I just finished reading Jeannette Walls book and I admit it was a hard read because of all the abuse she and her siblings experienced. But unlike some of the other reviews I have read on this site, I believe her account of her life to be true as she remembers it. As far as her remembering events from the age of three, I would think she had the benefit of her siblings memories as well to help her. Considering how they supported one another throughout their unfortunate childhood, I would think that this would be a given. And as a teacher, I have seen students who loved their parents no matter what abuse was heaped upon them. One issue that I haven't seen discussed in these reviews was the possibility that the mother was suffering from a mental illness (perhaps bipolar disorder). It would explain her addiction to an 'excitement' lifestyle and the ridiculous choices she made for her family. I would also be interested in a psychologist's or psychiatrist's take on this mother. Additionally, I believe that she could love her father, even considering the terrible things he did to her. He loved her in his own way and she accepted him for who he was, but as an adult she made sure she didn't marry a man like him. I was disappointed that the adult Jeannette didn't give more analysis of what she experienced, but maybe that would have been too painful for her. I commend her for having the courage to disclose the raw memories of her childhood. Kudos for this heart retching memoir!