Books and Jams Readalong discussion

I'm so glad to finally be reading this book. It is divided into 5 parts. So we will do 1 and 2 here, 3 on it's own and 4 and 5 together at the end.

Now that we're over 100 pages in, Are the parents as bad as everyone says? How are you finding the writing style? Has anything surprised you yet?

I don't think they were intentionally bad parents. I think they loved their children but definitely could have used therapy. I started listening to it on audio and finished it in print. I thought the writing style was easy to read.

I got through these first two sections today. It's really reading pretty quickly. It's so interesting that she remembers so much from her childhood. Maybe because mine was so different I don't really remember that much. haha.

I keep hearing people say this book made them angry and that the parents are so awful. I don't know where the anger comes in yet, but I do agree the parents were pretty bad parents. It's hard to separate my value system from it though too. I do think there's definitely love between the parents and the kids, but the parents are incredibly selfish. Sometimes they're doing the best with what they've got, but they're also choosing their own stuff (art and alcohol) over giving their kids basic necessities like dinner and clean clothes. It's pretty sad. I'm intrigued to see where we go from here. Will it get much worse or more of the same? I guess I'll find out.

I am on page 155 and I’m just heartbroken for these poor kids. I cannot imagine having parents like this. I think deep down they love their kids, but as a mom, I just cannot understand the decisions they make.

I think these parents absolutely loved their children, but also absolutely shouldn’t have been parents. It does read very quickly and I really appreciate her writing style. Reminiscent of Educated, but I like this memoir much more. Not sure if it’s because these parents, while neglectful parents, weren’t physically and psychologically abusive as Westover’s were or if it’s because Walls writes so lovingly of her parents even though they weren’t good parents as most would consider it. Anxious to see what happens next.

I don't think the parents are necessarily bad parents. They seem to truly care about them and love them, I think to the best of there ability. They are actually very smart but between the fathers alcoholism and the mothers free spirit the children have to pretty much take care of there selves and because of that they learn faster than most children there age. When their father is sober he seems to teach them so many interesting things. I actual enjoy Jeannette Walls writing and her excitement for a life that most of us would find horrible. As the story moves along though it seems she is realizing her father isn't as wonderful as she likes to believe. It also seems that Brian and Lori figured that out way before Jeannette. I looked forward to the rest of the story and how her life and those of her family's turn out.

I am a bit late finishing this, but it is definitely a compelling story, written with unflinching honesty, I think these parents are unconventional and very self-centred at times. In addition, they make irresponsible decisions such as letting pedophiles in the house and allowing a three-year-old to cook hotdogs. Stories of addiction are always tragic, but there is love in this family.