Customer Reviews:
 Incredible story August 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Bought this book for a beach vacation, and once I started reading, I never put it down. It was fascinating, and the author grabs you at the first story and never lets go.
Her parents are very complex individuals, so you can't simply hate them. In a few (very few) ways they are excellent parents. I liked the book because it's not a black and white view of the world -- the author tells the facts (at least I hope they're really true) and let's the readers make up their own minds.
You can't help but cheer for her and be amazed at how she doesn't let her unfortunate circumstances get her down. Her lack of self-pity is amazing!
This book will stay with you. I have recommended it to several friends who all report the same reaction as mine.
The best memoir I've ever written! August 17, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It made me laugh, cry and get angry. I loved this book not only for the insight into the pain of childhood, but for the way it made me evaluate my own role as a parent. I could not put this book down and have recommended it to many, many people.
-----An Unforgettable and True Story----- August 16, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
There is no doubt in my mind; this is one of the most disturbing books that I've ever read. Jeanette Wall's straightforward and honest memoir of her life brought out many emotions in me.
This is the story of the Wall children who lived a life of poverty and betrayal. The children were often neglected and had to fend for themselves in many ways. At one point, they are so hungry that they forge through the fields and area around where they lived to find greens that were eatable. They mostly lived in miserable housing, where they often had no heat and the children would bundle up for any warmth that they could get! One of the most amazing truths of the story is that the mother, had a teaching degree, but would work only when absolutely pushed to do so. The father was gifted in many ways, but completely undisciplined. He had little formal education, but was charismatic, bright and able to get work. However, because of his drinking binges, he was not able to keep jobs for any length of time. The four children, Laurie, Jeanette, Brian and Maureen were taught to read by their mother before they started school and were taught math and astronomy by their father. Their parents were bright, but terribly selfish!
I was astounded by the often-insensitive behavior of Mrs. Wall, who herself had the good fortune to be raised by a caring mother and apparently brought up in a nice home. I had more sympathy for Mr. Wall, who had a terrible mother and spent most of his life living in the worse kind of poverty and abuse. To me, he was much more likeable, but sadly when drunk could and did become a despicable human being.
Jeanette and her older siblings persevered and their story is amazing! I admire them and the way they pulled their lives together after a disruptive and often miserable childhood!
Judith Miller
 Clear-eyed portrayal of a rough upbringing August 13, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
In this book, Walls writes about her upbringing at the hands of eccentric, nomadic parents. Her mother is a potentially-crazy mother, and her father is an alcoholic. Walls, along with her brother and two sisters, was left largely to her own devices. Walls' removed, nonjudgmental voice is the only thing that saves this book from typical, sappy sentimentality. I found many parts of the story to be cliched, including many of Walls' reactions to her life circumstances.
Five stars: An inspirational true story August 11, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
An amazing story of courage, confidence, and most of all, love. The tales from Jeannette's crazy childhood are, at times, unbelievable. There were moments when I wanted to scream through the pages of the book at her parents, and even at Jeannette herself. Her parents followed their beliefs and failed to hold steady jobs. As a result, Jeannette and her siblings often went hungry, were unable to bathe, and endured freezing winter nights in their shack that didn't have running water or a heater. Rex and Rose Mary's actions were appalling and abusive. However, it's apparent they loved their children, even though their behavior was very rarely in the kids' best interest. This must be why Jeannette shows no contempt toward them; only disappointment at times. Jeannette's unconditional love for her parents is inspiring. I also loved the way the siblings stuck together throughout the good times and bad -- and the reality is there were a lot of bad times. Jeannette has plenty to complain about, but she doesn't. She rose above her upbringing and persevered; there's a lot to be learned from her story. Five starts and a must read!
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