The Glass Castle and Silver Star Review

               With the release of her new book (Hang the Moon), Jeannette Walls continues to take the literary world by storm. I put Hang the Moon on hold at the library and I promise a review is coming. But I thought today we could catch up with some old favorites.

            The Glass Castle is the account of Jeannette Wall’s own life which was turbulent, to say the least. The story starts on an exciting and terrifying note: Jeannette is three years old and cooking hot dogs over a stove. She catches fire and her mother rushes her to the hospital where she receives skin grafts all over her body. Naturally, the hospital wonders where her mother was or why a three year old was cooking hot dogs over an open flame by herself. Her father smuggles her out of the hospital without paying or checking her out and soon the family (which consists of older sister, Lori, younger brother, Brian and younger sister, Maureen) leaves town (her family was suspicious of all aspects of authority including doctors).

            It is a tough story to read. There is poverty, drinking, gambling and sexual abuse (on the part of the grandparents who are cruel and lock the children in the basement). While the children were never openly abused by their parents (arguably), they were definitely neglected. Their father was an alcoholic; their mother seemed to deny reality. At one  point, Lori was saving up money for college. The father spends it all on alcohol and gambling; the mother  is in complete denial. Eventually, the whole family moves to New York, though not as a unit.

            Jeannette became a writer for a magazine. Her parents, on the other hand, become homeless. It pains Jeannette to see her parents homeless and she tries to help them get an apartment. But her parents are mentally ill (or they don’t want to accept help from their own children) so they remain homeless, her mother as always looking on the bright side and denying reality. At the end of the book, her father (who she remained on good terms with) died of a heart attack. The family gathers together and they toast the father (Rex).

            Several years after I read The Glass  Castle, I discovered The Silver Star. There were several overlapping themes in both books: not having much money, irresponsible adults, the relationship between sisters. "Bean" and her older sister Liz are abandoned when their histrionic mother leaves to pursue Hollywood dreams (Liz’s father is gone and Bean’s father is dead).  Knowing they might be separated or put into foster care, Bean (the narrator) and Liz follow their roots to the Byler where they have family. Bean learns what really happened to her dad, why her mother wanted to leave and how to stand up for her sister who has always looked after her.

Her sister goes to work after school for a powerful man in the community, Jerry Maddox, who has a history of harassing women. Liz is just happy to be earning her keep and not being dependent on their mother’s family. However, one day when Liz and Maddox are in the car Maddox sexually assaults her, traumatizing Liz. However, Liz will not be deterred by Maddox’s standing in the community. She presses charges and is dragged through an ugly trial. Bean does her best to be there for her sister. And then a very surprising thing happens.

This book takes place in the seventies in a small California town whereas The Glass Castle takes place all over America (her parents were nomadic. At one point they lived in a desert. At another time, they lived in a very unpleasant place called Welch). These are such compelling books. I couldn't put them down. Excitement at every page. Jeanette Walls did not disappoint. Do I recommend? Definitely, if you like gritty realism and unflinching courage then you will love these.