Review: Table 3 for me!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 28, 2011
Diane Hanks is a brave woman to bare her soul to the world as she did in her book "Summer Camp". As a child of a  dysfunctional familyalso, I cried as I finished reading this book.  Most families have some problems that they are dealing with but Di, as her family called her, had everything alcohol, mental illness, and poverty but maybe the secrets were the most devastating.As a young child she and her siblings became so excited when their Father told them they were going to "summer camp". It was heart wrenching to the children when they realized they had been betrayed by their Father and it was actually a nightmare of a foster home.  This was just one of the "minor lies" that the children were told. Di was forced into the role of Mother to her younger sister and brother and eventually Mother to her own Mother and a housekeeper for her Father.  The emotions in this book run so deep that it is hard to summarize in a few paragraphs and convey all the feelings and emotions that the kids had growing up.We all have a choice in life regardless of our circumstances or upbringing, we can stay in a pattern of dysfunction or choose  something better for ourselves.I found it very interesting how three children in the same environment could turn out so differently. Diane perhaps was lucky that she had to accept the role of an adult at an early age as it make her aware of her own self worth.This was a very sad book and had a very emotional impact on me. Everyone should read this memoir so that they can appreciate all the good things that they given in their lives. I will remember this book for a long time as it has forced me to look inside myself to find some answers.Even if you had a Walton's family  ( one of Diane's favorite TV programs) household growing up you will benefit from reading this book.Thank you so much for (Diane Hanks) offering me this book to read and an opportunity to voice my opinion.