How do you rate a book that is someone’s memoir? And what does your rating say? Well, I’m not sure how you guys do it, but for me, I base my rating solely on how engaged I was with the author’s story. If I give it a low rating, does that mean that I think this author has nothing to say? No. It just means what this author had to say didn’t resonate with me. And that’s okay. Everybody sees everything different. And I mean everything (for real guys, the dress was white and gold).

In Walls’ case, her story seems to be a true rags-to-riches, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps story. Growing up she had nothing but a father who likes to run from the law, and a mother who liked to paint. No consistent housing, not many friends, but plenty of siblings to keep her entertained. Two word summary: non-conventional. Though, I feel like stories like these are becoming more and more conventional.

I could see Walls’ determination to escape her restless upbringing early on in her writing and I was determined to see what the culmination of her efforts would be, and either she was very determined and underplayed her struggle once arriving to New York, or that woman (though she was a girl at the time) had a lucky star looking over her and a horseshoe….hidden somewhere on her person.

All in all, I finished the book, and for a memoir, I call that a win.