The Glass Castle

In the beginning of the story, Part II, I really respected the parents and thought that how they were raising their children (education adn structure wise). They made them very smart and strong. This was when they lived throughout the desert and the father did not drink. But once the part in the story came where the father starts to drink heavily and not come home and stuff like that, I start to not like both the parents because of the father's drinking habits and the fact that the mother is not trying to take responsibility and stop him.

The entire story for me goes downhill when they decide to move to West Virgina. Right away their life their is terrible, from having to live with the abusive (physically and sexually) gradmother and uncle, to going to a school where they did not fit in, to being bullied constanly by the neighborhood children. After moving out and into their own home and the mom getting a steady teaching job, you would think that life has turned around for them, but ti doesn't. It's this part of the story that makes me so angry at the father and mother.

I think it is just so terrible that the father would rather spend the little money they have on his own booze and baring, and the mother is just a hopeless wreck that will not take any responsibility for ANYTHING. The house is trash and the parents don't even care that this is happening.

The part that really really made me upset in the book is when the dad steals money from his children. Lori and Jeannette and Brian were saving up whatever they earned for 9 months and the dad just steals it all for booze! I find that absolutely terrible. Plus, he destroys Lori's sculpture and puts her down. I couldn't even take reading that part! And before that the dad brings Jeannette to a bar to get malested by some guy! That's absolutely terrible.

At these times in the story, I sometimes get mad a Jeannette for the choices she makes. Like when her dad asks her for her precious money just to buy booze. I get mad when she gives it to him without fighting and giving in. I can't stand it! But really, so far its a really great story and I love reading it!