Richly described the pleasures and loneliness of childhood, insightful about generational trauma, with wild imagery of the natural world, this memoir goes down like a Neko Case song.

A raw down to earth celebrity memoir. I felt really connected to Neko Case while listening and the fact that she narrated the audiobook really helped. I had fun looking up some of the musical artists she mentioned along the way and taking breaks from the book to listen to them.
The only thing I had hoped was that Neko, being a horse lover, and dedicating portions of the book to talking about her love for horses, would also have mentioned a bit about how horses as sentient beings do not exist for humans to use.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGallery for letting me listen!

4.5 stars

As an incoming fan of Neko Case, it was easy to build enthusiasm around this forthcoming memoir. The end result lived up to my high expectations.

Throughout this work, Case highlights the journey that led her not only to music but also to the understanding of humanity she possesses today. In her early life, her socioeconomic status and her parents' shortcomings made an indelible mark. Her mom? Well, she's an unforgettable character to say the least. In addition to coming to terms with her mother's personal traumas, Case explores the ways in which her mom's actions ultimately traumatized her, even while these moments were - in contemporary circumstances - often just bizarre or even seemingly overlooked by others. Most adult readers will be able to easily realize that it is somewhat miraculous that Case came out of even just that relationship with any level of functionality. It's particularly jarring to recognize some of the parallels between Case's experiences and her mother's and to understand the larger ties Case sees between them.

Though the connection between the author and her mother is a standout for me, the narrative remains compelling throughout. Incoming fans of this personality as well as those who are simply searching for a gritty but readable and engaging memoir will find a lot to admire here. I know I did.