It was incredible that although her childhood was so rough and they lived such a destitute life, the way she wrote about her experiences was so lighthearted and optimistic. The parents seemed like they loved there kids and weren't violent, they just had really odd ideas and their priorities were definatly their own (the father drinking and mother's art) instead of their children's.
The parts that really made me upset and angry at the father was when he took her into the bar and acted like it was no big deal. Any other father would have killed a man that came near his little girl. It was also frustrating when the mother refused to go to work even though her kids were starving or freezing. It seemed like she lacked motherly instincts to protect her children.
I was really impressed with the kids and how they were able to overcome their childhood and become really successful in life. What a triumph to come from that kind of background and make something of yourself.
