Chris Crutcher often writes about dysfunction, and he does so well with it because he writes what he knows. He didn’t have a terrible childhood per se, but he had major anger-management issues, an alcoholic mother, and a hard-working father who tried to keep up appearances no matter what — not to mention a trickster of an older brother who got Chris into a whole lot more trouble than he would have managed on his own. As an adult, Crutcher worked as a child and family therapist, and he did his best to help other people work past their anger to fix the messes they’d made of their lives. I liked hearing how the young Chris was already fond of speaking his mind and speaking out against injustice, and I really appreciated learning about some of the real-life people he had worked with who affected him so much that he incorporated their stories in his novels.
This autobiography was often hilarious, but sometimes brought me to tears. Between the candid writing style and the fact that Crutcher narrated the audiobook himself, I sometimes felt like he was sitting in the passenger seat and telling me his stories in person. The only thing I didn’t like was that it was over so quickly! Still, I can appreciate the fact that this book will be an easier sell to reluctant readers for this very reason. If you’ve read any of Crutcher’s books, you’ll surely recognize the people who’ve inspired him. And if you haven’t yet read his books, this autobiography will surely entice you!