A Hit And A Miss

I recently finished two books that I thought I'd review for you. The first I mentioned earlier in my 10th Anniversary post. It is a definate "hit"!


THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeannette Walls


I'm really glad I read HALF BROKE HORSES first. That's the memoir of her grandmother Lily. THE GLASS CASTLE is the story of her parents, Rex and Rosemary Walls and her own childhood. Both books are jaw-dropping, entertaining, and simply unreal!


Unlike HALF BROKE HORSES, this book provoked me. To anger. On more than one occasion.


The parents, Rex and Rosemary, were two misfits peas in a pod! Enablers to each other's disfunctionary ways. I kept thinking, "those poor kids!"


Now, every parent has his/her own style of child-rearing. To each his own. But these two were very bright individuals who elevated their non-conformist, vagabond lifestyle to the ten billionth degree--to the point that it was abusive in my opinion.


But, you have to read the book to really understand how that kind of upbringing made Jeannette and her siblings who they are today. Who's to say what they would have become under "normal" circumstances. I sure wouldn't wish their upbringing on anyone though.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The "miss" in my opinion was one I hadn't anticipated.


HOUSE RULES by Jodi Picoult


I almost always enjoy Jodi's books and while I did enjoy reading House Rules I can't put it in the same class as others she has written. It was an interesting look into Asperger's but at times seemed a little cliche and did not always ring true. Also the plot was just weak. It was so obvious from the very beginning what the "twist" was that I almost didn't want to finish reading because I knew how it was going to end. And when I think PICOULT, I think TWIST I CAN'T SEE COMIN'.


Proof that you can't judge a book by it's cover--Jacob, the young man who has Asperger's, is 18. As I was reading, I couldn't help wanting to identify with the young boy sitting by the lake as the cover suggests. Errrr!


It just seemed like Picoult rushed this one to meet a publication deadline.


Still, Jodi has a very engaging style and her characters are interesting and mostly very well fleshed out, which kept me reading to the end.


Borrow it from the library if you don't mind a predictable ending. Otherwise, NINETEEN MINUTES, CHANGE OF HEART, and PLAIN TRUTH remain my favorite Picoult's.