Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn
nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary
Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among
Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic,
brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching
them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose
Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing
for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal
that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a
painting that might last forever.
Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life
faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the
family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole
the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family
escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves,
supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally,
found the resources and will to leave home.
What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that
she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she
describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story
of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional
love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery
determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.
For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells
her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and
Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor.
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