NPR's Book of the Day
Indie-rock artist Neko Case opens up about her childhood in a new memoir
Feb 13, 2025
Neko Case shares an intriguing glimpse into her childhood, marked by her mother's shocking act of faking her own death. She reflects on how this chaotic upbringing shaped her search for approval and impacted her relationship with her mother. The conversation delves into the complexities of family secrets, including a surprising musical heritage. Case emphasizes the ties between trauma and forgiveness, advocating for the acceptance of emotions like rage as essential parts of the healing journey.
08:41
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Quick takeaways
- Neko Case's memoir unveils her complex relationship with her mother, particularly the impact of her mother's shocking deception of faking her own death.
- The podcast discusses Case's perspective on trauma, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging rage as part of the healing process rather than an obligation to forgive.
Deep dives
Exploration of Upbringing and Relationships
Nico Case's memoir delves deeply into her challenging upbringing, particularly focusing on her fraught relationship with her mother. A shocking revelation in the book involves her mother faking her own death, which left Case to grapple with confusion and sadness for years. This peculiar absence shaped her childhood, as she felt the need to be an exceptionally good child to keep her mother around, despite the realization that her mother simply did not want to be a parent. The memoir paints a vivid picture of how these initial experiences of abandonment influenced her sense of self and her understanding of familial bonds.
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