“Everyone I love is broken. Or was. That’s how we recognize each other.”
Mikel Jollett, frontman for The Airborne Toxic Event, began his life in a cult, separated from his parents, spending his early years being shaped by an isolating environment until his mother escaped one night with him and his brother. His life did not become easier then, as his mother carried her own heavy baggage that led to emotional abuse and negligence paired with unrealistic expectations for him to fulfill as her caretaker. His early experiences were horrific and took a toxic toll, even after he was able to leave her to live with his father.
I do not think I’ve said this of a memoir before but I did not want this book to end. If I could have consumed it in small doses forever without ever reaching the last page, I would have. It’s a thing of beauty, this book. A song that you keep on replay. An Independence Day fireworks display - it starts out spectacular and just gets better as it ends.
Mikel Jollett shares his story with a keen sense of self-awareness and a good dose of humility. He acknowledges his own shortcomings, the way his own pain hurt others, and the challenging steps he had to take to find healing.
I enjoy reading memoirs but there are certain specifics that appeal to me within this genre. I like to read memoirs about overcoming hardships, especially abuse, but I want more than just a story of difficulty and triumph. I want to know exactly how those experiences made them feel. I want the battered, bleeding heart of it all. Jollett delivers on all counts. He pulled me into the depth of his emotions and I could feel the words that he wrote. This is truly a powerful book.
I loved how Jollett told the story of his early years through a child’s perspective, providing a painfully clear understanding of his inability to properly process things at such a young age. As he ages in the narrative, the storytelling method matures, eventually becoming rich with poetic depth and hard-earned wisdom. The experience of reading about Jollett’s life was quite immersive, overwhelmingly sad, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Hollywood Park will be added to my list of favorite memoirs. This book meant so much to me. I am grateful that Mikel Jollett has welcomed all of us into this private, vulnerable world. My own world might be a little better because of it.
Mikel Jollett, frontman for The Airborne Toxic Event, began his life in a cult, separated from his parents, spending his early years being shaped by an isolating environment until his mother escaped one night with him and his brother. His life did not become easier then, as his mother carried her own heavy baggage that led to emotional abuse and negligence paired with unrealistic expectations for him to fulfill as her caretaker. His early experiences were horrific and took a toxic toll, even after he was able to leave her to live with his father.
I do not think I’ve said this of a memoir before but I did not want this book to end. If I could have consumed it in small doses forever without ever reaching the last page, I would have. It’s a thing of beauty, this book. A song that you keep on replay. An Independence Day fireworks display - it starts out spectacular and just gets better as it ends.
Mikel Jollett shares his story with a keen sense of self-awareness and a good dose of humility. He acknowledges his own shortcomings, the way his own pain hurt others, and the challenging steps he had to take to find healing.
I enjoy reading memoirs but there are certain specifics that appeal to me within this genre. I like to read memoirs about overcoming hardships, especially abuse, but I want more than just a story of difficulty and triumph. I want to know exactly how those experiences made them feel. I want the battered, bleeding heart of it all. Jollett delivers on all counts. He pulled me into the depth of his emotions and I could feel the words that he wrote. This is truly a powerful book.
I loved how Jollett told the story of his early years through a child’s perspective, providing a painfully clear understanding of his inability to properly process things at such a young age. As he ages in the narrative, the storytelling method matures, eventually becoming rich with poetic depth and hard-earned wisdom. The experience of reading about Jollett’s life was quite immersive, overwhelmingly sad, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Hollywood Park will be added to my list of favorite memoirs. This book meant so much to me. I am grateful that Mikel Jollett has welcomed all of us into this private, vulnerable world. My own world might be a little better because of it.