is Jeanette's thought: "I could hear people around us whispering about the crazy drunk man and his dirty little urchin children, but who cared what they thought? None of them had ever had their hand licked by a cheetah."

I absolutley love this chapter. I think I am drawn to it because of the way Rex Walls connects with the animals and how Jeanette shrugs off other people's comments.  We all care about what other people think of us, but in the end, how many people have had their hand licked by a cheetah?

The Glass Castle

I have chosen the book "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls for my book talk. It is the autobiography of Jeanette Walls, telling the story of her odd, but extraordinary childhood.

Jeanette and her siblings, Lori, Brian, and Maureen, live with their parents in an assortment of places as they grow up. Often on the run, the family lives everywhere from the desert, to a small town, and even spend nights on the beach. They never become too attached to homes, things, or other people. I think this would be very hard, as they have nobody to turn to except for each other. At the same time, it would make memories, family, and dreams more important.

Her mother, Mary, is an artist, always painting and sculpting everything. She often changes her style, nothing ever looks the same. Lori, Jeanette's older sister, spends lots of time sketching and drawing with her mother. Jeanette's mother is very content with close to nothing. She doesn't believe in rules or much discipline, she thinks people have to get some things out of their system when they are young. I like this way of thinking, letting people learn from their mistakes, instead of punishing them.

Jeanette's father, Rex Walls, is a brilliant man. He teaches his children everything he thinks is important, from binary numbers to how to shoot a pistol, how to embrace life fearlessly and live it to the fullest. But when he is drunk, he changes into a dishonest and destructive person. He often makes rash decisions that seem grand at the time, but later pay the price.

One year, when the Walls don't have money to buy Christmas present, Rex takes Lori, Jeanette, and Brian out into the desert one by one. He shows them the stars, tells them that they are "one of the special treats for people like us who live out in the wilderness". Then he tells them to pick out a star to keep. They laugh about the kids who got nothing but cheap plastic toys for Christmas"Years from now, when all the junk they got is broken and long forgotten, you'll still have your stars."I really like this part of the story. It is one of the moments when Rex Walls is in a brilliant mood, and the things he says are so true. He is a wise man when he wants to be. If everyone lived in the fashion of the Walls, living simply, enjoying everything, realizing what really matters, this world would be a completely different place.

The Effects of Gamma-Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds vs. The Capulets

I think that Tillie's family and the Capulets are similar, but very different.

The biggest similarity between Tillie and Juliet is that they both are very independent, they have something that is important to them; Romeo and science. (okay, that sounds a little strange) Neither of their families' support their interests. Beatrice and Ruth don't care at all about science and Lord and Lady Capulet would be horrified to find that their daughter loves a Montague. Beatrice and Lady Capulet are also similar, because they both have an idea for the direction of their daughters' lives; marring Paris and cleaning the house.

A huge difference between Tillie's and Juliet's families is that Juliet has a father and Tillie doesn't. This gives Tillie more freedom, as she only has her mother to watch her every move (and occasionally Ruth), while Juliet has both her parents. Another obvious difference is the time periods, which influences Juliet's and Tillie's interests.

Overall, Juliet and Tillie have the same spirit of independence, but different families and lives.