The Glass Castle was a great memoir because of how it was constructed, its honesty, and the integrity of intention.
One way that this memoir was helpful is how it is constructed by the organization of events. I think that this was extremely effective when reading because it helped understand Jeanette's life story. It also helped visualize her life as if you were by her side every step of the way. In addition, the memoir was constructed in a way that Jeannette was able to tell her whole life story in just three hundred pages. She included the major details and parts of her life that helped lead on to the next event. If it wasn’t for the organization in this memoir, reading it would have been confusing.
Another part of this memoir I liked was its honesty. Usually when people experience things like Jeannette did, such as growing up with no money, constantly being on the move - having no permanent place to live, and a drunk as your father, you usually do not share it. However, Jeannette was courageous enough to have a book written about her whole life from when she was three years old to her present, which I have to say takes a lot of bravery. Jeannette would have to possibly deal with judgement, hate and criticism but I don't necessarily think that was what she cared or worried about. Jeannette wanted to be honest with her readers and tell a story that could make people appreciate what they have and know that there is always someone else out there in the world that has it tougher than you.
The final part of this memoir that made it great was the integrity of intention. The way Jeannette was brought up definitely could have made her pick a poor path to take when she grew older. She did not have the basic necessities to living such as moving from house to house in awful conditions where she had no heat, no running water, and a scarce amount of food. Jeannette could have easily followed in her parents footsteps but smartly chose to live like “normal” people with all the necessities she needs in order to survive. However, without her childhood Jeannette would not have become the strong independent woman she is today.
Finally, I think that The Glass Castle is a great memoir because it made me realize how much I have are nothing compared to what she handled.
This is a good piece that shows why you think The Glass Castle was a great memoir. I liked ideas that you highlighted: such as her willingness to reveal her hardships to a large, public audience.
ReplyDeleteYou start with a clear, concise thesis that incorporates three of Zinsser's criteria for a good memoir. Your argument is clearly organized with good TS. At times, though, you need more evidence or need to be more specific about it. When talking about the construction, think about the central messages of the memoir. How do all of the episodes in the memoir contribute to those overarching themes? Consider the way Walls organizes the memoir by location too. In your second point, make sure you prove that Walls is honest but is not simply complaining or trying to shock an audience. Lastly, how does Walls grow into herself because of her difficult life experiences?
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