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  • For me, it's a "sad" story that I don't want to re-read it again.

    It talks about the effect of family, and attitudes of parent have on children when they are growing. Children can find happiness in simply, little things, they know when adults lie but they don't care.

    They can live with ... Continue

    For me, it's a "sad" story that I don't want to re-read it again.

    It talks about the effect of family, and attitudes of parent have on children when they are growing. Children can find happiness in simply, little things, they know when adults lie but they don't care.

    They can live with what you give them, and they have a way around it. When an adult thinks life is tough and go on moaning about it, children try to make themseelves happy no matter what.

    Their parent kept the 'child' in themselves and the whole family lived happily and dream of dreams that might never happen.

    But when children grew up and the little child was lost, they find their parents silly and sad because they realize the dream will only be dream.

    They start to care about what other people think about them and their parents. When they can no longer stand their parents living happily whith whatever they got (and in poverty), they left, refuse to admit the parents.

    

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• ― 小米 (bgjc) said on Aug 10, 2008 about the Paperback edition| Add your feedback

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  • Recommended by the lady at the check-out counter at Border's.
    A totally moving, compelling & hauntingly beautiful story! Heartbreaking too but one of the most sensitive memoirs I remember reading.

    

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• ― Nini said on Nov 16, 2009 | Add your feedback

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  • Finished already as once started it was so compelling I hardly put it down! A great memoir of a family of four children that showed tremendous resilence considering their parents choice of lifestyle! It was a surprise that no self pity showed in the author's writing at all especially as considering ... Continue

    Finished already as once started it was so compelling I hardly put it down! A great memoir of a family of four children that showed tremendous resilence considering their parents choice of lifestyle! It was a surprise that no self pity showed in the author's writing at all especially as considering the Father's intelligence and the Mother's background, life could possibly have been so different. A great read, I am so pleased I signed up for this one, thanks again bestfriends.

    

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• ― Lindyloumac said on Nov 5, 2009 about the Paperback edition| Add your feedback

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  • A memoir - about a hard upbringing and rise to success. (as these books always seem to be!)

    

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• ― Liz4211 said on Aug 20, 2009 about the Paperback edition| Add your feedback

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  • One of the ladies that works in Border's Books recommended this book to me and I bought it because it was on sale...I enjoyed it and passed it on to my niece to read.

    

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• ― Jane (janes) said on Aug 16, 2009 about the Paperback edition| Add your feedback

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  • Powerful and unusual story. The author described her abusive childhood with an objective and sometimes passionate tone.

    The book reminds me of Laura Ingall Wilder's books, except that this memoir is about a dysfunctional family. They also moved a lot, and many things were seen through a child' ... Continue

    Powerful and unusual story. The author described her abusive childhood with an objective and sometimes passionate tone.

    The book reminds me of Laura Ingall Wilder's books, except that this memoir is about a dysfunctional family. They also moved a lot, and many things were seen through a child's eyes, with admiration to her parents, although they were actually selfish, monsterous, and unfit to raise children.

    I think this is an unusual book and apparently has great values. However, I felt very strong anger when I read about these selfish parents. I don't think I can read this book again.

    

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• ― material girl said on Feb 9, 2009 about the Paperback edition| Add your feedback

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor.

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