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hannah_book's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
sarahweyand's review against another edition
2.25
I don't doubt that Jeannette is a good journalist because that's exactly how this memoir comes across - cold, objective, and distant. That's not what was needed; I wanted reflection, feelings, insights, not a retelling of her childhood framed as some fairytale novel. It felt like half the story was missing without Jeannette including her emotions at the time or how the events of her childhood made her feel. I was fuming the whole time and she did a good job of retelling her life to elicit those emotions, but I felt like I was more upset than she was writing it.
Speaking of, I think Walls did too good a job of retelling her life to the point where I started to consider her an unreliable narrator. There was too much anecdotal detail; no one remembers stories from when they were three or four, let alone with the descriptions she provides. I don't want to start doubting an author for telling her clearly traumatic life story.
This is a long review but I'm almost done. The nail in the coffin for this whole memoir is the ending. There is zero catharsis. It feels like Walls refuses to fully acknowledge the harm her parents did to her. Hell, the synopsis of this book ends with the phrase " the intense love of a peculiar but loyal family". I'm sorry. Have you seen the trigger warnings I'm adding to this book??? There is no love. This family is not "peculiar", it was abusive. I'm left feeling empty and frustrated with the author, who should not be the target of those kind of emotions after reading a story like this one.
Read Educated instead.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, and Racial slurs
rainerasnic's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Rape, Alcohol, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Sexual harassment
nobi's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Alcoholism
chandle5's review against another edition
1.5
The only reason this gets any kind of rating is that Jeannette overcame this kind of childhood and became a beautiful writer.
Graphic: Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism
Minor: Rape, Suicide attempt, Incest, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent
_desreads's review against another edition
5.0
Walls writes a gripping and, at many moments heartbreaking, retelling of her childhood and how she eventually became a successful writer in New York City. If you want a grid for comparison, I think it is a mix of Nowhere Girl, Educated and Fierce Attachments. Not a light read but one that will linger in your heart and invite you to reflect on how varied our pasts can be to bring us into who we are today.
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, and Drug use
ellemwan's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault
mariosansav's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
luckyonesoph's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Fatphobia
sapphicsoilscientist's review against another edition
0.25
Save yourself some time and go read Educated instead.
Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Mental illness, Child abuse, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, and Car accident