The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls

This book rocked me. Jeannette Walls upbringing was awful. I don't know how she survived. To me, her father was pretty clearly schizophrenic and her mother was a narcissist to the utmost extreme. During their time in the desert, they were always picking up and moving in the middle of the night. They lived in cars. They starved. The parents were so into their belief that kids should learn for themselves that they did not correct behavior involving fire and guns. When Jeannette was sexually abused, her mother just casually said that such things were crimes of perception and if Jeannette did not feel hurt, then there was no wrong done. The parents stole from their children. They bought booze, art supplies, and chocolate bars (that weren't shared with the kids) rather than have electricity, garbage collection, or food in their hovel of a home. It was unbelievable.

But what rocked me most was that I didn't hate these parents. I even feel that I learned from them. I have joked with friends that I think maybe I should abuse my children just a little bit so that they become as strong and self-reliant as the Walls kids were. The abuse part is truly a joke... but there are things that the parents did that were good. They emphasized reading, exploration, and pushing the learning envelope. They taught their kids to be self confident (standing up to other kids) and to face their fears (e.g. Demon hunting). Jeannette was doing her math homework in binary code, which her father taught her, when she was very young because the schoolwork was otherwise too remedial for her.

But there are many things that I will just never forgive the Wallses for, even if Jeannette has. This family will stick with me for a long time. Great book.