The Glass Castle (Jeanette Walls)

This is one hell of a story.... and it's true. I saw the author on Oprah and later in that same week a friend recommended the book to me. The Walls family is one of the most unusual familes I have ever met. The narrorator is one of four children parented by two very unusual people. The Mother is a frustrated and somewhat lazy artist who is not willing to work in order to support her family. The Father is a big dreamer who loves his family, but is troubled by his own problems with alcohol and follow-through. The flaws of the parents mean a difficult life for their children. Most of the time the family is without food, electricity, and basic necessities.

Eventually the children grow up and head to New York where they work hard and forge their own lives. The parents follow and after living on the streets for many years, they become part of a community of squatters on the Lower West Side of NY. This is the story of an amazing family. They are about as nontraditional as you can get, but they do love each other. Their children struggle to find a place in the world as adults. The book raises alot of questions about the nature of family and identity. A great read.