how was jeannette walls parents read her book

how was jeannette walls parents read her book


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how was jeannette walls parents read her book

How Did Jeanette Walls' Parents React to "The Glass Castle"?

Jeanette Walls' memoir, The Glass Castle, recounts her unconventional and often challenging childhood with her eccentric parents, Rex and Rose Mary Walls. The book's publication naturally raised questions about their reaction to its candid portrayal of their lives and parenting style. The answer is complex and doesn't offer a simple, singular response.

Their reaction wasn't a unified, immediate one. Instead, it evolved over time and was characterized by a mixture of acceptance, denial, and ultimately, a complex blend of emotions.

Did Rex and Rose Mary Walls Read "The Glass Castle"?

While the specifics of their reading experience aren't explicitly detailed in Jeanette's accounts, it's widely understood that both parents were aware of the book and its contents. However, their engagement with the text varied significantly.

Rex, known for his strong personality and often detached demeanor, likely didn't approach the book with the same level of introspection as Rose Mary. While he might have read sections, it's unlikely he engaged with it deeply or critically. His reaction was more likely a mixture of indifference and perhaps even pride in a certain perverse way, viewing the book as a testament to his unconventional life philosophy, rather than a critique of his parenting.

Rose Mary, on the other hand, seems to have had a more emotional and complex response. Given her personality and her capacity for both deep love and self-deception, her reaction probably swung between moments of defensiveness and moments of begrudging acknowledgment of some truths presented in the book. She might have recognized elements of herself and her actions, but the narrative likely presented a painful and uncomfortable reflection on her life choices.

How Did They Respond Emotionally?

Neither parent offered a straightforward, readily available public response. It's through Jeanette's subsequent writings and interviews that we gain insight into their reactions. This indirect knowledge limits our ability to definitively state their feelings. However, it's reasonable to assume the following:

  • Rex: Likely a mixture of apathy, denial, and a possible warped sense of validation. His life philosophy was centered around his own worldview, making criticism difficult to accept or integrate.

  • Rose Mary: Likely a more complex emotional response involving denial, hurt, some understanding, and possibly regret, interwoven with her inherent difficulty in confronting difficult realities.

What Did They Think About the Book's Accuracy?

The accuracy of the events portrayed in The Glass Castle has been a subject of some debate, fueled by conflicting accounts and differing perspectives. However, it's important to note that the book is a memoir, not a strictly objective historical account. Jeanette's perspective, shaped by her experiences and memories, inevitably colors the narrative. This inherent subjectivity doesn't necessarily negate the validity of her experiences, but it adds another layer of complexity to assessing their reactions. They might have disputed specific details, yet perhaps also recognized the underlying truths about their lives and parenting style.

Ultimately, gaining a precise and comprehensive understanding of Rex and Rose Mary Walls' reactions to The Glass Castle remains challenging. Their responses were likely deeply personal, complex, and ultimately unrecorded in a way that allows for a complete and definitive account. The book itself, however, offers valuable insight into the nature of their relationship with Jeanette and their own personalities.