This was an introspective look at the author’s life as a half Cajun, half Lebanese boy in Kansas City. It is full of his Lebanese family’s recipes, in addition to his life story. I found it interesting, although at places, it was in need of tight editing.

A clever way to present an autobiographical work, this obituary tells a complex, endearing and sometimes dark story of an individual. A great reminder that what we leave behind is important, this is an interesting book which demonstrates the complexity which we all live with.

Atchity originally wanted to title this book: My Intensely Madcap, Lebanese/Cajun, Jesuit-Schizoid, Terminally Narcissistic, Food-Focused, East Coast/West Coast, Georgetown/Yale, Career-Changing, Cross-Dressing, Runaway Catholic Italophile, Paradoxically Dramatic, Linguistically Neurotic, Hollywood Academic, ADD-Overcompensating, Niche-Abhorring, Jocoserious Obit. I think this says it all.

The author has written his own obituary, which is much, much longer than anything that will ever be published in a paper. Because who knows you better than yourself? It’s an engrossing autobiography wherein the author reminisces about his life, his love-hate relationship with his father and his multifaceted career paths. There are also a few recipes thrown in, such as Grandma Tata’s Lebanese Beans, corny jokes from family and friends, and some pearls of wisdom:

Where is home? Most of us are born with the answer. Others have to sift through the pieces.
You only get one shot is nonsense. Nobody’s counting. You get as many shots as you have the hunger and stamina for.
You need to pay for your own dreams.
Patience is the root of accomplishment. It can be a bitter root unless you turn it sweet.

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