I recently finished this book and I have to say I loved it. I see why it's been on the New York Times best sellers list for so long. I'm not a big reader but this book kept me wanting to read every where I went. This is a non-fiction book written about Jeanette's childhood. She talks about her relationship with her siblings and her parents. She breaks the book up into different stages in her life then elaborates on all of the places that her family moved to when she was young, how her parents took care of her and her siblings the best way they could, how most times they didn't have enough money to buy food for days at a time.
After reading this book, I gained a new appreciation for those who are just getting by. This book taught me to never forget that when I think things are bad, they reallly aren't and there are people who are far less fortunate than I am yet they still smile and look at the bright side of life.
I would definitely recommend this book!
Synopsis:
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.
