How does one young man survive the deaths of his entire family and manage to make something worthwhile of his life? In this poignant and original coming-of-age story, indie rock musician Mark Oliver Everett tells the story of his "ridiculous, sometimes tragic, and always unsteady" upbringing and how it fed into his creativity. The insecure son of a genius physicist, Everett was left to run wild with his sister while his father was off in some parallel universe of his own invention. A string of tragedies would claim his family members one by one, yet somehow Everett managed to not only survive, but to make a life. Striking out on a journey to find himself, he channeled his experiences into critically acclaimed music with the Eels. Told with surprising candor, Things the Grandchildren Should Know is an inspiring and remarkable story full of hope, humor, and wry wisdom.
Bonus: Contains songs performed by Eels guitarist The Chet
"[A] thrillingly eccentric story…Crucially, Everett picks the right stories to tell…It makes you trust every word coming off the end of Everett's fingers. His book is a subtle, touching thing."
"Where it could be self-pitying it's actually uplifting. As a book about the creative process, and the circumstances propelling that process, it's revealing, grimly humorous and just about peerless."
"His unique sensibility is as apparent in his prose as in his music. This book isn't just for devotees. Even those unfamiliar with or indifferent to Everett's work will still enjoy meeting him."
"What comes off the page is optimism and, frequently, humour. Everett's underdog charm and ability to tell a story keeps us rooting for him until the end."
"Candid and touching…[with] the same sincerity and wit of his songs…Peppered with insights into the tawdry motives of the music industry, this is primarily a story of spirited resilience from one of pop's most maverick survivors."
"Everett, front man and creative force behind the remarkable indie rock band, the Eels, offers a stunning memoir about his childhood and ultimate rise to international success as a writer and musician. Read by fellow band member the Chet, the story is so jaw-dropping it will have even the most hardcore Eels fans reeling…The Chet, a natural performer who knows how to connect with his audience, offers a simple, uncomplicated reading yet one that carries a certain poetic intensity."
"As the leader of the alternative-rock band the Eels, Everett has already built a reputation for wry wit and lyrical candor, and this book epitomizes the X-Generation attitude towards mortality with its deadpan humor and world-weary cynicism. Everett pulls the ultimate postmodern trick when he recruits fellow Eel The Chet to do the narration. Essentially 'playing' his band mate, Chet has a snide tone, as impassive as that of a DJ on a college radio station. It's the perfect vehicle to assert Everett's identity as a cynical post-Boomer."
