This is a fascinating memoir of disfunctional parents and the children who survived their neglect. The author speaks in a cool, uninflected voice as she recounts the story of a childhood that is almost unbelievable in 20th century U.S.A. Highly intelligent and educated parents, driven by alcoholism (the father) and eccentric artistic ambition (the mother) create a chaotic, destitute family in which the children are left to withstand the worst kind of insecurities.

My only quibble is that the author quotes verbatim whole conversations and dialogue from her earliest childhood. Can she possibly remember things that took place so long ago in such detail? There seems to be some fictionalizing along with the "memories." Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book.