the-glass-castle

Last Blog Entry

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:52:44 +0100

My book:
I really liked The Glass Castle. The book was never boring, and it always kept you wondering what was going to happen next. I also like how Jeannette explained everything. She always gave lots of detail and told you how she was feeling. The book makes you feel what she felt. When her parents were mean to her, it makes you feel sorry for her. She grew up with barely anything and it makes you realize all that you have. I would recommend this book to everybody.

Other books:

Zoe's book:
Dreamland: I would like to read Dreamland because it sounds interesting. The story could happen to you in real life, so it would be good to read. It sounds like it would keep you guessing, and make you want to read more.

Halee's book:
The Lovely Bones: This book sounds very mysterious. I would like to read it because it sounds like there's a lot going on. This book sounds like you're always wondering what's going to happen next.

Chapter 17 - Pager 264-288 - The last chapter.

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:48:36 +0100

Summary: In this chapter Jeannette needs two-thousand dollars for school. She only has a thousand, so she's going to drop out of school. She tells Rex, and he gives her a thousand dollars. Jeannette finishes school. Rex and Rose move into an abandoned house and Jeannette moves in with her boyfriend Eric. She marries Eric four years later. Rose comes to Jeannette asking for a million dollars to buy her uncles' land, because she wants to keep it in the family. Jeannette won't give her the money so Rose is disappointed in her. Brian joins the police force and Lori is artist specializing in fantasy. Maureen lives with Rex and Rose, and is starting to act like them. She goes crazy and stabs Rose. She goes to a mental hospital for a little bit, than moves to California. Brain gets married and has a baby girl. Rex has a heart attack, and dies. A year after Rex dies Jeannette leaves Eric. She gets married again to a man named John. Four years after Rex died Lori, Brian, and Rose go to Jeannette house for Thanksgiving.

Main characters: The main characters in this chapter are Jeannette, Rex, Rose, Brian, Lori, and Maureen.

Character development: Jeannette loses touch with most of her family. When they all get together at the end of the chapter they talk about "the old days". They laugh and have a good time. She's getting closer to her family now that she's older.

Setting: This chapter takes place in New York City, and just outside of New York City. The chapter goes through the last 5 years.

Quote:

" Most people in Welch had a pretty good idea how bad off the Walls family was, but the truth was, they all had their problems, too - they were just better than we were at covering them up."

This quote is important because everybody in Welch was poor and like the Walls family, but the Walls were different. The other family's would try to make their old, ugly homes look better, but the Walls wouldn't. The other family's would try to look better, and the Walls wouldn't. The Walls never cared what other people thought.

Vocabulary:
Charismatic: Of, having, or characteristic of charisma.
Rotgut: Cheap and inferior liquor.

Chapter 16 - Pages 245-263

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:38:17 +0100

Summary: In this chapter Jeannette is 18 years old and living in New York City. She goes to a public school, but instead of going to classes she signs up for internships. Jeannette signs up for a weekly newspaper called "The Phoenix". Jeannette convinces Brian to come and live with her and Lori in New York. Brian agrees and comes. Jeannette applies for college and was accepted. She's hired as an editorial assistant at one of the biggest magazines in the city. Lori, Jeannette and Brian don't think its right for Maureen to stay with her parents in Welch, so they convince her to move to New York too. Maureen lives with Lori. A little while later, Rex and Rose move out to New York. First they stay with Maureen and Lori, but than Rex moves out to stay at Brian's. Brian won't let Rex drink, so Rex goes to live in their van. The van gets towed so Rex is homeless. Rose moves to the streets with Rex. They're both homeless. Rex get's tuberculosis, and is in the hospital.

Main characters: The main characters are Jeannette, Lori, Brian, Maureen, Rex, and Rose.

Character development: Jeannette is getting sick of her parents. She doesn't want them to live with her, but she doesn't want them to be homeless. She considers dropping out of school to take care of them, but Lori convinces her to stay in school. She wants to take care of her parents, but she's embarrassed by them.

Setting: This chapter takes place when Jeannette is 18 years old. The family now live in New York City. It's winter and very cold.

Quote:

"You can't just live like this," I said.

"Why not?" Mom said. "Being homeless is an adventure."

This quote is important because it shows that Jeannette wants to help her parents, but doesn't know how. Rose says that it's an adventure being homeless probably because she's used to not having a lot. Rex and Rose could go get jobs, but they don't want to.

Vocabulary:

Bodega: A warehouse for storing or aging wine.
Pint: A liquid and also dry measure of capacity, equal to one half of a liquid and dry quart respectively.

Chapter 15 - Pages 226-241

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:31:04 +0100

Summary: In this chapter Lori tries to get a scholarship, but every time she tries something goes wrong. She made a clay bust of Shakespeare for a scholarship, but Rex was drunk and he ruined it. So Lori didn't get that scholarship. Jeannette, Lori, and Brian have been putting all their money in "Oz". Oz is a piggybank. One day after school Jeannette comes home and goes to her room. Oz is smashed and on the ground. All their money is gone. Rex is the one who stole the money. They've been saving their money for 9 months. Lori goes to Iowa to babysit for the summer. When she's done, she takes the bus to New York City. Jeannette decides to go to New York City when she's done grade 11. After the last day of school she gets on the bus to New York City.

Main characters: The main characters in this chapter are Jeannette, Brian, Lori, Rex, Rose and Maureen.

Character development: Jeannette is really mad at her parents. After Rex stole all their money, she doesn't trust him. She's very excited to go to New York and get away from her parents and Welch.

Setting: This chapter takes place in Welch. It's the year that Jeannette is in grade 11. The winter is very cold.

Quote:

"I knew it was dad, but at the same time I couldn't believe he'd stoop this low."

This quote is important because Jeannette knows her dad would would take money from them, but she never thought he'd take this much. Rex knew how important it was to Jeannette and Lori to go to New York, but he did it anyways.

Vocabulary: Bust: A sculptured, painted, drawn, or engraved representation of the upper part of the human figure.
Impulse: The influence of a particular feeling.

Chapter 14 - pages 214-225

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:52:52 +0100

Summary: In this chapter Jeannette gets a job at the local jewellery store, because Rex and Rose don't have jobs and the family is very poor. Jeannette says she's seventeen so she can get the job. She's actually 13. When Lori gets back from her summer camp she tells Jeannette that as soon as she's done high school she's getting out of Welch, and going to New York City. She looks forward to leaving her family. Jeannette decides to stand up to her family. Rex gets mad and hits her with his belt. She decides to start an escape fund. Like her sister she wants to get out of Welch as soon as possible. Lori and Jeannette come up with a plan. The plan is that Lori go to New York City when she graduates, get a job, and a place. Jeannette will follow her to New York City as soon as she can. Jeannette starts babysitting, doing other kids' homework, and tutoring kids for extra money.

Main characters: The main characters are Jeannette, Lori, Brian, Maureen, Rex, and Rose.

Character development: Jeannette finally sees that her parents aren't like other parents. She's taking on a lot of jobs because she wants to get out of Welch, and away from her parents as soon as possible. She's very close to Lori and Brian.

Setting: The chapter takes place in Welch. It's the summer and fall that Jeannette is 13 years old.

Quote:

"You can't quit your job, we need the money."

"Why do I always have to be the one who earns the money? You have a job. You can earn money. Lori can earn money. I've got more important things to do."

This quote is important because the family is very poor, and Rose doesn't want to do anything about it. She tells Jeannette and Lori to make the money. Most people in that situation would go get a job, but Rose wants to spend time on herself.

Vocabulary: Cajole: To persuade by flattery or promises; wheedle; coax.
Oblige: To place under a debt of gratitude for some benefit, favor, or service.

Chapter 13 - Pages 189-213

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:57:34 +0100

Summary: Child Welfare come to their house. Jeannette is the only one home. He asks her a few questions, than says he'll be back later. Jeannette convinces Rose to get a job in case the Child Welfare man comes back. Even though Rose gets a job, they're basically living like they where before. Nobody knows what Rose is doing with the money. She says that they're using it all, but Jeannette doesn't believe her. Jeannette's friend Dinita starts changing. When Jeannette asks her what's wrong she just says that her mom's boyfriend moved in with them. A month later Dinita is arrested for killing her mother's boyfriend. Jeannette makes her own braces because the family can't afford them. She starts working for the school newspaper. When Rose leaves for the summer, she gives Jeannette (she's in charge) 200$. Rex takes 40$ from her. He takes her to the bar and he wins 80$ from playing pool.

Main characters: In this chapter the main characters are Jeannette, Rex, Rose, Lori, Brian, and Maureen.

Character development: Jeannette really doubts her parents. She thinks her mom is doing stuff with the family money, and her dad is always drunk. As she gets older, she is getting more and more embarrassed.

Setting: This chapter takes place in the summer, and fall. Jeannette is in grade 7. The family still lives in the small town of Welch.

Quote: "I was getting the whole story for the first time, that I was being handed the missing pieces to the puzzle, and the world was making a little more sense." I think that this quote is important because Jeannette is getting older and realizing that her parents aren't as great as she once thought they were.

Vocabulary: Wherewithal: That with which to do something; means or supplies for the purpose or need.
Pummelled: To beat or thrash with or as if with the fists.

Chapter 12 - Pages 168-188

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:23:37 +0100

Summary: In this chapter they are very low on money. For food, Jeannette goes back to looking in the garbage can at school. Rose is sneaking food, and not giving any to her kids. In the winter it's so cold that the house doesn't have water. They can't afford to keep the fire going, so the house is always freezing. Erma (Rex's mother) dies their second winter there. We find out that Jeannette wants to be a Veterinarian or a geologist. Brian and Jeannette find a wedding ring in the house. Jeannette thinks it would be a good idea to sell it. Then they would have money for food. But when Jeannette shows Rose, she wants to keep it. So they end up keeping the ring and starving. Jeannette thinks it would be better for the family if Rose left Rex. She tells her mom that, but her mom says that she won't leave him.

Main characters: The main characters in this chapter are Jeannette, Rex, Rose, Brian, Lori, and Maureen.

Character development: Jeannette still loves her family but she's starting to doubt them. It's getting harder for Jeannette to believe in her dad.

Setting: This chapter takes place when Jeannette was 12 years old. From the summer to winter. The family still lives in Welch.

Quote: "But mom," I said, "that ring could get us a lot of food."
"That's true, but it could also improve my self-esteem." This quote is important because it shows that Jeannette is worried about her family not eating, and that her mom cares more about herself. They're looking in the garbage for food, but Rose wants to keep the ring instead of feeding her family.

Vocabulary: Tourniquet: Any device for arresting bleeding by forcibly compressing a blood vessel, as a bandage tightened by twisting.
Disdainful: Full of or showing disdain; scornful.

Chapter 11 - Pages 149-167

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:45:24 +0100

Summary: We find out that somebody stole almost everything in their house in Phoenix. The stuff that wasn't stolen, they tried to bring back, but the car broke down so they had to abandon all of their stuff. The family buys a very old house. They plan to build the glass castle on the land. Jeannette and Brian start digging a hole for the foundation. The family is so broke that they put their garbage in the hole. Jeannette wants to fit in so she starts painting her house so that it will look better than it does. It gets really cold outside and the paint freezes. The paint is ruined and the house is only half done. A boy named Ernie always makes fun of Jeannette and her family. One night Ernie and his "gang" come to their house, but Jeannette and Brian are ready for them. They make an invention that drops rocks on them. The boys get hurt and don`t come back.

Main characters: In this chapter the main characters are Jeannette, Rex, Rose, Brian, Lori, and Maureen.

Character development: As Jeannette gets older she starts to see that her family is very different from the rest. Jeannette tries to fit in. She paints her house a different color so her and her family look like they aren`t as different as they are.

Setting: The family lives in Welch. Jeanette is 10 so it takes place in the past. The time of year isn`t given.

Quote: "Life`s too short to worry about what other people think." Rose tells Jeannette this when Jeannette suggests fixing up the house. Jeannette just wants her house to look like everybody else's, but her parents don`t care what other people think of them. I think this is important because as Jeannette gets older she realizes that her family is very different. She starts to care what other people think of her and her family.

Vocabulary: Dismal: Causing gloom or dejection.
Erosion: The process by which the surface of the earth is worn away by the action of water, glaciers, winds, waves, etc.

Chapter 10 - Pages 129-148

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:21:04 +0100

Summary: In this chapter the family drives to West Virginia. It takes them a month to get there. They plan to live with Rex's mom and dad. When they get to the small town named Welch they go and meet their grandparents. Their grandma named Elma is very mean, and their grandpa is nice. Their enrolled in Welch elementary school. Everyday Jeannette is beat up by the other girls in her class. Even the teachers are mean to them. Jeannette saves a kid from a dog. She takes him home, and one of the girls that beat her up sees her. After that everybody stopped beating her up. Rex and Rose decide to go back to Phoenix to get all the stuff they left behind. While Rex and Rose are gone Erma is very mean to the kids. She locks them in the basement, and won't let them come up for anything. When Rex and Rose come back they find out what happened and are mad at the kids for being rude.

Main characters: The main characters in this chapter are Jeannette, Rex, Rose, Brian, Lori, Maureen, and Erma.

Character development: Jeannette doesn't like her grandparents. She thinks they're rude and are a joke. She's very close to her family.

Setting: In this chapter it's November and cold. It takes place in West Virginia, in a very small town named Welch.

Quote:"Life is a drama full of tragedy and comedy. You should learn to enjoy the comic episodes a little more." Rose says this when Jeannette is embarrassed that they're sleeping in their car, and people are looking at them and laughing. I think this is important because it shows that you shouldn't be embarrassed by how little you have. You shouldn't care what other people think.

Vocabulary: Ushered:to act as an usher to; lead, introduce, or conduct.
malicious: full of, characterized by, or showing malice; malevolent; spiteful.

Chapter 9 - Pages 106-125

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:28:44 +0100

Summary: In this chapter Rex takes his family to the zoo to show them that if you're not afraid of the animals, than they won't hurt you. A couple days later Rex loses his job, and gets kicked out of the electricians' union. The family goes broke. When there's no food Brian and Jeannette go to the Dumpster to find food. Rose wants Maureen to have nice clothes, so they start shoplifting at the thrift store and they start steeling from the bank. They usually have Christmas about a week after Christmas so they buy things that are on sale, but this year they decide to have Christmas on Christmas day. Rex ruins their Christmas because he is drunk. He burns down the Christmas tree and presents. Jeannette turns ten. When her dad asks her what she wants, she asks him if he could stop drinking. Rex stops, but it's very hard for him. The family decides to go on a camping trip to Grand Canyon, but on the way the car breaks down. They have to walk back to Phoenix. A lady comes and gives them a ride in her van. When they get to Phoenix, Rex disappears for three days. He comes back drunk. The family decides to move to West Virginia.

Main characters: The main characters in this chapter are Jeannette, Rex, Rose, Brian, Lori, and Maureen.

Character development: Jeannette is closer to her dad than anyone. When the rest of the family stops believing in Rex, she doesn't. She is always kind to everyone.

Setting: They live in Phoenix. It's December, and it takes place in the past. Jeannette is 10.

Quote: The most important quote in this chapter is, "Do you think you could maybe stop drinking?". Jeannette says this to Rex when he asks her what she wants for her birthday. I think it's important because Jeannette could have asked for anything else, but all she wants is for her dad to stop drinking.

Vocabulary: Gussied: to enhance the attractiveness of something.
Urchin: a mischievous boy.