Tramps Like Us: A Surburban Confession

by Kristen Buckley

New Jersey native Kristen Buckley travels through a series of catastrophic detours she calls childhood—one that was anything but normal. Set adrift after her parents divorce, Buckley embarks upon an emotional odyssey through the eerie underworld of northern New Jersey, where perverted gym teachers are as big a threat as the local mobsters, and timbale-playing orangutans wield the power to shape the future. Among the colorful cast of chracaters vividly portrayed are her brilliantlly wry mother; two deaf, adopted siblings from Korea; two Jewish stepsisters; and one pot-smoking runaway. After a childhood spent searching for a place to call home, she ultimately finds it and emerges as a truly unforgettable heroine.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 24, 2007

About the author

I grew up on the mean streets of Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. I was the oldest of four siblings, the younger three all adopted from Korea (and incidentally, all three were terrible at math thus debunking the 'brilliant Asian' stereotype). My other siblings included my older, Jackson Browne loving step-sister, Stacie and Becky the Runaway, who sought refuge after nearly being sexually assaulted (on more than one occasion) by the chimpanzee Mr. Jiggs, from whom she was renting a room... I could go on. Honestly I could... but it would just be easier to read Tramps Like Us.

Reviews

[Jason Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Yumiko Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by my grade school friend Kristen and it's a memoir (and I found out about it from a grade school chum I reunited with on Facebook!). I'm quite biased because I know a bunch of the people in the book, although a lot of stuff she wrote about I didn't know about at all (and some of it I should but I just don't remember) ... but I think it would be a hilarious read for anyone because she had quite an interesting childhood that is funny to read about. For one, she is white and grew up with Korean siblings and that just wasn't very common! Plus definitely relevant if you've lived in New Jersey :). I think she's a terrific writer!

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit, I was disappointed with this book. As a native New Jerseyan, and contemporary of the writer, I could relate to the local references (which I’m sure were lost on many readers), but just found it lacking credibility at times. I suppose the author referring to herself as a liar throughout the book didn’t help. It really should be titled “Growing up Gen X in New Jersey”

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this on some Springsteen-related list, but it is a great memoir in its own right. Amazing writing, funny and heartbreaking. She definitely has the life story for it. But please get the Boss lyrics and the names of Chicago suburbs right!

[Maggie Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was like a more light-hearted version of one of my favorite genres: memoirs about screwed up childhoods. What sets this book apart, though, are a couple of factors:

-Buckley's mother was an educated, caring mother (vs. the mothers in The Liar's Club, Change me into Zues' Daughter, The Glass Castle, etc.

-Buckley's step-father wasn't abusive; just cranky (vs. Bastard out of Carolina etc. Her real father, though a total jerk, was not abusive, and Buckley wastes no time trying to repair/understand/change their relationship.

-Buckley's two younger siblings, adopted from Korea and both almost entirely deaf, serve as interesting foils to Kristin, bring a fresh perspective to an old story, and provide comedic relief.

I really enjoyed this book. Buckley hates New Jersey. I've never been there, but her writing convinced me never to visit. She also includes a really cool index in the back, with a sort of glossary that explains references in the book. So, if you don't love Sting the way Buckley loves Sting, you don't lose any of the story because you're out of the loop.

Readalikes: The Liar's Club by Mary Karr (and sequels), Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, Change me Into Zues' Daughter by Barbara Robinette Moss

[Kortney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty damn funny....same dark humor voice from The Spellman Files and any Augusten Burroughs book....

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny! At one point I spit my tea out all over the book and could not stop laughing.

[Karen Klein]

Just because I'm from Jersey........ :)

[LisaSunshineGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author deftly mines her family's stories to great comic effect, while still presenting a warm and affection portrait that always rings true.

[BarbC]

Loved loved laughed out loud!

[robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most funny memoir I've read in so long. Her writing style is the best.

[Lu]

Ok, NJ girl and life growing up