Jeannette Walls

This was a really intriguing read. I liked that Walls wrote without much introspection and focused on writing what actually happened, according to her memory.

There were many parts of her childhood that sounded downright fun, but I just can't get over her parents' irresponsibility and subversive priorities.

The complacency regarding sexual abuse was what horrified me the most. After reporting to her mother that her uncle had groped her while he masturbated, Jeannette's mother has more sympathy for the uncle than her daughter, saying that her uncle is just lonely. She goes on to tell her daughter:

"... sexual assault [is] a crime of perception. If you don't think you're hurt, then you aren't. So many women make such a big deal out of these things. But you're stronger than that." (p.184)

Unfortunately, this was not the only incidence of sexual abuse recorded in the book, but every time, her parents glossed over it and acted like it was not wrong at all.… (mer)