Mark Everett (aka E) is the son of Hugh Everett III the man who postulated the many-worlds theory of quantum physics. E is also the lead singer of one of my all time favourite bands - Eels.
This book details his life up to and including Eels's 5th album Blinking Lights.
It's a fascinating look into a life packed with more tragedy than you might expect to be possible. Yet E never asks for sympathy from the reader - but this particular reader found myself upset along with him as he described the deaths of his family.
He tells his story in a refreshing, no nonsense way. There are no bells and whistles to the writing. He just tells us the key moments in his life that formed the man he has become, from his far from perfect childhood, through grief and loss as an adult, and his battle with depression.
The story behind the writing of Electro Shock Blues was truly heartbreaking and that album has a whole new set of resonances since I read this book.
This is far from a misery memoir though. It's frequently funny and the whole book is shot through with life affirmation and hope for the future.
This was a reread for me. When I first bought it many years ago, i read 70 pages on the bus home from the shops, and finished it the next day. This time around, I've read it in 2 days again. It's one of the easiest and fastest reads I know.
Yet despite the easiness of the reading (and easy reading is hard writing), this book will move you. It will make you laugh. it will make you cry and it will give you hope for your future.
Mark Everett has always written great lyrics. In this book he proves he's a great writer.
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