The Glass Castle (2017)

This is a true story, but it is often beyond imagination, and there are many deep and touching highlights behind the relaxed and humorous language. A painter's mother who owns millions of dollars' worth of land but insists on living on the streets, a charming and talented father who is addicted to alcohol and gambling, and four smart and strong children make up the Voles family. Parents' idealism and maverick attitude towards life have brought disaster and redemption to the whole family. They spent a pure, happy, adventurous and hopeful wandering life in the mining towns of the southwestern United States, and the children learned how to embrace life bravely. But when the economy becomes more strapped and the enthusiasm for vagrancy gradually wanes, the children can only take care of each other and endure the inadvertent harm done to them by their parents. They worked hard to save money, left home and went to New York one after another to start the life they wanted. Janet Voles depicts an extremely turbulent and sad childhood in accurate and elegant words. This memoir is gripping and can be called a victory for human nature. Every good book can strengthen our belief in the human spirit, and so does this one.