Book review: The Glass Castle: A Memoir

This memoir by Jeanette Walls (MSNBC columnist) about her unusual upbringing was incredibly compelling and thought provoking.

Walls' memoir centers upon her parents and their effect on her and her siblings. She describes the good and the bad of her childhood, emphasizing the positive aspects of her upbringing in equal measure with the negative. The good: her parents loved her and her siblings and taught them to value creativity, self-sufficiency, music, self-worth, and learning. The bad: her parents were free-spirited at best and neglectful and abusive at worst. As a child, Walls was molested by a drifter because her parents refused to lock the doors or windows and, as a teenager, she was forced to rummage through the trash for food as her father spent their money on alcohol and gambling.

Walls is an amazing storyteller. She chose to tell her story in an almost impartial manner, which I thought was pretty extraordinary. She avoids bitterness and instead tells her story with grace, compassion, and humor. I found myself absorbed in her story, marveling over her parents' equally terrible and wonderful qualities, and ultimately reflecting on my own family. Definitely recommend.

Any other memoirs I should check out?