Reading this book is to know what it is like to champion for someone you will never know yet to feel like they've given you a piece of themselves and their history. This book was filled with a lot of harsh realities that many people in this world are facing, from poverty to abuse to mental illness, but reading all the bad was worth it to get to all the good that this book encompassed. It was not solely about the bad experiences in Jollett's life, but instead the theme that came through the most was love in the midst of bad times, how our passions can help us on the road to finding and understanding our identities, and how rewarding breaking generational cycles can be.
Even though I knew Jollett went to Stanford and is the frontman for Airborne Toxic Event, I still found myself enwrapped in the story thinking how is he going to overcome his circumstances or will the cycle he was born into continue to perpetuate. I liked the way the book was structured as it felt like we were both discovering things together the older Jollett got as he realized that his experiences were not normal and instead were traumatic and abusive.
I loved the musical element throughout the book of how music gave him a way to not feel alone and to express parts of himself he was unsure about. I would have loved if the book included a playlist of all the songs mentioned because I haven't heard most of them, but I think listening to songs mentioned in books while reading adds to the experience. I also think there was just the right amount of information about Synanon in the book, especially with his research in college included, as I like the focus more on how that experience affected Jollett and his family throughout their lives.
Overall, I thought this was a great book. I do not usually read memoirs, but I was so glad I won this book because its theme of overcoming was so inspiring. I felt connected to all of the "characters" and was rooting for them all, especially Tony, Jollett's brother. The relationship between Jollett and his father also brought the touch of hope and love that is needed in a book filled with so much pain.
Even though I knew Jollett went to Stanford and is the frontman for Airborne Toxic Event, I still found myself enwrapped in the story thinking how is he going to overcome his circumstances or will the cycle he was born into continue to perpetuate. I liked the way the book was structured as it felt like we were both discovering things together the older Jollett got as he realized that his experiences were not normal and instead were traumatic and abusive.
I loved the musical element throughout the book of how music gave him a way to not feel alone and to express parts of himself he was unsure about. I would have loved if the book included a playlist of all the songs mentioned because I haven't heard most of them, but I think listening to songs mentioned in books while reading adds to the experience. I also think there was just the right amount of information about Synanon in the book, especially with his research in college included, as I like the focus more on how that experience affected Jollett and his family throughout their lives.
Overall, I thought this was a great book. I do not usually read memoirs, but I was so glad I won this book because its theme of overcoming was so inspiring. I felt connected to all of the "characters" and was rooting for them all, especially Tony, Jollett's brother. The relationship between Jollett and his father also brought the touch of hope and love that is needed in a book filled with so much pain.