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Jan 17, 2010
Sunflower
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Anyone who thinks they got a bad deal with their parents should read this book. This book is a memoir of a childhood with parents who were neglectful, selfish, and even abusive at times, yet the author never portrays them as anything worse than eccentric. She puts a positive spin on them, and on their life as a family, during which they were so poor that the children were more often hungry than not, wore threadbare clothes and shoes, and lived in the worst of circumstances.
They are clearly inte ...more
They are clearly inte ...more
The story of Jeannette Walls chaotic childhood growing up with an alcoholic father and a chaotic artist mother. During her early years the family moved around the west coast then when Jeannette was around 10 they settled in a shack in Welch, West Virginia. After the way jeannette and her siblings were not cared for by their parents it's amazing that only one of them seems to have emotional problems as an adult. The parents total disregard for the needs of the children sickened me. Jeanette seems
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This is an effortless read.
What's amazing to me is how non-judgemental-ly she tells her story of growing up with/being raised by non-conformist parents who are eccentric outlaws with high ideals and whose carelessness and selfishness almost break her.
from p. 61
I thought Dad would be furious, but he wasn't. He was sort of quiet. We stood on the street watching the flames devour the shack. Dad had an arm around each of us. He said it was an incredible coincidence that he happened to be walking b ...more
What's amazing to me is how non-judgemental-ly she tells her story of growing up with/being raised by non-conformist parents who are eccentric outlaws with high ideals and whose carelessness and selfishness almost break her.
from p. 61
I thought Dad would be furious, but he wasn't. He was sort of quiet. We stood on the street watching the flames devour the shack. Dad had an arm around each of us. He said it was an incredible coincidence that he happened to be walking b ...more
Fascinating & captivating read. At times it makes you cringe, and at other times you are happy & encouraged about the perspective this family has on life. The parents are--at various times--both laudable and self-centered and irresponsible. Very insightful seeing that there are people who grow up with this kind of parental neglect, hardship, and abuse, who in the endure and rise up above it all.
What a thoroughly depressing and yet triumphant book. It is amazing the survival skills we as humans develop to keep our heads above water - not just physically but emotionally. Despite the despicable way these parents raised these children - it is amazing the ability one has to forgive one's parents. It does show that some can survive these circumstances and others don't. J. Walls is a great example of surviving and rising above.
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I think that if James Frey got busted for calling his book a "memoir" and then got in major trouble because he sprinkled it with some obvious untruths, then I suspect this woman would get in big trouble too if some whistle blower group did some fishing. It kind of got pretty far-fetched, especially when I got to the "zoo scene" in the middle of the book. This book was written and published around the same time as James Frey's A Million Little Pieces - before he got busted for stating his outland
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THe most amazing book; anyone interested in hard luck stories should read it.
This is such a good book. It is amazing what the human spirit can endure. What I thought was interesting about this book was that occasionally some of Jeanette's parents attitude and parenting style were ok. Most of the time I could not believe how the parents could neglect their children they way they did, for example: how could any parent allow their child to go hungry, or think it's ok to allow someone else to abuse them.
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One of the best books I've read. An astonishing and moving story of growing up poor in America. Everyone should read this book!
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Apr 22, 2008
Shannon
marked it as to-read
Jun 25, 2012
Ginger
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Jan 31, 2013
Kim DeCina
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Sep 22, 2015
Felicia follum
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Apr 20, 2019
Susie LaBelle
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