Books and Jams Readalong discussion

You made it! What are your final thoughts on this one? Are you glad you finally picked it up (or reread it)? What stands out to you about this memoir? How did you get along with it? What will your final rating be?

I am glad I finally read it. I should have picked it up a long time ago. Waiting on it did allow me to participate here. i just felt so sorry for the children. They had no parental guidance or support. The kids want to better themselves and the parents just like things the way they are. I gave it 4 stars.

I am also very glad I read this book.

I gave it four stars. This book was a page turner for me because I wanted to take a breath by reading about children being safe. I loved Janette and Brian especially but I also cared about Lori and Maureen as well.
When I was reading all the things that were taking place, I was horrified. I thought if it was not a memoir, I would have said this is not believable at all and no such parents can exist. I guess the saying is true "the truth is stranger than fiction"
I am aware that both parents were probably suffering from mental ilnesses (not sure about the Dad) and addiction. I tried to be tolerant towards them because of this reason but I could only do that for 50 pages, Blame me if you want but I was saying to myself "some people should not have children"...
I felt so sad for children when it was clear that they felt happy and safe at other people housesi school, workplace and anywhere but home.
Another saying is also true for the ending of the book "blood is thicker than water". Not being in place of Walls children, I cannot say anything for being tolerant to their parents.
I am so glad that they did not grow to be hateful/untrusting adults, maybe it was because of the fact they looked after each other and gave healthy love to each other.
I really liked the writing style and clearity of events described. It was not romanticised or overly dramatized. The facts were dramatic enough.
The reason I did not give five stars was that it failed move me at some parts except feeling angry at parents.

I finished the other day and really am glad I finally read this book. I ended up giving it 4 stars. I loved the relationship between Brian and Jeannette and the way all the kids came together at the end and helped each other "escape". I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed and choppy and took off a star because of it.

I'm glad I finally picked this book up. I had purchased it when it originally came out and for some reason it just never grabbed me enough to start it. I think I'm giving it 4 stars, I have to sit with it a bit longer to be sure.

I just hated the parents. I know Jeannette felt like they loved her and I was trying to be sympathetic to their hardships but I feel the parents are just selfish and did not give their children the basic necessities in life like food, shelter and protection. A friend (who happens to be a pediatric nurse) once told me that even abused children love their parents. I feel like this book was a good example of that statement.

I just finished it and I am glad I finally read it. I have had it for a few years now. I hate to say that there parents made them the strong individuals they are today, but I really think they did. I understand where Jeannette was embarrassed of her parents and not wanting them at her graduation. It is incredible to see that they made it even Maureen who I was worried was going to really go off the deep end.

I think the closeness that existed between the three older siblings was what helped them through out the years. It is sad about her father and he did really amaze me at how smart he really was. I was also shocked that there mother who to me was almost worse than the father had land that was worth so much money. How do you allow you children starve while sitting on property that could be sold and take care of your children. Although if they were to sale the land the money would probably gone before you know it.

I give this a 4 and half star. It really tore at my heartstrings and sometimes made me want to just scream for what there parents did to them.

I rate this book 4 stars. It was extremely compelling, beautifully written and must have required a lot of courage to write. I admire that Jeannette, Brian and Lori (at least, if not Maureen as well in her own way) were able to rise above horrible experiences that no one should have to face.
At the beginning of the book, their parents' eccentricity was mildly appealing, but it soon became apparent that they were remarkably selfish. Perhaps what impressed me most about the book was Jeannette's ability to convey the love and care she felt for her parents in spite of everything.
This was a reread for me, but I read it so long ago and had forgotten many details. This was a great pick that I'll keep thinking about for a long time.