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"Before you know it as the years go by, you're just like other people you have seen, with all those peculiar human ailments. Just another vehicle for temper and vanity and rashness and all the rest. Who wants it? Who needs it? These things occupy the place where a man's soul should be." -- Henderson the Rain King

Monday, February 20, 2006

Oh The Glory Of It All

Book #7 of my '06 reading list was McSweeney's editor Sean Wilsey's epic (480 pages!) memoir Oh The Glory Of It All, which by the way also gets the distinction of being my first library book of the year (check is in the mail Sean).

Any book that garners blurbs from Dave Eggers and George Saunders (and a kick ass title) is bound to be good, so with that in mind I picked this one up with high expectations. Fortunately it didn't disappoint. It's a fascinating tale of growing up dysfunctionally rich, complete with high society parties, scary private schools, a messy divorce, and more teenage rebellion than you can shake a skateboard at. It's all told with a raw intensity that reminded me of Eggers' (equally well dubbed) classic A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.

Some will question the truthfulness of Wilsey's account of things ala James Frey, but he (and his publisher the Penguin Group) has stood by them despite Dede Wilsey's (aka the evil step-mom) one time threats to sue if the book went to press. Completely accurate or not, it really doesn't matter to me, it would still be an interesting read even if the whole thing were fiction.

Detailed Reviews/Articles
MetaCritic's collection of reviews
Powell's review
Seattle Weekly review
Village Voice article
Suicide Girls interview

Links/pictures of a few people mentioned in the book
Al Wilsey (dad)
Pat Montandon (mom)
Dede Wilsey (step-mom)
Danielle Steel (yes that Danielle Steel)
John Traina

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posted by Jamie at 9:57 PM