Free Audiobooks!

Someone recently came into the library and informed us of a great site called LibriVox. This website is run by volunteers and their objective is "to make all books in the public domain available, for free, in audio format on the internet." Books in the "public domain" are those whose copyrights have expired and therefore are available for use however the public sees fit. These are usually older books, published before 1925. The volunteers at LibriVox create recordings of these books and donate them to the public. You can even volunteer to read yourself! So if you enjoy audiobooks, this is the site for you!

Book Review

"The Glass Castle"
Kristen Moore

You’ve probably heard that truth is stranger than fiction. In MSNBC columnist Jeanette Walls’ memoir The Glass Castle, this is definitely the case. Telling a story that for years she tried to hide, Walls relates an amazing tale of resiliency and determination that readers will find to be both heart-warming and shocking.

Growing up in the Walls’ family meant that you had to fend for yourself. Her father’s alcohol problem and her mother’s extreme detachment made for an incredibly difficult childhood. Supporting their family was not a top priority, and often what little food and clothing they had were scavenged. Evading bill collectors and social services, the Walls often had to pack up and move at a moment’s notice, even when they had no idea where they were going and few means to get there.

When they were enrolled school, which happened sporadically, the taunts they endured for their lack of food and clothing were terribly cruel. The four Walls children had to stick together in order to survive, and ultimately escape the life their parents made for them. While her parents viewed their lifestyle as an exciting adventure, Walls knew she wanted something more.

It is understandable that Jeannette Walls might be furious with her parents and traumatized by her childhood, yet her memoir is surprisingly objective. Readers will be taken in with her story and affected by it long after they turn the last page. This book is available for checkout at the Jamestown LRC.