The Glass Castle review.
355971
I could not put this book down, it was very interesting and have passed it on to friends.  Also, I am very fortunate to be able to buy from Amazon.
2196431
The Glassblower is by Petra Durst-Benning and is translated by Samuel Willcocks.  It is part one of a trilogy of the Steinmann sisters- Johanna, Ruth, and Maria.  It is set in Luscha, Germany which was and is still the glassblowing capital of the world.  It is a very good romance and tells a great story.  I highly recommend this book.
Joost Steinmann was a glassblower in Luscha, Germany.  He was raising his three daughters, Johanna, Ruth, and Maria.  It was difficult raising three young girls by himself as well as keeping his glassblowing business going.  He was well respected around the town although it was said that in his house, the women ruled the roost.  Joost was just enough of a man to allow his daughters to speak their minds even if he didn't take their suggestions.  He blew the glass bottles and they painstakingly wrote what they were for on them.  Joosts kept a strict eye on his girls and didn't allow them to join the choir, May Day celebrations, etc.  where it might be possible for them to be picked up by a young man who did not meet his standards.  The girls were content with the three of them as friends.  They did wonder what was going on in the outer world. But they obeyed their father.
Chaos reigned for a while when their father died.  He died in his sleep but left the girls having to figure out what was going to happen now.  Their neighbor Peter Maienbaum helped Joost out and was their when the girls needed him.  However, he was in love with Johanna but she didn't feel the same towards him.  However, he vowed never to give up on her.  Peter had his own glassblowing business to attend to which was making glass eyes for people who needed them.  He could not purchase Joosts business and it looked like the girls might lose their home.  Stobel, the wholesaler who sold her fathers goods wanted Johanna to come to work for him as his assistant.  Johanna thought it would be fun to work in a big town; but before she could tell the girls about the offer, Wilhelm Heimer offered the three of them jobs helping him get his commissions out.  Unlike their father, Wilhelm ran his workshop just the way he wanted it.  It may be cluttered, dirty, smelly, and cramped; but he like it that way and saw no reason to change.  The pay was minimal.  When Johanna made a slight suggestion, he yelled at her and she talked back.  You didn't do that to Wilhelm and he fired her.  Luckily he didn't fire the other two.
Johanna wanted to go see what the world had to offer and could see herself working in a dark blue dress, taking orders from men from foreign places, and organizing Stobel.  His plans were not the same as hers.  Ruth wanted to have a fine husband who would lavish wonderful things on her and their children.  She envisioned the home she would have with Thomas Heimer, Wilhelms oldest son and heir. Unfortunately, Thomass idea of marriage was doing the same thing he always did, spend time with his rather harsh family, and not rocking the boat.  Maria wanted the freedom to paint what she felt like on the dishes and glasses.  She changed some of the designs just slightly, making them better, and was encouraged by Wilhelm to continue to experiment but slowly.  Maria wanted to trash everything she was given to paint because it wasn't done with perfection in mind; however, she kept her opinion to herself and did her job.  Being free to design and make her own objects was her goal.
Were the Steinmanns going to go completely under and forget their dreams?  Was Peter going to stay loyal to the family?  Was Wilhelm going to be bested?  The excitement just goes on and on and the end may surprise the reader.  I cant wait to get the next in the trilogy.
2626158
I chose to read The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls for my summer reading. My mom read the book earlier this summer and recommended it to me in the hopes that I would like it as much as she did. In addition, I saw that the book was on the New York Times bestsellers list, which also added some appeal.

The book is a memoir of a girl who, for the first time, reveals the hidden embarrassments and adventures she encountered in her life. She lived the first portion of her life, along with three siblings, in near poverty and with many difficulties. Not only was her family forced to move constantly to avoid high bills, the police, and other roadblocks, but she was also forced to mature faster than other kids her age. Her father struggled with alcohol abuse and her mother was an artsy and liberal individual who often cared more about herself than her kids. However, her parents were unaware of the fact that they were being irresponsible and not teaching their children the morals and ethics that other parents would think appropriate. Walls endured pain both physically and emotionally during much of her childhood, partly because of her careless and non-conformist parents and partly because of her unsafe and unstable living conditions.

Walls eventually had the bravery and resilience to escape her parents and her hardships and make a better life for herself. She found importance in working and educating herself in an attempt to turn her life around. She later found herself ready to reveal her story, which resulted in this powerful memoir.

 I really enjoyed the story because it constantly kept me interested, entertained, and engrossed in the characters and occurrences about which I was reading. It amazed me

2

to think that this was a completely true story told firsthand from the author. I think the fact that it was a memoir made the stories within the book so much more incredible. I found the book to be a very quick read, and when I put the book down, I was surprised by how much I had read in that one sitting.

 The author's style allows it to be a reader-friendly and personal book. The first-person narration and first-hand experiences make it realistic and life-like, almost where I could feel as if I were a part of the story. The subject matter that dealt with the author's struggles during childhood allowed me to sympathize with her. Walls' lack of financial and emotional stability was reflected throughout the memoir.

 I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone because I think it can be read and understood by many different people. Whether or not one can relate to the circumstances, it is an eye-opening book in which one can evaluate his or her life and even appreciate the more simple things that the author was not so fortunate to have in her childhood. I enjoyed the book very much and I would recommend it as a humbling read which encourages people to not take things in life for granted.
4172775
I just finished the book.. I loved it !!!! First of all the Cover caught my eye. It draws you in, makes one think of what transpired in the Cottage.
I read the reviews and totally agree with Pamala Hamilton & Anonymous. Their review sums up how I feel about your book. Am looking forward to the next steps with Beth & Connor.  It can go in so many directions. I personally would like to see them make a real go of it, Like family ,children,  living in the Castle. Trying to be a regular family. Especially, because of what they did not have. Any way LOVED it. Ms. Rose
4221368
Good book, but I really was expecting something of a read more like "The glass castle' because others have compared this to it. This is not as dynamic. This story is a good one and the lifetime movie out there is enough, no need to read this book. Liz has a very inspirational story, but there are many times where it felt the book was a tribute to her teenage friends and she held back for fear of hurting others. I think this book is better suited for YA as it would be more interesting and realistic.
1100321
Journalist Jeannette Walls, whose first memory is of her dress catching fire (and subsequent hospitalization) as she cooks hot dogs at three years old, unsupervised, provides an interesting, believable account of her unconventional nomadic upbringing at the hands of extremely intelligent, alcoholic father, Rex, and excitement addict, art-loving mother, Rose.  The "glass castle" never materializes.  They eventually live in an un-wired/unplumbed West Virginia shack. Although the parents make illogical, family-unfriendly choices throughout, keeping the family in perpetual poverty, with "what does not kill you makes you stronger" a recurrent theme, Jeannette and her siblings trudge on, and, become very, very strong.
2351216
The book is good for young adults. There is enough magic to stimulate the mind and enough emotions to question the relationship possibilities between the guardian wannabe and the heroine in the this book. It is a good read, nice and easy to understand but a bit predictable.
807643
I like how rhe story kept me interested.  I have to admit, after watching Castle, I found reading this quite fun and enjoyable.
3083754
It was C.S. Lewis who said, "We read to know we are not alone".  If that is true, then reading THE GLASS CASTLE, a memoir, by Jeannette Walls, helped me to realize I am not alone in my struggle to escape the pain of my childhood.

It wasn't that Jeannette Walls parents were unloving.  They loved her in their own way.  (If love can be love, when it is not bound by certain rules of behavior).  But, it seems they didn't provide for her, even the basics of food, clothing, or a decent roof over her head. Her mother had a teaching degree, but for the most part, chose to go hungry and let her children go hungry rather than work.  The title THE GLASS CASTLE comes from the fact that her father, Rex Walls, was always talking about this Glass Castle he was going to build for the family.  The fact that Rex Walls was a serious Alcholic who seemed to spend every available penny on drink and not on his family seems to have been outside his scope of comprehension.  He never did build the glass castle.

If you are a child of some background you want to escape, you will love this book.  If you are a reader who is obsessed with stories of someone who was able to grow beyond the difficulties of their childhood and find success, you will love this book.  Or if you just like to read a book by a great storyteller, get this book.  I'm buying copies for all my friends.
1851298
The story was a little too sad for me. I am very interested in visiting the castle the book described.
3664982
Perfect fit between Half Broke Horses and The Glass Castle. All three are wonderful reads. Would definitely recommend to others.
2648737
This read like The Glass Castle, a life filled with tragedy triumphed by strong will. Loved Maude and her tenacity .  Such an amazing life journey.
2441878
I enjoyed reading the Glassblower.  The characters captured my imagination and I found myself making time to read it which I don't do unless I'm really engaged in a story.  Nice get away book from a busy and hectic life.
4551867
Enjoyed reading this author after reading the Glass Castle book. At first I thought it was a continue of the first book, but somehow the author found another "unique family" to write about.
2235120
But read THE GLASS CASTLE first.  This book lets you see similarities between Jeannette and her grandmother. Both really smart women!
27456
Loved it.  the detailed description of making Tiffany windows and lamps was fascinating.  i'm visiting the Chihuly Glass exhibit in Seattle this month.  i think I'll appreciate the art work a lot more after "watching" Clara and the girls work so diligently.  The friendship between Clara and Mr. Tiffany was itself "a work of art".
4872440
I liked this book, but the ending disappointed me.  It kind of just......ended.  The story line was interesting, but I liked The Glass Castle better.  I would recommend this book to those of you who like Jeanette Walls. The characters were unique, and there were a few surprises in the book.  She is a very good writer, and I look forward to more of her books.