Archive - "One Book" 2006
The Glass Castle
By: Jeannette Walls
The Author: Jeannette Walls
Jeannette Walls was born in Phoenix, Arizona and her family lived in various southwestern towns before settling in Welch, West Virginia when she was ten. She graduated from Columbia University's Barnard College with honors and went on to become a reporter for New York magazine, Esquire, USA Today and MSNBC.com, where she currently works. She has appeared regularly on television, including the Today Show, CNN and Prime Time Live.
Walls currently lives in northern Virginia and is married to writer John Taylor. Walls' memoir, The Glass Castle, has been called "a story of precision and grace [carved out of] one of the most chaotic, heartbreaking stories ever to be set down on page." It was a New York Times bestseller and is being turned into a movie by Paramount. The Atlanta Constitution declared: "Charles Dickens has nothing on Jeannette Walls. . . . Dickens' scenes of poverty and hardship are no more audacious and no provocative than those in the pages
of this stunning memoir."
The Book
A Brief Synopsis of The Glass Castle
Adapted from the book jacket of The Glass Castle
Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.
Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.
What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.
For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story.
Companion books for East Lansing Public Schools
K-4: Gettin' Through Thursday by Melrose Cooper and Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting
5-6: Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos and Lives Turned Upside Down: Homeless Children in their Own Words and Photographs by Jim Hubbard
7-8: Monkey Island by Paula Fox
High school: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
2006 Calendar of Events
All events are free and open to the general public unless otherwise noted
Wednesday, August 23; 5:00- 6:30p.m.
Fundraising reception for Jeannette Walls
Cowles House, Michigan State University
Fundraising tickets are $50.00 per person, all proceeds from this event will benefit the One Book, One Community program.
Fundraising Reception with Jeannette Walls at Cowles House, MSU
Wednesday, August 23; 7:30 p.m.
An Evening with Jeannette Walls
Lecture/Book signing Kick-off event*
Featuring Jeannette Walls, author of "The Glass Castle"
East Lansing Hannah Community Center
Thursday, August 24; 9:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Jeannette Walls will speak at the University Welcome for Incoming MSU Students
Wharton Center for Performing Arts, MSU Campus
Friday, August 25; 9:00-11:00 a.m.
“Inside the Glass Castle”: Freshmen Seminar (Open only to students registered for this class.)
Jeannette Walls will join with students registered for this freshmen seminar to answer questions and discuss The Glass Castle.
Tuesday, September 5, 12, and 19; 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Writing Workshop
That Place Called Memory: Revisiting and Writing About Childhood
East Lansing Public Library, Community Room
*Registration required due to limited capacity, begins August 1
In her memoir, The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls opens a window on her childhood and gives us a peek at what it was like to grow up in her particular family, in particular places, at particular times. We all have memories - some wonderful, some heartbreaking, some confusing, some fractured - of the children we used to be and the environments that led us to become who we are today. Dr. Anita Skeen of MSU's College of Arts and Letters will lead a three-part writing workshop in which participants will go back and revisit some of their own childhood memories: participants will recall the scratchy nap of the old navy sofa; the pond-water smell of Rascal the beagle; the taste of homemade ice cream dripping from the dasher; the low wail of the train whistle as it called through the mountain night. Writers will resurrect the images, conversations, and objects that are a significant part of their past. This workshop is open to writers in all genres and at all levels, particularly those who like to work with a specific exercise or assignment. Registration is required as there is limited capacity, and will begin on August 1, 2006. Call (517) 351-2420 to register for this session.
Friday, September 8; 7:00 p.m.
MSU Friday Night Film Series; “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”
MSU Main Library, Room W 449
Wednesday, September 13; 7:00 p.m.
Fact or Fiction: The Controversy over Memoirs (panel discussion)
East Lansing Public Library, Community Room
Jeannette Walls relives her unorthodox childhood in her memoir, The Glass Castle. Recently, controversies with other prominent memoirs have sparked discussion about the line between fact and fiction in a memoir.
Friday, September 15; 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.; MSU Union lawn
Songs of Hope: Families Helping Spartans
Co-sponsored by the University Activities Board
MSU Union lawn (Rain location – Gold Rooms, 2nd floor, MSU Union)
Family Fun Fest for all ages featuring music, crafts, games and prizes, and the music of folksinger Josh White Jr.
Songs of Hope: Families Helping Spartans, MSU
Friday Sept. 15, Sat. Sept. 16, Sun. Sept. 17; 7:10 p.m. & 9:20 p.m.
RHA Movie: "Crooklyn" (a Spike Lee film)
Wells Hall, MSU Campus (free for residence hall students, $3.00 for other students and non-students.
Wednesday, September 20; 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Inside The Glass Castle
East Lansing Hannah Community Center
Banquet Room, 819 Abbott
Book groups and individuals throughout the region invited to join others for facilitated discussion of the themes, events and other dimensions of this book. Call 351-2420 to register your group, beginning August 1, 2006.
Wednesday, September 20; 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Special theme dinners in all MSU Residence Halls
All residence halls will feature dinners focusing on the joy of reading, and the One Book, One Community program with special displays in Brody and Hubbard cafeterias.
Thursday, September 28; 7:00 p.m.
One Book, One Community Finale Event
Barnes & Noble, 333 East Grand River; downstairs library
Parking will be validated
Lauralee Summer, author of memoir "Learning Joy from Dogs Without Collars" will speak and announce the winners of the Barnes & Noble essay contest.
Wednesday, October 25; 7:30 p.m.
Writing Workshop Reading at Schuler Books
Schuler Books, Eastwood Towne Center
Participants from this year's One Book, One Community Writing Workshop will read selected essays and talk with the audience.
News
One Book, One Community Announces 2006 Book Selection
EAST LANSING, Mich. — One Book, One Community announces its 2006 book selection, “The Glass Castle,” a fascinating memoir by well-known MSNBC columnist Jeannette Walls. The One Book, One Community program, co-sponsored by the City of East Lansing and Michigan State University, encourages the city-university community to read the same book and come together to discuss it in a variety of settings.
Meet Jeannette Walls and hear her incredible story as the author kicks-off the month-long One Book, One Community program on Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center. She will also welcome freshman to the MSU campus the next day. A series of events centered on the book including a community-wide book discussion, family event and essay contest will take place Aug. 23-Sept. 29, 2006.
“The Glass Castle” is Jeannette Walls memoir of her colorful and unorthodox childhood. She grew up following her eccentric and nomadic parents as they drifted across the southwest seeking their fortune and pursuing their intellectual and creative dreams. Free to run wild, Jeannette and her siblings amazingly grow in personal strength, courage and independence as the family living situation steadily deteriorates. It is a compelling testament to a child’s unshakable love for their parents even when neglected and betrayed.
In spite of her incredible childhood, or maybe because of it, Jeannette Walls has become an extremely successful journalist and author. She is a regular contributor to MSNBC and has worked at publications such as Esquire, USA Today and New York Magazine. Published in 2005, “The Glass Castle” is on the New York Times best seller paperback list.
Lansing State Journal Announces the 2006 One Book, One Community Selection
March 26, 2006 — Jeanette Walls starts her book "The Glass Castle" with a shocking juxtaposition of images.
Dressed for a party, Walls is taking a cab across town when she sees a homeless woman rooting through trash.
The woman is her mother, and Walls' memoir, which depicts her childhood poverty and issues surrounding homelessness, is the book chosen for this fall's One Book, One Community reading program in East Lansing. more...
The Glass Castle Author to Visit East Lansing
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Meet Jeannette Walls, author of “The Glass Castle,” and hear her incredible story as the author kicks-off the month-long One Book, One Community program. She will speak to the community on Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Rd.
The event is FREE but tickets are required. Tickets will be available at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Rd. starting Aug. 1 at noon. Tickets are limited to two per person and will be given out on a first come, first served basis. In addition, she will welcome over 7,000 MSU freshmen to campus the following day.
“The Glass Castle” is Jeannette Walls memoir of her colorful and unorthodox childhood. Jeannette Walls has become an extremely successful journalist and author. She is a regular contributor to MSNBC and has worked at publications such as Esquire, USA Today and New York Magazine. Published in 2005, “The Glass Castle” has been on the New York Times best seller paperback list.
The One Book, One Community program, co-sponsored by the City of East Lansing and Michigan State University, encourages the city-university community to read the same book and come together to discuss it in a variety of settings. A series of events centered on the book including a community-wide book discussion, family event and essay contest will take place Aug. 23-Sept. 29, 2006.
Visit www.onebook.msu.edu for a full schedule of events.
Q & A with Jeannette Walls
March 15, 2005 — Jeannette Walls has reported for years on the movers and shakers in the most powerful city in the world. It's a world she knows from the inside. With her husband, John Taylor, a successful novelist, they have been called a New York power couple.
But for years, Walls hid the fact that she had a much humbler upbringing than many of the people she now associates with. Now her secret is out — in her memoir, "The Glass Castle."
Jeannette Walls answered questions about her new book and her life for the ABCNEWS.com audience, read them here...
Glass Castle Freedom
March 23, 2005 —There is something very appealing about a person who doesn't talk about herself. Jeannette Walls is one of those people. Now we know why.
Romulus and Remus had a better upbringing. The mythical twins reared by a she-wolf in the Roman hills at least ate regularly. In Walls's memoir of an execrable childhood, The Glass Castle, family mealtime gives new meaning to the concept of curb service. A tasty meal for the Wallses could be anything from warm roadkill to spillage from an overturned semi. More...
Podcast Interview with One Book Author Jeannette Walls
From MSU Today: Award-winning and best-selling author Jeannette Walls visited East Lansing as special guest in the 2006 One Book/One Community program, which encourages the East Lansing and Michigan State University community to read the same book over a six-week period and to come together to discuss it in a variety of settings. Although dozens of similar programs have been sponsored nationwide, this is one of the very few that brings together a city and a university. The book selection this year is Walls’ The Glass Castle.
Walls talks about the inspiration for Glass Castle, her feelings on the One Book program and about her day job as MSNBC gossip columnist. She also gives her views on the future of her beloved field of journalism.
Hosted by Russ White. Visit this page to hear a podcast of MSU Today's interview with Jeannette Walls.
Don’t Miss Your Chance to See One Book Author Jeannette Walls
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Although all tickets for the One Book, One Community kick-off event on Aug. 23 have been distributed, there are still three ways for the public to see Jeannette Walls, author of “The Glass Castle.”
• Walls will speak to incoming MSU students on Aug. 24 at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Wharton Center for Performing Arts on the MSU campus. It’s free and open to the public.
• Walls’ Aug. 23 visit will be recorded and rerun on East Lansing’s government channel, Channel 22 (WELG). Air times will be Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays noon and 8 p.m., Aug. 26-Sept. 4.
• The recording of Walls’ Aug. 23 visit will also be made available to borrow at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Road, beginning Wednesday, Aug. 30.
“The Glass Castle” is Jeannette Walls’ memoir of her colorful and unorthodox childhood. An extremely successful journalist and author, Walls is a regular contributor to MSNBC and has worked at publications such as Esquire, USA Today and New York Magazine. Published in 2005, “The Glass Castle” has already raked in a number of rave reviews, and was recently featured on the New York Times Best Seller Paperback List.
The One Book, One Community program, co-sponsored by the City of East Lansing and Michigan State University, encourages the city-university community to read the same book and come together to discuss it in a variety of settings. A series of events centered on the book will take place Aug. 23 to Sept. 29, 2006. Visit www.onebook.msu.edu for a full schedule of events.