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jamie_o's review against another edition
4.0
Jeannette's family was dysfunctional to the extreme. Her parents had a toxic relationship and were rebels who refused to play by the rules of society. Their parenting was neglectful and dangerous. Her father was a highly intelligent man, but he was bent on self-destruction with his alcoholism, lack of self-control, inability to hold down a job, and paranoia. But he also had some redeeming qualities (her mom, not so much) in his love for his children, especially Jeannette, and promotion of reading and learning.
Having recently read Theodore Dalrymple's book Life at the Bottom, I could not help comparing the two books. Jeannette's memoir is a testament to the truthfulness of his book. The Walls family had much in common with the British underclass he describes, but they're from a different era where parents still cared about their children's education. Jeannette's mother proved what Dalrymple claimed is true of many homeless when she blamed NYC for their homelessness, stating, "They make it too easy. If it was unbearable, we'd do something else."
One of the things I appreciate most about Jeannette is that she worked hard and succeeded despite her tough childhood, she didn't have a victim mentality and never blamed her parents for her failures.
*There are profanities, mostly from Jeannette's father. There is also some inappropriate sexual touching of minors (the accounts are brief and not too detailed).
Minor: Addiction, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Alcoholism
halloween_writes's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Medical content, Racial slurs, Rape, Alcohol, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Addiction, Bullying, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent
ravenn22ash's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse
rileyyy02's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Classism, Abandonment, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
The moderate stuff is only what I can remember but I know there’s more. Don’t read if any of that is a trigger.elledanie's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, and Alcoholism
Minor: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
kbroshous's review against another edition
3.75
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
__n's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse
masihludmila's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Drug use, and Child abuse
gloriabyrd's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, and Injury/Injury detail
kmsander4's review against another edition
5.0
But the storytelling is second to none. You feel like you're right there beside these kids as they struggle their way through life.
This is a must read, especially for those who believe they don't or won't like non-fiction. I think this one will change your mind!
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Death