Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls

108 reviews

hannah_book's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

sarahweyand's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

2.25

This book is rated super highly, but I saw before reading it that my mom gave it two stars, so I didn't really know what to expect. I don't know if we dislike the book for the same reasons, but I agree with her rating. The disappointing part is that the story of Jeannette's life is tragic and worth sharing. The way it was executed, however, makes this such an unsatisfying read.

I don't doubt that Jeannette is a good journalist because that's exactly how this memoir comes across - cold, objective, and distant. That's not what was needed; I wanted reflection, feelings, insights, not a retelling of her childhood framed as some fairytale novel. It felt like half the story was missing without Jeannette including her emotions at the time or how the events of her childhood made her feel. I was fuming the whole time and she did a good job of retelling her life to elicit those emotions, but I felt like I was more upset than she was writing it.

Speaking of, I think Walls did too good a job of retelling her life to the point where I started to consider her an unreliable narrator. There was too much anecdotal detail; no one remembers stories from when they were three or four, let alone with the descriptions she provides. I don't want to start doubting an author for telling her clearly traumatic life story.

This is a long review but I'm almost done. The nail in the coffin for this whole memoir is the ending. There is zero catharsis. It feels like Walls refuses to fully acknowledge the harm her parents did to her. Hell, the synopsis of this book ends with the phrase " the intense love of a peculiar but loyal family". I'm sorry. Have you seen the trigger warnings I'm adding to this book??? There is no love. This family is not "peculiar", it was abusive. I'm left feeling empty and frustrated with the author, who should not be the target of those kind of emotions after reading a story like this one.

Read Educated instead.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Child abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury

rainerasnic's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

nobi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence

chandle5's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

1.5

I hated this book. I hated these parents. I hated the lack of accountability. I hated that the kids continued to let them in their lives. I hate that the summary describes this book as a testament to unconditional love. I hate it. My stomach literally hurts thinking of the things, specifically the mom most of the time, said and did and withheld from her children. 
The only reason this gets any kind of rating is that Jeannette overcame this kind of childhood and became a beautiful writer. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Gun violence, Incest, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

_desreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

The Glass Castle is modern classic in the memoir genre, so not much intro is needed in the bookish world. Jeannette Walls relives her nomadic, broken, yet incredibly creative and endearing childhood. Centered around her father’s drinking habit and distrust for anything connected to the government and her mother’s need to be a creator and artist above all else, Jeannette and her three siblings travel across the country searching for a place to call home, yet always seem to find a reason to move on, usually without notice in the middle of the night. When they finally “settle” into a shack with no electricity or pumping in West Virginia, all of Jeannette’s experience with survival will be put to the test as her and her siblings try and not only find their next meal, but find a way out of this life. 

Walls writes a gripping and, at many moments heartbreaking, retelling of her childhood and how she eventually became a successful writer in New York City. If you want a grid for comparison, I think it is a mix of Nowhere Girl, Educated and Fierce Attachments. Not a light read but one that will linger in your heart and invite you to reflect on how varied our pasts can be to bring us into who we are today.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

ellemwan's review against another edition

hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Sexual assault

mariosansav's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This book is simply incredible. There are great moments of reflection, deep pain, great joy, and Walls writes it with such an attention to the mindset of her childhood self. The Glass Castle is a deeply impactful and unforgettable book, and I could not recommend this read enough.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Alcohol

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment

luckyonesoph's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Fatphobia and Death of parent

sapphicsoilscientist's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

0.25

Read this book in school and it should have come with a warning, so I'll be the one to give you a heads up. This book is about abusive parents who are more interested in chasing their 'dreams' than taking care of the children they have created. Be aware that the book contains child abuse, children going hungry, terrible living conditions, mental illness, drug abuse, and goodness knows what else- these were just things that stood out to me. While this is apparently a true story, going into this book unprepared is not a good idea for many readers.

Save yourself some time and go read Educated instead.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, and Car accident