The past isn’t past, of course, and Auder does good work of describing the world from a child’s point of view.

It takes guts and a sense of humor to kick off your debut memoir with an insult from Andy Warhol.

Auder’s frustration comes through loud and clear, but so does a deep and abiding love, and she manages to reflect on her chaotic and unconventional upbringing with a refreshing lack of prejudice and judgment. In many ways, it seems, her mother raised her right..

Vibrant.

Enthralling.