The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

My friend Amberly loves books like I do, and loves to learn from them and talk about them. When she talked to me about this one, I determined to read it. But somehow it didn't happen. Then my friend Jack, who retired last year, took a "Write Your Memoirs" class and started sending me his chapters. When he called me to find out what I thought about them, he asked me if I had read The Glass Castle. He told me it was an amazing book and gave him a model for what he was after. He said it was funny and tragic and hit just the right notes of resonance with him. Okay, if two people are so enthused about a book, then I decided I had to read it. It was good to be back in our city library where I hadn't been for awhile. Used paperbacks on Amazon are so convenient that I had not been into our library for maybe two years! I found it in the biography section and started in.

It grabbed me from the first chapter. They are short chapters and they can't be done one at a time. You have to take on at least eight or ten. Very hard to put down. Jeannette's story is so incredible and her life so unbelievable that I was riveted and horrified. The story of these neglectful, selfish parents and their children is such a personal look inside a dysfunctional family that it was hard to take, yet I couldn't stop. Another reason I couldn't stop was that the first chapter is told in retrospective so you know she's going to end up in a Park Avenue in New York City. So, you keep reading to find out how on earth she got THERE from what she describes as her life.

I may try reading it again to try to see the humor that Jack saw. I was so distraught over the parents' behavior that I couldn't see the humor in it. What I'm curious about is if Jeannette intended the humor and maybe that will become clearer to me on a second reading. I'm not sure I can take it on again, though. As I read this book, I would occasionally ask myself if I was feeling uncomfortable because I had always feared this kind of life. When we were growing up, we were pretty poor too. I feared that I was "white trash" sometimes. I remember when people would drive up to our house that I knew we were dirty and scraggly and wanted to tell people that even though we looked bad, we were pretty happy. And we were. And then I asked myself what made my childhood so unlike the one described in this book. Was it my parents' education? Was it their basic goodness?

But since I finished it, what I've been wondering about is what made these parents tick. I believe in the basic goodness of people. These people were not evil in the normal sense I use it. But they perhaps they were... And is the father excused because of his alcoholism? I am amazed at the mother's total lack of caring and protection. Was it laziness or something else? I think mothers and fathers love their children and want to protect them. What does it mean when they don't? I'm baffled. Who are these people and how could they desire what they chose?

Jeannette's resilience or somehow figuring out that there was a better life outside of her family is an amazing aspect of this story. How she did that eluded me, or was too subtle for me to catch. How did she become aware of her talents? She mentions some teachers, but it's not really clear to me what saved her. Maybe the books she read? And it's amazing that three of her siblings fought their way clear. It breaks my heart that the fourth one didn't...I wonder what the difference was between the three who succeeded and the one who did not.

One thing that is a definite advantage of this book is that I do have some insight now into the whole world of homelessness and poverty that I didn't have before. It's good to know there is great intelligence and resourcefulness in that world as well as other things...But it's such a waste, such a loss. I guess I always thought that people's intelligence would help them grow. In this case, the parents' never grow or learn or improve. So tragic, and such a loss!

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller

Strictly speaking, I shouldn't add this book because I didn't finish it! My friend Mary lent it to me and assured me I would love it. Sometimes our taste is compatible and sometimes it isn't. This one isn't!
I was intrigued by the setting of growing up in Africa, so I soldiered on, even though the story was depressing. Sometimes a depressing story hardship can become a story of hope. The hardships in this family saga, however, were becoming worse and worse. When the little sister died, I slapped the book closed and said, ENOUGH. Done. Not enough hope going there or even hope of future hope to continue!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

When this book was announced for our reading group, I thought, "Wow...it's been a long time. I read that in high school. I believe I thought it was really good. Okay...I'll read it again." Well, I didn't get to it before our group met, but I went to listen in to the discussion anyway. As usual, it was lively and enlightening. And at the end of the evening, I had snagged a copy to borrow and read. It was surprisingly engaging and wonderful. And...true test of a book I love...I began it all over again as soon as I finished it.

Here's what I notice about my reading of fiction. I get so engrossed in the story that I read fast and miss a lot. So, my second time through, I can slow down and enjoy it and catch many of the subtleties that I missed first time through. This book was very rewarding the second time through...many aspects of what was going on around Scout, the main character, caught my attention. It was just a wonderful story of wonderful people. Scout and her brother, Jem, and their friend Dill captured so much of the wonder of childhood that it was good for this adult to feel a little younger.

I have a friend here in Rapid City who named her son Atticus after Scout and Jem's father. I remember wondering at the time if this was really a character I would want to pin that on. Well, after reading the book again, I totally understand her inclination. Here's a father who treats his children with respect and talks to them expecting them to understand difficult issues. Their family relationships are rich and deep.

I also really enjoyed the part where Scout and Jem go to church with their black cook, Calpurnia. Wonderful scenes that are told with pathos. Calpurnia turns out to be a most worthy and interesting character.

I vaguely recall being amazed in high school that blacks were treated like that in the South. This work was published about the same time I was becoming aware of civil rights. Our country has gone through so much since then, yet this struggle and this story feel very current. Because I enjoyed this author so much, I was anxious to read her other books. But she didn't write any others! This is amazing to me...she said that she had written what she wanted to say and didn't want to say it again. She didn't enjoy the publicity or the spotlight that her success brought her, so she wasn't about to do it again. I think there must be a lot of the plucky Scout in her! This is definitely a classic and a joy and would be worthwhile to read and discuss again and again. Both the courage and the innocence of Scout speak to me.