Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle is a memoir of unbreakable spirit and salvation: an account of the life of a dysfunctional yet oddly vivacious family.
When sober, Jeannette's father was creative and ambitious. He taught them geology, physics, and how to take on life without doubt or fear. When drunk, he was untruthful and violent. Meanwhile, Jeannette's mother was indifferent and free-spirited. She detested the concept of domesticity, and she disliked the responsibility that came with raising children.
Jeannette and her siblings were compelled to look after themselves and fend for one another. Together, they endured. When they had settled in New York, their parents followed—not minding the fact that they had nowhere to stay—just so they could come together as a family once again.
