'The Glass Castle' Author Jeannette Walls Talks Writing Her Real-Life Story | People NOW | People

Summary

The video discusses the upcoming film 'The Glass Castle,' starring Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, and Naomi Watts, based on Jeannette Walls' memoir. Walls shares her unconventional childhood, marked by her father's brilliance and struggles with bipolar disorder and alcoholism, and her mother's optimistic neglect. Despite living in poverty and facing numerous challenges, she never doubted her parents' love. The conversation touches on Walls' journey from her chaotic upbringing to becoming a successful gossip columnist in New York City, where she unexpectedly reconnects with her squatting parents. The story highlights themes of resilience, love, and complex family dynamics.

Takeaways

• 🏢 The Glass Castle, starring Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, and Naomi Watts, is based on Jeannette Walls' best-selling memoir.
• 🔥 Jeannette Walls experienced serious burns at the age of three, an incident she viewed as minor.
• 👨‍👧 Jeannette's father, Rex, was described as a brilliant, bipolar dreamer and alcoholic who loved his children but struggled to provide for them.
• 👩‍🎨 Her mother, Rosemary, was an artist and optimist who largely left her children to fend for themselves.
• 🏙️ Jeannette moved to New York to escape her chaotic childhood, eventually becoming a gossip columnist living on Park Avenue.
• 🗑️ One night, Jeannette saw her mother rummaging through the trash in NYC, unaware that her parents had followed her.
• 💬 Jeannette reflects on her family's lifestyle, asserting that being homeless should not be considered a lifestyle choice.
• 📖 Despite her family's struggles, Jeannette never doubted she was loved, and her father passed away before she wrote her memoir.
• 🔄 Jeannette lived in over 20 different places in her first ten years, experiencing extreme poverty and instability.
• 🍷 Jeannette believes her father's bipolar disorder was a bigger issue than his alcoholism, indicating a complex family dynamic.

Q & A

What is the premise of the movie 'The Glass Castle'?

The movie 'The Glass Castle' is based on the best-selling memoir by Jeannette Walls, which recounts her unconventional and challenging childhood with her eccentric parents.

Who are the main actors in the film?

The main actors in 'The Glass Castle' include Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, and Naomi Watts.

What significant incident happened to Jeannette Walls when she was three?

When Jeannette was three years old, she suffered serious burns while cooking hot dogs, an incident she later regarded as minor.

How does Jeannette describe her father, Rex Walls?

Jeannette describes her father, Rex, as a brilliant yet bipolar dreamer and an alcoholic who loved his children but struggled to provide for them.

What role did Jeannette's mother, Rosemary, play in the family?

Jeannette's mother, Rosemary, is depicted as an artist and an incredible optimist who often left her children to fend for themselves.

How did Jeannette's family situation influence her later life?

Despite her tumultuous childhood and lack of stability, Jeannette eventually moved to New York, worked as a gossip columnist, and achieved success, but she faced the stark reality of her parents' homelessness.

What surprising encounter did Jeannette have in New York?

One night, Jeannette saw her mother rummaging through the trash in New York City, discovering that her parents were living as squatters.

What was Jeannette's initial reaction to seeing her mother on the street?

Jeannette felt a mix of shock and confusion, struggling to reconcile her mother's situation with the life she had built for herself.

How does Jeannette view her childhood experiences in retrospect?

Jeannette reflects on her childhood as filled with love despite the chaos, emphasizing that she never doubted she was loved by her parents.

What themes does 'The Glass Castle' explore through Jeannette's story?

The story explores themes of family dynamics, resilience, love, poverty, and the complexities of parental relationships, as well as the impact of mental health issues.