From the Publisher
[An] extraordinary family memoir. This is a book that frequently takes the breath from the lungs…an unconscionably entertaining read.” — The Guardian
"Moon is a courageous adventurer of the mind and spirit. Earth to Moon is a hell of a journey but she keeps her vessel intact poignantly and hilariously." — Marc Maron, host of WTF with Marc Maron
"Where is the line between unconventional and crazy? Moon recounts this tale of growing up Zappa with forensic honesty and a hilariously dry wit—and the momentum of a bullet train. Her empathy and generosity of spirit are a miracle and an inspiration." — Allegra Huston, author of Love Child
"Upon reading Earth to Moon, one might wonder how a child left to parent herself to such a degree could grow into such a self-actualized adult. Every family is locked into its own form of dysfunction—but Earth to Moon is written with so much authenticity that you cannot help but feel connected." — Rosanna Arquette, actor
"Moon's writing pulls you into the emotional core of having been brought up Zappa. Rich with detail, this excellent book does not let you escape the feeling of being there and experiencing that life for yourself." — Justine Bateman, actor
"With unflinching detail and sharp, witty prose, [Moon] captures both the specificity and universality of an loneness that comes from being raised by narcissists." — Ariel Leve, author of An Abbreviated Life
"I never knew I wanted to take this weird ride through Moon's vividly collected memories, but I'm glad I did. Wow." — Rhys Darby, actor and comedian Our Flag Means Death
"Moon shares her memories with brutal honesty: the good, the bad, and the sometimes very ugly in these pages... as she sets about on her own personal path of healing and finding her own inner peace." — Owen Elliot-Kugel, author of My Mama, Cass
"[Earth to Moon] will uplift you, inspire you, and blow your mind." — Pamela Des Barres, author of I'm with the Band
"[Moon's] storytelling is riveting... The writing is solid, vivid, elegiac at times." — Annabelle Gurwitch, New York Times bestselling author, activist, and actress
"Anyone who has ever felt lost, weird, confused, disempowered, underutilized, horny, dismissed, then spoke up and took the high road will love this book as much as I do!" — Kyle Richards
“A memoir of a nonconformist life raised by rock-world icons Frank and Gail Zappa. Life as a Zappa entails both heartbreak and triumph.” — Kirkus Reviews
“…Documents the intricacies of the unit, offering a loving, unflinching look at a legendary family of creatives.” — Booklist
AUGUST 2024 - AudioFile
Author and narrator Moon Unit Zappa recounts her nontraditional upbringing in the same simple, honest manner she had as a child. Zappa emphasizes certain words as she describes how her younger self craved attention from her parents, especially her father, Frank Zappa, the renowned innovative musician. She shares high school memories and her family's reputation for liking to shock. It's at this point that more emotion becomes evident in Zappa's voice. She begins articulating the complexities of her feelings, aided by years of therapy. Snippets from the "Valley Girl" song that Zappa lent her vocals to are showcased with the requisite bored girly affectation. Zappa's pace helps immerse listeners in her recollections. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2024-05-30
A memoir of a nonconformist life raised by rock-world icons Frank and Gail Zappa.
In her introduction, Moon Unit Zappa facetiously promises that her autobiography will remind readers of their own life story—that is, if they had an iconoclastic rock star for a father and grew up in a "chaotic full-throttle household." It's not just the "misfits, sycophants and freeloaders" who hung out at the Zappa home in Laurel Canyon, California, she writes. “It seems like the whole world wants my daddy." She finally got Frank's undivided attention when, at 13, she unveiled her satirical "lazy, lyrical Valley accent,” which Frank recorded in a memorable song. "Valley Girl," studded with Zappa's hilarious impersonations of vapid airheads, was a big radio hit, which garnered his daughter hate mail from Valley girls but also jump-started her performing career. The author recounts how she earned small roles in TV and movies and worked as a VJ for MTV and VH1. She describes attempting to supplant her father's eternal dominance with other charismatic leaders, acting coaches, and spiritual gurus, and she details her vital role in dealing with both parents' deaths from cancer. Other traumatic life experiences include her infant daughter's brush with death, an early divorce, unequal inheritances among the author and her siblings, and eventual family estrangement, with “family friend Steve Vai kindly acting as self-appointed mediator.” Throughout, Zappa is candid about her dysfunctional upbringing, personal insecurities, parents' idiosyncrasies, and the foibles and insanities of the music business world, and she exhaustively catalogs her plentiful experiments with consumer spirituality and popular culture. In her adult life in Taos, New Mexico, Zappa pursues work as a writer and podcaster, and she has learned, as a chapter title reads, "How To Heal in a Hundred Steps."
Life as a Zappa entails both heartbreak and triumph. Interesting reading for fans.
