hello e

A book I received for Christmas was “Things the Grandchildren Should Know” by Mark Oliver Everett. The author is the lead singer/director/instrumentalist/brains behind the band “Eels” and wrote this autobiography about his life so far.
Everett, or E as his stage name, lived a harsh life. His parents had a rough, aloof way of parenting, E often referred to it as ‘a sink or swim’ sort of teaching. Mr. Everett was a physics engineer genius, awkward and unsocial, while Mrs. Everett was an eccentric free spirit, ignoring simple social standards, none of the Everett children were properly taken care of. E had a wild drug addict sister, seven years his senior, who greatly influenced his life more than any of his parents.
E spent his adolescent unhappy and lonely. He spent his money on a cheap drum set, during E’s darker moods referred to as his only friend. His sister suffered many conditions, constantly battling depression and drug addictions. E dedicates a whole chapter to his sixth grade girlfriend. Their relationship was intense, full of mature emotions and sexual tasks. E fell madly in love with this unnamed girl, or at least as much love as a young teenager could be in. Though, one day, she broke up with him randomly, for the new boy in class.
Overall I was quite impressed with Everett’s writing. It’s rough, choppy and honest, just like his story. I fell in love with this band a long time ago, and E’s book gave me numerous insights into their sadly clever songs.