52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 5: The Glass Castle

Much more than a rags to riches story, MSNBC contributor Jeannette Walls has written an outstanding memoir of her growing up years. While most of us were tucked away in warm homes with plenty of food to eat, Ms. Walls and her family were often in homes that barely had walls with the children scrounging for food. Relating some of the many incidents that took place as she and her siblings come of age, we get a glimpse of the lifestyle chosen by her parents - living an itinerant lifestyle of poverty, valuing education,dreaming big and doing little to see the dreams accomplished.  Working together was essential for the siblings of this family as they learned to depend on each other for the necessities of life. With a remarkably clear voice, Ms. Walls relates how she took advantage of the opportunities presented to her during her high school years and learned to see beyond her family circumstances to plan another way of life.  This memoir shows how hard work, determination and loyalty to one another stood this family in good stead through the years, able to overcome their difficult beginning to thrive in our time.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys autobiographical and/or sociological works.