Earth to Moon

A Memoir

De: Moon Unit Zappa

Narrado por: Moon Unit Zappa

From Moon Unit Zappa, the daughter of musical visionary Frank Zappa, comes a memoir of growing up in her unconventional household in 1970s Los Angeles, coming of age in the Hollywood Hills in the 1980s as the “Valley Girl,” gaining momentum as an accidental VJ on a new network called MTV, and finding herself after losing her father, then her mother, and the testing of her most important relationships.

How can you navigate life as the “normal” child of an extraordinary creative? What is it like to live in a hothouse of individuality that on one hand fosters freedom of expression, and on the other tamps down the basic desires of a child for boundaries and affection? Should you call your parents Frank and Gail from birth?

For Moon Unit Zappa, processing a life so punctuated by the whims of genius, the tastes of popular culture, the calculus of celebrity, and the nature of love, was at times eviscerating, at times illuminating—but mostly deeply confusing. Yes, this is a book about growing up in the shadow of Frank Zappa. Moon and her family were a source of constant curiosity, for their unique names and for their father’s reputation as a musical savant and fierce protector of the First Amendment, even though he was never a commercial success.

Searching for her own path, first as her father’s inadvertent musical collaborator and public sidekick with their surprise mega radio hit, then as an actress, an artist, a spiritual person, a wife and mother, Moon Unit calculates ever-changing equations of fame, family, death and ultimately legacy when dealt the shocking news that Gail’s will established an unequal distribution among the remaining, tight-knit Zappas, catalyzing a quest for meaning and redemption.

With love, humor, and humility, Earth to Moon reminds us that every family is faced with problems that are unique to their particular makeup, but the journey to growing into yourself with grace is as universal as it gets.

Fantastic work of a very damaged family

It’s shocking Moon and the other Zappa kids came out of their childhoods as normal as possible, Moon does a great job and I loved the book , it was definitely worth the purchase !!

Family traumas and resilience

As a lover of Frank Zappa's music (and his clear headed take on society and politics), I thought this would be an insightful look into his family life...it was. However, it was more interesting to me because it was a look into Moon's life and her journey in the shadow of Frank and Gayle...so many sad, but poignant, moments of a girl just trying to find her way through life while surrounding by the bizarre cast of characters in her life.

awesome

MUZ’s painfully detailed account of growing up in an insidiously abusive environment and her ensuing mortifying trials and struggles as a young adult led me to pity her, but her ultimate transcendence and rebirth was so beautiful.

Devastatingly Beautiful

Midway through the book, as a teen living at home, she is on a talk show describing an incident at home that she thinks will be perceived by the television audience as quirky and funny. At the commercial break, the host says to her, in horror, "This is child abuse." Something we readers have been hoping the author will realize since Chapter One.

Raw and devastating and honest and funny. As with so many Audible books, hearing the author read her story adds such richness. Highly recommended for anyone. But teenage girls in particular may discover a kindred spirit in Moon Zappa. Very highly recommended.

Heartbreaking Gen X Memoir That’s Worth a Listen

A must listen for any Gen Xer who grew up in a dysfunctional family. A well written and fascinating story of the burden of fame and being raised in a family centered on hero worship. You really feel for the author.