I found the same difficulties with this book as I found with Reading Lolita in Tehran. She is a fascinating story-teller, but is consistently derailed from her story by her need to analyze and explain her life. I have no real problem with her choice to write in that fashion, I just don't personally enjoy it that much. I think that in many ways, she is a woman of great courage, she has overcome many difficulties in her life, and I would totally take a class from her if I had the chance. So, read it, don't read it. My review won't be particularly helpful.