I heard about this book from reading a friend's blog. I think she has good taste so I thought I would check it out sometime. My mother gave me a copy for Christmas and not quite ready to delve into the next book club book I decided to pick this one up to read really fast.The story was absolutely amazing. It's a true story of how Jeannette Walls grew up, which was pretty much as poor as you can possibly be. The amazing thing is how the children had to take care of themselves and take care of their parents. I love how Jeannette tries to make a stand to her parents about changing the way they live but to no avail. Her parents are free spirits and probably a lot of fun at times but mostly they seemed to be very selfish and didn't want to do anything they didn't want to do even if their kids were starving and homeless. It wasn't that means weren't available to perhaps jump them into wealth either, the mother especially was completely stubborn when it came to things she thought or wanted. One of the things their parents did give them was intelligence. Their parents were incredibly smart people and relayed everything they knew to their kids.
I highly recommend this book. The way most of the kids pull themselves out of the gutter to move themselves to New York and make their own way was truly amazing. This book also made me look at poor people in different ways and how it is such a stigma in this society. The only problem is that the Walls parents chose to be that way.
photo from BarnesandNoble.com
3 comments:
Maybe if I read this I won't feel like the BIGGEST failure as a mom!
Oh Booklogged, you're such a great mom that your kids can't stand to leave you. But I think I need to read this one as well. Another one to borrow.
I was totally shocked by the mother's behavior in this book. It really made me cringe because she loved the same things I do- art and books, but indulged herself in them to the point of neglecting her children!
Post a Comment