Extreme poverty in childhood taught author to take nothing for granted

Some of the lies that were told in this book were simply ridiculous. I've lived in Welch all of my life and remember this girl and her family very well. During this time period Welch was the type of place that if you have a cup of sugar then your neighbor had a cup.

The only thing that I can see that Jeannettee learned well (she apparently got it from her father) is to milk a cow until it's completely dry. She's rode these lies all the way to the bank.

Shame on her for portraying Welch and the people of Welch in this negative way, especially when the majority of the things she said were LIES!

PS--if they were soooo poor then why didn't they sell that diamond ring or that property in that her mother's family owned??????

She's a moocher!

I read the book and it was one of the most inspiring books that I have ever read.
As far as Welch being such a wonderful place to be, well it may have been for you. That does not mean that is was for Jeannette. Every person has her own reality. Every family has their own reality. Quite frankly her father should have gotten a job and taken care of his family. But he didn't and Jeannette got out and became successful. She was successful even if she had never written The Glass Castle. I wish her well and I hope she continues to be successful. As one McDowell countian, go Jeannette.

just me wrote:

Some of the lies that were told in this book were simply ridiculous. I've lived in Welch all of my life and remember this girl and her family very well. During this time period Welch was the type of place that if you have a cup of sugar then your neighbor had a cup.
The only thing that I can see that Jeannettee learned well (she apparently got it from her father) is to milk a cow until it's completely dry. She's rode these lies all the way to the bank.
Shame on her for portraying Welch and the people of Welch in this negative way, especially when the majority of the things she said were LIES!
PS--if they were soooo poor then why didn't they sell that diamond ring or that property in that her mother's family owned??????
She's a moocher!

There is nothing wrong or ridiculous about being poor, most people were and still are. Nothing shameful about that, only makes a person even more grateful when they do receive. Times have been very hard here in the southern coalfields.

She sure knows how to write!

meelie mouth wrote:

<quoted text>
There is nothing wrong or ridiculous about being poor, most people were and still are. Nothing shameful about that, only makes a person even more grateful when they do receive. Times have been very hard here in the southern coalfields.

I never said that it was wrong or ridiculous to be poor. Most people in the area were the working poor, but they helped each other.

just me wrote:

Some of the lies that were told in this book were simply ridiculous. I've lived in Welch all of my life and remember this girl and her family very well. During this time period Welch was the type of place that if you have a cup of sugar then your neighbor had a cup.
The only thing that I can see that Jeannettee learned well (she apparently got it from her father) is to milk a cow until it's completely dry. She's rode these lies all the way to the bank.
Shame on her for portraying Welch and the people of Welch in this negative way, especially when the majority of the things she said were LIES!
PS--if they were soooo poor then why didn't they sell that diamond ring or that property in that her mother's family owned??????
She's a moocher!

If you dont believe there were people that poor and bad off in Welch then I have a bridge I'd like to sell you.
Grew up with people who didnt have any indoor plumbing and no 'good neighbors' to give them that cup of sugar or anything else.
You can keep your head in a sandpile if you want but some of us know the truth

Seeker wrote:

<quoted text>If you dont believe there were people that poor and bad off in Welch then I have a bridge I'd like to sell you.
Grew up with people who didnt have any indoor plumbing and no 'good neighbors' to give them that cup of sugar or anything else.
You can keep your head in a sandpile if you want but some of us know the truth

Spoken so true Kiddo!..BTW can i borrow a cup of 10-W-40 motoroil?..I wanna make my coffee darker. <grin>

Seeker wrote:

<quoted text>If you dont believe there were people that poor and bad off in Welch then I have a bridge I'd like to sell you.
Grew up with people who didnt have any indoor plumbing and no 'good neighbors' to give them that cup of sugar or anything else.
You can keep your head in a sandpile if you want but some of us know the truth

i don't think anyone is disputing that she was poor. But, if you read this book you will know what was truth and what was fiction. I don't know what Welch she lived in but, I don't remember a lot of the stuff she talks about. She made a lot of money on a book she calls fact and I call fiction. I never remember half of Welch running around with black eyes just looking for a fight. I don't remember the KKK out in the open in Welch like she claims. She told a really good story and I know some of it is true but, a lot of it is not. She painted Welch as a really bad place to live and it was not. I was poor too the only difference was my Dad worked and did not drink but we were still poor.