I sat on my surfboard dangling my feet into the cold ocean, as the setting sun brightened the sky with pinks and oranges.

Out on the water, away from the busyness of Los Angeles, there isn’t a man-made sound to be heard. Just water splashing, seagulls chirping, the slight breeze echoing in my ears. And my mind wandered to Jack’s first visit to the beach. …more

The problem with reading a modern memoir is that often they suck. The influx of reality shows and confessional writing (ahem, Tori Spelling) has placed an emphasis on story and less on literary craft. This is why when I read a good memoir like The Glass Castle, I’m almost taken aback by the experience. Walls not only has a strong story to tell, but she tells it masterfully in short, concise chapters that evoke complicated emotions on idealism and responsibility. …more