While Reading the first section of The Glass Castle I thought and wondered… How is Walls’ writing style different or possibly affected by the fact that the first portion of the book is written from her perspective as a child?

After letting the book sink in a little I began to think about my question and try to answer it. I think the fact that Jeannette is recollecting on her childhood by describing all the baggage and harsh reality that came with being apart of her family makes her writing strikingly realistic, sorrowful, and impactful. Because the first half is written from her childhood perspective it is interesting to see and notice how she has a very simple writing style/approach. There is little complication in her writing yet it still provides the reader with a strong and grim idea of what her childhood was (or wasn’t more so). Due to the harsh reality that she was constantly surrounded in it is obvious that Jeannette had little to no typical/normal experiences that most children have growing up. And that her childhood barely even existed as she was forced to grow up at such a young age. 

After thinking about this question and formulating a response I came to realize, even more so than I had before, that everyone has a different idea and meaning of what home is. My definition of home is much different than Jeannette’s. To me home is California; I lived there for 17 years of my life, I associate it with the house I live in, the town I’m from, my childhood friends, and the traditions made by my family. Reading about all the events that Jeannette went through at such a young age made me not only appreciate my childhood for what it was but it also made me realize how happy I am to have the family and support system that I do. Jeannette’s only real sense of home is the people she lives with (aka her family). She has no ties to a specific place or structure, and didn’t have any personal belongings growing up as a child so she has no material objects associated with home whatsoever. Reading about the instability and constant fight that Jeannette and her family went through is painfully sad yet makes for an incredibly inspiring story to hear how far she has come in comparison to where she started out in life.