Everything Is Wrong with Me: A Memoir of an American Childhood Gone, Well, Wrong

It's easy to understand the-next-David-Sedaris comments, but Jason Mulgrew has his own crop of neuroses. Like an interesting new cocktail of Philadelphia-inspired ingredients that aren't too stereotypically Philly this teases the brain palate with humor and pain for a great book to read while commuting. I've received a few comments about the cover and title commuting around Boston. And for some reason I thought Boston had an exlcusive on our dysfunctional Irish Catholic culture folklore. They really allowed Irish people into Philly? Who was supposed to be watching? Tim Stansky (yeah, only half Irish).

I always listened to older people talk about what it was like growing up for them, and I thought it sounded so much better/cooler/more interesting/crime-laden/etc. then the 80's and into the early 90's. My childhood was admittedly very different from Jason's, but I had never considered that the kinds of things we did could be told in a way that evokes the same nostalgia and appreciation for the old days...from sneaking peaks at porn channels on stolen cable to chubby kids marvelling at the huge advances in video games that happened in our pre-teen years, I felt like Jason's book not only made me remember parts of my childhood but long for them...sure you might have a passing warm feeling thinking of whatever childhood memory some dumbass makes a facebook fanpage/group to remind you of, but this was real, like listening to grandparents reminisce...but it was about things I remember. Very cool.

All I can say to support my rating of this book is the following: Jason, I know you have more stories so please begin writing the next book. I agree with the other reviews and only want more.

As a loyal reader of Jason's blog, I wasn't sure what to expect from the book. Would it be the same, only in a conveniently bound volume? I was pleasantly surprised that the book has completely different subject matter, looking back on Jason's childhood and family relationships with the same self-deprecating humor and approachable writing style he has perfected over the past years on his blog. Fans will love it, and those who haven't heard of Jason before will be won over by this book. It's quick and a good time, much like Jason himself.

I agree with everything Michael Conneely indicated above so i'm not going to repeat all that. The real reason I bought this book is that I've been reading Jason's blog for years and felt that I owed him something for the 100,000+ words he has put up on his site that regularly entertain. Does buying a book make us even? I'm leaning towards yes. It's a great read on top of that. It's tighter than his blog, which was already fantastic. Just buy the book already.