I bought this book last year and I've been dying to read it ever since. I started it today.

I picked this book up when I woke up this morning a little before 6 and read the last 100 pages or so. I just couldn't put it down. It was very, very good. I can't decide whether to give it 9 or 10 stars. It has certainly stayed with me, though.

I'll try to post a longer review when I'm finished digesting it.

Passed on to a couple of friends of mine.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Godspeed, little book!"

I picked this up at the BC in DC meetup today. Though I don't read many memoirs, I usually enjoy the experience when I do. There are a few memoir writers in my Writers' Roundtable group. One member keeps suggesting to another to read this book and since it's been mentioned so many times as a fantastic example of some things my fellow writers are dealing with in their writings, I've been rather curious to give this book a read as well.

Thanks for the opportunity to do so!

Six years. I've had this book sitting on my shelf for six years. But, finally, I have read it! I finished it just two hours ago, actually. It was such a quick read once I started it, and I never wanted to put it down. It was like a train wreck you can't look away from... and you don't want to.

Jeannette's parents were something like modern day nomads, surviving on little and never staying in one place at a time. The times they did have an actual house, it was so terrible as to be falling apart--blocks of ice in the sink, holes in the stairs, no roof, no heating, etc. And that's not the worst by far. I had no idea people chose to live like this as a family... though the children didn't really have a choice and realized that they didn't have to live like this (and, thus, left as soon as they could). Her father was an alcoholic but kind and a dreamer. Her mother was lazy and self-centered and so supportive of her husband. And her garbage collection... was a pit in the backyard. I was shocked and astounded but none of it was so unbelievable that I thought it could be untrue.

I thought one of the most interesting parts was watching the author's awareness as she aged, at first feeling like her life was normal and then realizing that her normal was not what other peoples' normals were. She still loved her family and parents, but that was at odds with the struggling and wanting something better than drawing spots on your skin with markers to hide the fact that your jeans are full of holes. Another interesting aspect was the concept of homelessness and the choice some people make to survive like that because they want to rather than have to. That was really interesting to witness and think about.

Definitely glad to have finally read this book!

I'm only rating it 9 out of 10 stars because I could definitely have read more if it had been longer!

Taking this to the BCinDC meetup.

Welcome to BookCrossing!

Making a journal entry here lets me know the book has been found and is safe in your hands. The book is yours now! Read it, give it to a friend, pass it on, or keep it forever--it's your choice.

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I hope you enjoy the book. Happy reading!

I was excited to see this book up for grabs at the meeting. I read the author's other book and enjoyed it a few years ago. I hope to read it and move it on more quickly than KateKintail was able to, but no guarantees.

I was cleaning and organizing all of my books and discovered that I have a copy (unregistered) on the pile. Since this has a really strong first line, I will take it to the holiday party.

This book is one of many being passed around at the BCinDC Holiday Party as part of the First-Line/Wrap-It-Up game. Who knows where it will go from there?

Any future reader or recipient of this book is encouraged to leave a journal entry here on the BookCrossing site to let prior readers know the fate of the book. You can make an anonymous entry without joining the BookCrossing movement, but if you are interested in joining, it is a free and spam-free community where your contact information is not shared with others. Best of all, members receive private messages via e-mail from books like this one when those books are journaled, allowing for long-term relationships between books and readers.

Picked this up at the BCinDC holiday party, where it came highly recommended by several people. So it's going on the TBR pile!

A memoir about a woman's strange upbringing in a nomadic family headed by an eccentric and alcoholic father. It's almost equal parts funny, sad, sweet, and horrifying. What was most striking to me was the author's gradual realization that her living conditions were unacceptable. As a kid, everything seems normal because you don't know anything else. There were parts of this that were kind of cringeworthy and others that were heartbreaking, but in general it was a very good, very satisfying read. Worth it, if only to learn more about how people live who don't live like you do.

Bringing this to today's BCinDC meetup.

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Welcome to BookCrossing!
Thank you so much for picking up this book. Please make a journal entry here on this page if you haven’t already done so to let me know that this book has found a good home. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (it is entirely free). If you choose to join, please consider using any previous reader of this book, or me, melydia, as the member who referred you.
I really hope you enjoy the book you found! When you’re done reading it, you can make another journal entry with your comments here to let me know what you thought of it. You can keep the book forever and ever or pass it on to someone else. If you’re giving it to someone directly, make another journal entry saying so. If you choose to leave it somewhere “in the wild” for anyone to catch, make release notes that indicate where you left it. If you register, you will be alerted by e-mail each time someone makes another journal entry. It’s all confidential (you’re known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free. Then you can track this book as it goes on its journey!

Caught at the BCinDC meetup at Noodles & Company in Congressional Plaza, Rockville, Maryland, USA. Thank you for this book!

I'm releasing this book by request to BookCrosser SweetBabyJane.

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I'm releasing this book for...

***The 2019 Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes Release Challenge hosted by awaywithfairies. The book's title and/or author's name contains the word ASS.

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Hello and welcome to BookCrossing ... where we make the whole world a library!

Now that you've "caught" this book, it is yours to do with as you like. Read it, keep it, or give it away. It's your choice!

I'd love if you'd enter a note here on BookCrossing about this book -- where you found it, how you like it, and/or where you release it. If you join BookCrossing (free and fun), kindly list me, SqueakyChu , or any other journaler on this thread as your referring person. Thank you so much.

Enjoy the book!

From SqueakyChu. Looking forward to reading this one and then Half Broke Horses which I also rec'd from her. Going into our LFL 911-34.