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A review by pekoparty
Three Pianos by Andrew McMahon
4.0
When I was fourteen years old my dad, who struggled with alcoholism for most of his adult life, took me to Best Buy. He never turned me down for a CD, much like my mom never turned me down for a book. My father is, to this day, a real advocate for lyrics. He bought me the CD 'North' by Something Corporate. I listened to it over and over and over again. I'd sing along and I felt every word, whether it related to my parents or to my friends.
Andrew McMahon's story is not unlike my own. Growing up with parents with addiction is it's own sets of challenges, but watching yourself grow into their shoes brings another. Andrew recounts those years of his life with poeticism. It's not lost to him of the hardships. He even says that the stories of his family members are not his to tell. He does a great job of positioning himself in his own seat, an observer to his own destructive patterns, and his long journey to climbing out of generational patterns.
This book really spoke to me. What could a White guy with a popular band possibly know about my life? As it turns out, a whole lot. The backdrop may be different, but the hardships around addiction are relevant and a tale as old as time. I appreciated his candid offerings of his substance abuse, behaviors, and even his trial with substances after his battle with leukemia.
I didn't know anything about this as a Something Corporate fan. I was young and so was the internet. But I am grateful for the wisdom now, for the sharing of truths, and for the growth of all people who struggle to find their place in the world. You might have it all, or so it seems, and there's still more to be had. After this reading, I feel proud of the fourteen-year-old smiling back at me from their school photo--her big braces, sun-in dyed hair, and her rhinestone clad Something Corporate t-shirt she definitely stole from a friend. I am grateful for Andrew McMahon's honesty. It can be hard to look into the past, but much easier from a place of healing. This was a concise and eye-opening read.
Andrew McMahon's story is not unlike my own. Growing up with parents with addiction is it's own sets of challenges, but watching yourself grow into their shoes brings another. Andrew recounts those years of his life with poeticism. It's not lost to him of the hardships. He even says that the stories of his family members are not his to tell. He does a great job of positioning himself in his own seat, an observer to his own destructive patterns, and his long journey to climbing out of generational patterns.
This book really spoke to me. What could a White guy with a popular band possibly know about my life? As it turns out, a whole lot. The backdrop may be different, but the hardships around addiction are relevant and a tale as old as time. I appreciated his candid offerings of his substance abuse, behaviors, and even his trial with substances after his battle with leukemia.
I didn't know anything about this as a Something Corporate fan. I was young and so was the internet. But I am grateful for the wisdom now, for the sharing of truths, and for the growth of all people who struggle to find their place in the world. You might have it all, or so it seems, and there's still more to be had. After this reading, I feel proud of the fourteen-year-old smiling back at me from their school photo--her big braces, sun-in dyed hair, and her rhinestone clad Something Corporate t-shirt she definitely stole from a friend. I am grateful for Andrew McMahon's honesty. It can be hard to look into the past, but much easier from a place of healing. This was a concise and eye-opening read.