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The Glass Castle: A Memoir

Written by:
Jeannette Walls
Narrated by:
Jeannette Walls

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
1008
Narrator
124
Release Date
September 15, 2010
Duration
9 hours 0 minutes
Summary
THE BELOVED #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER—FROM THE AUTHOR OF HANG THE MOON

The extraordinary, one-of-a-kind, “nothing short of spectacular” (Entertainment Weekly) memoir from one of the world’s most gifted storytellers.

The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience and redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant. When sober, Jeannette’s brilliant and charismatic father captured his children’s imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Her mother was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn’t want the responsibility of raising a family.

The Walls children learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed, and protected one another, and eventually found their way to New York. Their parents followed them, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered.

The Glass Castle is truly astonishing—a memoir permeated by the intense love of a peculiar but loyal family.

The memoir was also made into a major motion picture from Lionsgate in 2017 starring Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, and Naomi Watts.
Reviews
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Anonymous

I love this book!

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Rudy B

Love everything about it.. couldn't stop reading it!!!! Gratitude and appreciation of what I have...and I don't have...

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Sharon H

I think this Audiobook will appeal to many of my friends. A true story, the narrator and writer has definitely lived a difficult youth, but one filled with everything that really makes the adult exceptionally. Very inspiring.

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Sue N

Loved this book and hated to have it end. It's hard to imagine how difficult life must have been for these four kids and yet it's a well told account of a soul that triumphed against adversity. Jeanette Walls sounds like an amazing woman.

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Anonymous

Loved, Loved it. It gives a whole new perspective to the saying "glass half full". I was intrigued and looked forward to listening to it every day. Good ending as well.

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EReads

Crushed it! Really enjoyable listen.

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Banet Kerley

I felt so bad for the kids in this story. i could have strangled the parents. very good book though, and the narrator was good as well

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Keitha S.

The book is great! I found the author/reader a bit boring! I had to get used to her tone. I did, however, adapt as I intentionally reminded myself that the reader IS the author.

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Tracy K.

Thanks for sharing your journey. Surely, your glass castle has been built in your heart.

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Tanya B.

I didn’t enjoy this book. It’s interesting but I felt like it was unorganized. It was 10 hours of 5 minute events which made it sound like rambling but maybe that’s the nature of one’s memoirs in written form. Some of the events seem unbelievable and most are heartbreaking. This is probably the only time I’ll ever say the movie has to be better than the book.

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Holly L.

excellent read. I couldn't put it down.

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Read2Learn

I loved this book and am grateful to the author for sharing her unique and inspiring story. She truly captured the complexities, challenges, and triumphs of family. I learned something from each family member. I appreciate the way the author allowed the listener to draw their own conclusions when she could have applauded or condemned certain actions and situations, and been completely within her rights. It allowed the listener a sort of freedom to consider a larger picture as people and family are often not black and white, but a shade of gray. Thank you to everyone in the Walls’ family for sharing this story with the world.

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Anonymous

ice story

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Suzanne M.

An ABSOLUTE MUST LISTEN/READ!! So amazing! You need this!!!! Helps u understand how other people have strived to progress and others are USERS AND SELF CENTERED AND LAZY! U are not responsible for the latter!

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Chelsey M.

Great book! Pulls you in from the very beginning when she catches fire! Never a dull moment in the life of the Walls family

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Janet S.

Great read. Liked the book way more than the movie

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Becky T.

Eye opening experiences

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Karen M.

I found this book a bit slow at the start because I don't usually read memoirs but I stuck at it and was glad that I did. It really made me reflect, the fact that the children, so neglected and starved, were so defensive of their family and ferociously kept any busybody social workers at bay. I had always thought that reporting such a family to the authorities would be beneficial for the children, but these children clung tooth and nail to their parents and to one another even in the most appalling circumstances. I liked the fact that the narrator was also the author of the story. She was able to render the most obnoxious characters lovingly.

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Brittany T.

One of my favorite reads. I just cannot get over how the author was able make the most unloveable characters loveable. An incredible and inspirational story.

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Bev G.

The story was interesting, however it was less than what I had anticipated due to the reviews and length of time on the bestseller list. The narrator’s voice was annoying and took some getting used to!

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Joanne R.

Good book with excellent character development. A bit depressing for this pandemic depressing time. Makes me think about all the kids out there....

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Brad D.

I laughed, then cried then repeated the cycle numerous times. An amazing story, that I couldn't get enough of. As soon as I dried my eyes at the end, I downloaded her other two books and couldn't wait to get more.

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Nancy H.

I liked the book but it was so depressing to see the continuing cycle of abuse and neglect. The narration was not my favorite.

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Shelly H.

Was a wonderful read

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Jill S.

I read this book years and years ago when my children were toddlers and loved it then. Having heard it read by the author gave me an all new appreciation of the story, especially now that my kids are well on their way.

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Fredrika H.

UNBELIEVABLY FASCINATING!!!!!! Amazing what people can love thru as a child and thrive from in adulthood. I typically prefer a professional narrator but she did well

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Michaela N.

Haven't had a chance to *listen* yet, but I found this book years ago at an airport bookstore. It was great, I read almost the entire flight which was I believe a little more than 4 hrs.

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Robyn K.

I really enjoyed this book.

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Lupe C.

Someone recommended this book who absolutely loved it and after reading the reviews I was excited to Listen to this book.. for me it was more frustrating and the ending was very disappointing. For some people this book might be shocking but for me I know people who live this way. I can't really say that the book was bad it's just not interesting enough for me. The narrator didn't bother me she actually sounds just like one of my friends so I pictured her reading it to me.

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Aysha-Rae B.

I loved reading this book, but hearing it from Jeanette give its another side to hear from.

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Kylin F.

I REALLY want to like this book because of the movie (which I didn't see but love the cast) and how popular this book is however I can't get past the narrator. Which is unfortunate because she's the author. It also drags for me. It started wonderfully because it was current day and then went into the past however the past portion has been so long for me and its been hard to keep my attention. I'm not giving up though and hoping it ends with a bang!

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erin j

Good book. Went through so many emotions!!!

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Marie G

Excellent story and true. Amazing kids who made the best of their lives and worked to try to make things better. Certainly a tale of what can happen when bad choices are made over and over. The kids were more mature than their free spirit parents. A good read - hard to put down. I also liked the narration.

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Paula F

I did not like the narration of the book at all which made it hard for me to like the book. Good story line but again.. it was hard for me to want to finish the story.

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Anna L

It was easy to speed through this book. Jeanette Walls' story is both fun and brutally sad. The way she writes about her father is especially moving. Good narration too.

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Patricia M

This was very insightful as to how many children in America live. Poverty and hunger exists in America, no need to always go elsewhere to help. The sad part is help existed for these hungry children, but, their parents would not accepet it. This was one of the best books I have read/listened to.

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Britany C

Great book! Easy listen and captivating story!

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Anonymous

Speaks of the resilience of children, and no matter how disadvantaged a start might be , we can rise above. No pity pot or victims here.

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Robyn T

Great book. Made me very mad at times that parents could behave that way. Kept me interested all the way through. It wasn't slow in the beginning.

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Maria A

Great book. Very well written story that you frequently forgot was someone's actual life. So bittersweet.

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Melissa E

One if my favorite books! Funny and endearing at the same time. Truthfully in read this one and didn't listen to the audio version but I love when authors read their own work. So that is why I'm giving it 5 stars.

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Wendy S

I could not stop listening to this book! It was so powerful.

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Kelley L

Great story. It kept me interested the entire book.

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Stephanie S

Incredible story. It gave me an interesting new perspective on poverty and people. I had to keep reminding myself that it is a memoir and not a fictional story.

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jean D

Hard to believe that parents would live like this and treat their children like this.

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Alex D

Fascinating and horrifying! You can't believe what you are hearing and can't fathom that it is based on truth.

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leslie W

Very interesting, great book. Can't wait to see the movie. Love the audio, I'm in the hospital and I need something to do.

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Sherrie H

Couldn't stop listening!

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Nicole S

A crazy story that made me appreciate all facets of my family/home life. Beautifully written.

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Angela Earles

Great book just not real enthused by how slow the narrator (author) reads the story, but it does give it a more personal approach if you have the time to listen.

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Amy Harmon

One of the best books I have listened to or read. Before you "read" this book, read "Half Broke Horses" about the grandmother! I loved that one even more and it gives context to The Glass Castle.

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Lisa Maltos

Not a fan, not sure if it was the Narration or story, but not really liking it.

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Doretha Coleman

I enjoyed the book and it gave me a new perspective on my life that things are not always as bad as they seem and you can make the best out of anything. It made me think never give in to circumstances.

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Lisa Carson

Completely loved this book!!! Made me appreciate my childhood! So glad they overcame their past and all built their own "Glass Castles"!! Loved that Jeanette was the narrator, it made it more real for me!!! Will read more of her work!!!!

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Tori Gifford

This book was heart wrenching and sad but Jeannette Walls tells it almost light heartedly. I'm so glad she was able to move beyond her childhood and break the cycle. I wanted to hate her parents but she just made me feel sorry for them. The narration was great, I think I prefer an author reading their own books.

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angelina miley

If this was my life story I would be so bitter - but not Jeannette Walls. She never once puts down her family. Hers and her families struggles made them the people they are for which she has no apologies. I had this book in my 'to-read' list for a long while and I'm glad I didn't cull it out.

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tiffany Rodriguez

Wow. Just. Wow. I have so much respect for Jeannette Walls. Her story is an amazing story of survival and perseverance.

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M K

One of the best memoirs I've ever read; this story makes me re-evaluate so much of my life, past, present and future. Walls is a great writer and an amazing woman, and one of the slowest narrators Ive ever heard. listen to this sped up or read the print version if the slow narration is getting to you; the story is absolutely worth it.

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Ruth Thompson

A book you keep thinking about after you finished it. I liked it better than Half Broke Horse maybe because this book is her story and is more heartfelt. Her descriptive writing takes you there with them . I feel like I can see and smell the house they lived in in West Virginia. A GREAT BooK

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