"The Three of Us"

Throughout the memoir, Julia Blackburn writes accounts of what she remembers, and of what people around her at the time have told her, she also inserts many of her old diary entries, pictures and occasionally faxes between her and an old friend in which they discuss events of their childhoods. I was a little shocked when she described what she used to write in her diaries as a young girl saying "I write about how I go to school every day, except when I am sick, or tired, or hung-over in which case I stay in bed and write about that instead" (13). She was not very old, only in her early teens so I was very surprised about her so nonchalantly talking about having a hang over, as if it was no big deal. But as I thought about it more, it really doesn't surprise me because of the clear lack of discipline by either of her parents. They were far to occupied with their own lives and careers to feel the need to take responsibility for her.
Neither Blackburn's parents or any of the adults in her life seemed to have any problem with her consuming alcohol. In fact, one morning when she went down into the kitchen after getting ready for school her mothers "partner" who was living with them (she called the men who lived in their spare bedroom lodgers) asked "Brandy?" (17). She denied his offer but nevertheless we start to see that she was treated as if she was much older my all the adults around her. As we read more it is clear that she really did not have a lot of friends and most of her time was spent around adults-namely her parents friends. She was clearly very mature for her age, having to cope with her fathers alcohol and drug addiction, as well as his abuse towards her mom. As the memoir continues, we divulge deeper and deeper into the rather twisted lives of the Blackburn family.

Blackburn, Julia. The Three of Us: A Family Story. New York: Pantheon Books, 2008.