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Junior [First Edition]
A major national media event when published in hardcover, this startlingly original work of fiction introduces a new side of a well-known personality. Meet Junior. He does not know how to write a book. (Except -- maybe -- for this one.) His therapist says he has issues with closure. (Granted, this book has seven endings.) This is not a novel. (Everything in it is entirely true -- except for the large portions that are completely fictional.) And finally, Junior has no issues with his father. (Nope, really, not a single one.)In a dizzying kaleidoscope of words and images, Macaulay Culkin takes readers on a twisted tour to the darkest corners of his fertile imagination. Part memoir, part rant, part comedic tour de force, Junior is full of the hard-won wisdom of Culkin's quest to come to terms with the awesome pressures of childhood mega-stardom and family dysfunction. Searingly honest, brain-teasingly inventive, Junior is breathtaking proof that Culkin has found his own utterly original voice.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
August 20, 2008
It's a joke, anyone who can relate to a single page of it will see that. I believe what he writes, but he thinks it's ridiculous that people will buy it. He says that the only reason anyone would consider reading this book is because he is famous and that is why it got published at all. He's telling you not to buy the book, it's not worth anything to anyone but him. And it's wonderful. So for those of you who can't beleive you bought it, you should have opened your eyes to what he was telling you and should have checked it out of the library...he doesn't need the $ from the sales, he could care less, he's laughing at you for buying it. Now, if you read it and like it and want a copy, go boost his sales, but don't buy it on first shot.
It's like reading a journal of some goofy, unsure, emotially screwed, post-adolecent boy and it is absolutely wonderful. Another quick read, but you'll either love it or hate it...if you don't like reading journals or if you don't like the first bunch of pages, just stop. But if you think the quiz at the beginning is funny, you'll get a kick out of it!
It's like reading a journal of some goofy, unsure, emotially screwed, post-adolecent boy and it is absolutely wonderful. Another quick read, but you'll either love it or hate it...if you don't like reading journals or if you don't like the first bunch of pages, just stop. But if you think the quiz at the beginning is funny, you'll get a kick out of it!
March 13, 2010
I disagree with all the bad reviews of his book. I do not even get where the pretentiousness was??? It wasn't. Culkin lets the reader know right up front that the book is more of a non-book, it is a joke, that he is no author and that he realizes that the only reason anyone may buy it is because of his name and with expectations misdirected.
The reviews have been bad. I guess the people who say such ugly things about this book either didn't read it in it's entirety, didn't bother flipping through the first few pages first, or just WILL NOT let their pre-expectations go ... or all three.
I have never read a 'stream of consciousness' novel before and did not realize his was one, but settled into it as I read. I borrowed it from a library. I often buy books after I read them. However, I do not plan to purchase this one. Not because I did not appreciate it-- I did. I wish there was another way I could tell him that I got it; I understand; I support him, without purchasing the book. He doesn't care if you buy t, like it, hate it, read it at all. If you 'got' the book you'd understand my point. Too may people expected a well thought out, well written book and too many people missed the forrest for the trees!
It was a stream of consciousness book and though I feel the book DOES DESERVE appreciation and the writer more credit than he's given, I do NOT recommend buying it or even reading it. If you have an interest in how people might deal with unfortunate happenings in their lives and come out a better person in the end, then give it a try, but DO NOT expect anything other than weirdness.
Culkin took four years to write the book; he changed, evolved, grew and learned more about himself and the world over that period. The book was good for him to write; maybe good for his loved ones to read too. I believe he was angry in the beginning but by the end he had let go of that anger and "come to terms" (regardless of his own lack of preference for he term it's self) with life and his place in it.
I'm glad for him that he did it but hope he never does it again... at least not to be published anyway.
The reviews have been bad. I guess the people who say such ugly things about this book either didn't read it in it's entirety, didn't bother flipping through the first few pages first, or just WILL NOT let their pre-expectations go ... or all three.
I have never read a 'stream of consciousness' novel before and did not realize his was one, but settled into it as I read. I borrowed it from a library. I often buy books after I read them. However, I do not plan to purchase this one. Not because I did not appreciate it-- I did. I wish there was another way I could tell him that I got it; I understand; I support him, without purchasing the book. He doesn't care if you buy t, like it, hate it, read it at all. If you 'got' the book you'd understand my point. Too may people expected a well thought out, well written book and too many people missed the forrest for the trees!
It was a stream of consciousness book and though I feel the book DOES DESERVE appreciation and the writer more credit than he's given, I do NOT recommend buying it or even reading it. If you have an interest in how people might deal with unfortunate happenings in their lives and come out a better person in the end, then give it a try, but DO NOT expect anything other than weirdness.
Culkin took four years to write the book; he changed, evolved, grew and learned more about himself and the world over that period. The book was good for him to write; maybe good for his loved ones to read too. I believe he was angry in the beginning but by the end he had let go of that anger and "come to terms" (regardless of his own lack of preference for he term it's self) with life and his place in it.
I'm glad for him that he did it but hope he never does it again... at least not to be published anyway.
January 22, 2009
This book got panned when it came out, but it is not a conventional novel and you cannot read it with such expectations. I really enjoyed it as it was extremely original and often unexpectedly touching
November 5, 2011
Part of me wants to feel incredibly sorry for Macaul...err, Junior, because he seems so confused and broken and dejected with major daddy-issues, but then the other part of me knows that he is laughing at me for buying and reading his book in the first place.
(I can picture) Macaulay: "Sucker!"
He basically tells you in the beginning that hey, if you're dumb enough to buy this book, well then you're gullible enough to believe the load of horseshit he's about to feed you. And what's so great about the whole thing is that I kind of love the not knowing what the hell to think about him after reading this mock-memoir. In a way I find his book and his sense of irony (or humor or whatever you want to call it) brilliant because in the end you're left with no more insight of his life than you were going in, which if the past decade or so has been any indication clearly the man enjoys his privacy. I can see how some people could find this upsetting, but he does give a warning at the very beginning to let you know that 1. he doesn't know how to write a book 2. he has issues with closure so there really isn't an actual ending to this book and 3. you're not to believe half the stuff that he writes, except maybe the parts that might happen to have a hint of truth to them... but then he'll go on to question if he himself actually understands what the truth even is.
So yeah, I give this 3.5 stars. It's not to be taken seriously. It is a quick and easy read. Enjoyable. He's beyond quirky, which as a quirky person myself I was able to enjoy the reading experience and dare I say I was able to relate a bit to his scatteredness... which both frightens and amuses me.
(I can picture) Macaulay: "Sucker!"
He basically tells you in the beginning that hey, if you're dumb enough to buy this book, well then you're gullible enough to believe the load of horseshit he's about to feed you. And what's so great about the whole thing is that I kind of love the not knowing what the hell to think about him after reading this mock-memoir. In a way I find his book and his sense of irony (or humor or whatever you want to call it) brilliant because in the end you're left with no more insight of his life than you were going in, which if the past decade or so has been any indication clearly the man enjoys his privacy. I can see how some people could find this upsetting, but he does give a warning at the very beginning to let you know that 1. he doesn't know how to write a book 2. he has issues with closure so there really isn't an actual ending to this book and 3. you're not to believe half the stuff that he writes, except maybe the parts that might happen to have a hint of truth to them... but then he'll go on to question if he himself actually understands what the truth even is.
So yeah, I give this 3.5 stars. It's not to be taken seriously. It is a quick and easy read. Enjoyable. He's beyond quirky, which as a quirky person myself I was able to enjoy the reading experience and dare I say I was able to relate a bit to his scatteredness... which both frightens and amuses me.
May 13, 2007
A year ago, I thought it might be a good idea to buy and read Macaulay Culkin's new book Junior. That was pretty much the stupidest idea I've ever had. It's basically a meaningless miscellany of all too self-conscious stream of consciousness ramblings intended to paint our hero (affectionately calling himself "Junior") as some sort of creative, emotive force of modern writing. He comes off more as a crappy emo rock band that opens for a crappier emo rock band at your local Starbucks.
Just because you're random doesn't mean your work has "layers of meaning." Just because you start every stupid list with "Dad" doesn't mean your relationship with him is somehow worth writing a book about.
This book reminded me of the journal I had at the end of high school when I was deluded enough to think that someone would find it after I died and feel inspired to publish it. Every entry was painfully oozing with the effort to sound profound and artistic. Reading this book made me embarassed for Macaulay. I imagine he'll look back on it and cringe if he ever grows up.
Just because you're random doesn't mean your work has "layers of meaning." Just because you start every stupid list with "Dad" doesn't mean your relationship with him is somehow worth writing a book about.
This book reminded me of the journal I had at the end of high school when I was deluded enough to think that someone would find it after I died and feel inspired to publish it. Every entry was painfully oozing with the effort to sound profound and artistic. Reading this book made me embarassed for Macaulay. I imagine he'll look back on it and cringe if he ever grows up.
October 28, 2010
I read this book in about 8 hours. I LOVED IT! The book reads like a journal, you almost feel like you found it in your boyfriend's closet. It was touching & revealing. Very funny as well. I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about the author's personality.
September 15, 2009
So, I'm not a big fan of Macaulay Culkin at all. I found this book while browsing through the library and the first pages made me laugh, so I checked it out. It's not a story, it's not really anything, but I think that's the point. It's just complete randomness and for some reason or another I enjoyed it. I don't know if I would necessarily recommend this, I don't know if a lot of people will like it. But I did.
October 2, 2008
unlike many, I found Junior to be quite an enjoyable read. If you take it for what it is, instead of trying to force it into a genre it wasn't meant to be in, it's a pretty decent book!
February 2, 2011
It is utterly meaningless & totally ridictulous. & I love it.
Everypage is stranger than the last one. It's hilarious & heartbreaking.
Everypage is stranger than the last one. It's hilarious & heartbreaking.
December 27, 2008
"Junior" is really random and stream-of-consciousness but a lot of it is reflective and contemplative. I enjoy this style of writing and absolutely didn't mind it one bit. I loved bouncing around from poetry to the memoir excerpts to the short stories to the letters; it provided a good variety.
March 3, 2012
I read this book simply because it was written by Macaulay Culkin. I thought it was quite funny actually. He has some major daddy issues, but I like how he is so sarcastic about it. I like the whole idea that this book is a big joke to him and the joke is on us for reading it.
December 13, 2007
What's with all the ones? Yes, it was silly and pretentious and tried WAY too hard. But.. it was amusing. You have to give it that. I give it three stars for pure amusement value alone.
December 16, 2009
This book makes me feel less crazy with life. If you can handle the randomness, than you should read it.
January 7, 2016
will write review later but in meantime, all the low star ratings on here are ugh because macaulay culkin--who I like even more now, on top of my already-existing childhood crush on him--not only gives TWO prefaces before you start the book, even including a multiple choice quiz for you to take to determine whether you are the right audience for the book, but there are also like 4 or 5 "checkpoints" to update you on how many words you've read so far which is giving you every chance to abandon the book if you really aren't connecting with it. Why did you stick with it? Why do you need to engage with something that's disengaging you at the same time so that you can meet the resistance to feel generally negative afterward?
totally, totally relateable: "junior" taking 10 minutes to write 1 sentence, not identifying with things he wrote, this book was written under pressure and deadlines that he could not meet
can you see that he crossed out his name on the cover?
or noted "working draft" in the lower right corner?
i nearly missed my train stop absorbed in this
a lot of father issues, self-deprecation a bit, sleeping a lot, watching TV, a lot of feelings common to those in their twenties
i think james franco tried to write a book similar to this when he wrote A California Childhood but he just didn't have the same angst or emotional resonance. he was, like, popular and carefree and stuff.
all right i said i was gonna write a proper thing later right? so TBC
also guess I have to read harmony korine's book since this is supposed to be influenced by it but do i care about harmony korine. . .?
totally, totally relateable: "junior" taking 10 minutes to write 1 sentence, not identifying with things he wrote, this book was written under pressure and deadlines that he could not meet
can you see that he crossed out his name on the cover?
or noted "working draft" in the lower right corner?
i nearly missed my train stop absorbed in this
a lot of father issues, self-deprecation a bit, sleeping a lot, watching TV, a lot of feelings common to those in their twenties
i think james franco tried to write a book similar to this when he wrote A California Childhood but he just didn't have the same angst or emotional resonance. he was, like, popular and carefree and stuff.
all right i said i was gonna write a proper thing later right? so TBC
also guess I have to read harmony korine's book since this is supposed to be influenced by it but do i care about harmony korine. . .?
September 24, 2014
After the experimental and playful exchange Macaulay has with the reader throughout, I'd like to think he'd read these. If so, I'd like to thank him first of all for sharing. :) It seems only appropriate that I'd like to make lists of all the things I thought of while reading his book:
My father. My brother. My father. My mother. My other brother. My father. My first time. My childhood acting aspirations. My father. The price of fame. My grandfather. My father. Alcoholism. Anger. My father. Sadness. My sister. Love. Normality. Home Alone. Escapism. Romance... I could go on.
The book is very sad, illuminating the misguided decisions and priorities that are endemic to Hollywood and the lives of child actors and their families. It does read a bit like a school paper, and like a personal victory in achieving deadlines, but I'm thankful for the generosity with his insight. There is definitely some great off-kilter humor throughout.
My father. My brother. My father. My mother. My other brother. My father. My first time. My childhood acting aspirations. My father. The price of fame. My grandfather. My father. Alcoholism. Anger. My father. Sadness. My sister. Love. Normality. Home Alone. Escapism. Romance... I could go on.
The book is very sad, illuminating the misguided decisions and priorities that are endemic to Hollywood and the lives of child actors and their families. It does read a bit like a school paper, and like a personal victory in achieving deadlines, but I'm thankful for the generosity with his insight. There is definitely some great off-kilter humor throughout.
July 15, 2017
Macaulay is a champion at making lists.
The man IS a writer,and I do not need to be an expert to say that..being a reader is quite enough!
To much wisdom for a young man.
Very smart.
A lot of imagination.
A lot of fragility.
A lot of honesty.
That's what an artist is about,isn't it?
A wonderful use of words.
I love the way he tell stories.
I bought the book because I've seen the page 107 somewhere which is a perfect copy of one of my letters and I wanted to know more about it-not because he's a public figure-and I'm glad I did.
Thank you for writing.
5 stars for you Junior.
The man IS a writer,and I do not need to be an expert to say that..being a reader is quite enough!
To much wisdom for a young man.
Very smart.
A lot of imagination.
A lot of fragility.
A lot of honesty.
That's what an artist is about,isn't it?
A wonderful use of words.
I love the way he tell stories.
I bought the book because I've seen the page 107 somewhere which is a perfect copy of one of my letters and I wanted to know more about it-not because he's a public figure-and I'm glad I did.
Thank you for writing.
5 stars for you Junior.
May 20, 2015
I was surprised by how much I appreciated this. Macaulay's writings and ravings are frustrating at times, but he is a talented voice. I hope he continues to write. The book became dark and poignant when the topic turned to his father. I can relate.
September 9, 2009
I thought this book was a little dark.. seems to be an autobiography.
Still, I couldn't put it down. Little Macaulay from home Alone is a decent writer!
Still, I couldn't put it down. Little Macaulay from home Alone is a decent writer!
October 22, 2010
I found this book to be very interesting throughout the story because the author jumped around so much. If you are looking for a book that follows a linear thought process, this is not one to read.
The stories jump around like a mexican jumping bean. At one point you are reading a story about a child then you are reading about an experience this boy had in a bathroom and then reading about things they dislike.
I did enjoy though to see what kind of material would come from this famous person. I did find it fun to follow and jump around with. It is interesting to see what sort of thoughts he comes up with and what kind of experiences he writes about from his life. If you want to know more about him, this a book to read, but don't expect a memoir.
This is not a large book but short and easy to read. The longest story is about three or four pages.
The stories jump around like a mexican jumping bean. At one point you are reading a story about a child then you are reading about an experience this boy had in a bathroom and then reading about things they dislike.
I did enjoy though to see what kind of material would come from this famous person. I did find it fun to follow and jump around with. It is interesting to see what sort of thoughts he comes up with and what kind of experiences he writes about from his life. If you want to know more about him, this a book to read, but don't expect a memoir.
This is not a large book but short and easy to read. The longest story is about three or four pages.
November 15, 2016
This book is not to be taken seriously, it's just him playing around with words and making fun of the concept of a novel. He even warns you it is not a proper novel on the cover. Mainly it's silly ramblings by a man who clearly has a lot on his mind. But the passages where he actually stops messing around and writes from the heart are rather soul crushing. How could anyone do that to their child?
And the last two pages had me in tears. I found it funny that he was so worried about not ending on a good note, and put so much misguided effort into what he believed his ending to be...and then his post-script was so heartwrenching and beautiful, you almost wonder what he was so worried about.
I won't be reading it again as there isn't much to read, but I enjoyed his crazed view of the world.
And the last two pages had me in tears. I found it funny that he was so worried about not ending on a good note, and put so much misguided effort into what he believed his ending to be...and then his post-script was so heartwrenching and beautiful, you almost wonder what he was so worried about.
I won't be reading it again as there isn't much to read, but I enjoyed his crazed view of the world.
August 27, 2007
This entire novel, can it really even be called a novel? was incoherent. And ridiculous.
It was like a blog, kind of, but without any continuity or time line. Some of the pieces were articulated well, but it was hard to care because the serious bits were about two paragraphs long and so out of place with the silly rhyming poems and alliterations, that they just came out of left field. Therefor hard to take them all that serious. But I don't see how it could possibly have been meant to take serious.
I have no idea what the point was meant to be, however. Points for stick figure illustrations, though.
It was like a blog, kind of, but without any continuity or time line. Some of the pieces were articulated well, but it was hard to care because the serious bits were about two paragraphs long and so out of place with the silly rhyming poems and alliterations, that they just came out of left field. Therefor hard to take them all that serious. But I don't see how it could possibly have been meant to take serious.
I have no idea what the point was meant to be, however. Points for stick figure illustrations, though.
December 13, 2016
Reading other reviews, I understand where people are coming from - but personally I adore this book, its actually my favourite book. It's actually a bittersweet view into the mind of Macaulay Culkin and I could relate to some of the things within its pages - which, by the way, isn't stupid as some reviews imply. It features poems, drawings, journal extracts and short stories and I personally like to dip into it if I need a little reassurance or inspiration from time to time.
February 14, 2021
Jumbled Mess!
I saw this one in a little free library and thought what the hell, it's Macaulay Culkin🤷♀️ Truth is, I really didn't finish it, I skimmed the last half. It was all over the place, jumbled and made zero sense whatsoever.
Hard pass is my vote for anyone that's interested. Back to the little free library it goes.
I saw this one in a little free library and thought what the hell, it's Macaulay Culkin🤷♀️ Truth is, I really didn't finish it, I skimmed the last half. It was all over the place, jumbled and made zero sense whatsoever.
Hard pass is my vote for anyone that's interested. Back to the little free library it goes.
Want to read
December 8, 2008I think this is probably the next great American novel.
February 25, 2025
If you want to know why Culkin quit acting so young and the stresses that child actors go through, you may find it here but it’s all a matter of your interpretation. The book is written in a sort-of scrapbook style and a lot of it I think is a joke which I’m not really a fan. The book not taking itself seriously might be the point - Culkin rejects the famous lifestyle because he feels he shouldn’t be important thus he doesn’t give the people who read his book what they’re looking for because he doesn’t feel they should care?
I still want to know the actual reasons why he quit and the genuine hardships child actors may go through after reading this, so if that’s what you are after, maybe avoid this one.
I still want to know the actual reasons why he quit and the genuine hardships child actors may go through after reading this, so if that’s what you are after, maybe avoid this one.
May 26, 2023
Of course, I had to read the hilarious anti-memoir of my childhood crush. I think I love chaotic writing styles, so I enjoyed the disjointed stream-of-consciousness poems, drawings and short stories that make up this book. I read it as a journal with tongue-in-cheek entries, which inspired me to write a few of my own. I took comfort in this the same way I found comfort watching his movies growing up. Although I didn’t grow up as a famous child actor, I did grow up with an abusive father, so I could relate to having a fucked-up childhood and trying to live a life that I could call my own. I loved his playful voice and I hopelessly hope for more.
September 7, 2025
This is easily one of the strangest things I've ever read but I was fully engaged with it for every word. I see a lot of people saying that it is pretentious or whatever, I disagree. I think this book was written honestly but with a dark, sarcastic humor to it. Writing tends to require some objectivity and people who are so painfully self aware struggle with that. There is a lot of beauty in these strange pages even if most people don't see it or the author didn't intend for their to be. If you are some one who has always lived with the sense of being an outsider I think you will relate to a lot of this.
Want to read
July 15, 2017Macaulay is a champion at making lists.
The man IS a writer,and I do not need to be an expert to say that..being a reader is quite enough!
To much wisdom for a young man.
Very smart.
A lot of imagination.
A lot of fragility.
A lot of honesty.
That's what an artist is about,isn't it?
A wonderful use of words.
I love the way he tell stories.
I bought the book because I've seen the page 107 somewhere which is a perfect copy of one of my letters and I wanted to know more about it-not because he's a public figure-and I'm glad I did.
Thank you for writing.
5 stars for you Junior.
The man IS a writer,and I do not need to be an expert to say that..being a reader is quite enough!
To much wisdom for a young man.
Very smart.
A lot of imagination.
A lot of fragility.
A lot of honesty.
That's what an artist is about,isn't it?
A wonderful use of words.
I love the way he tell stories.
I bought the book because I've seen the page 107 somewhere which is a perfect copy of one of my letters and I wanted to know more about it-not because he's a public figure-and I'm glad I did.
Thank you for writing.
5 stars for you Junior.
January 19, 2019
I love what Culkin implies about how his book came into existence. It's like an episode of Seinfeld. Long story short - and I might be reading between the lines here - Culkin tried to impress a girl by telling her that he was writing a book even though he wasn't, but after doubling down on the lie, the next thing you know, he's getting deadlines and page requirements from a publisher. He filled 199 pages with random lists, poetry, and partially anonymized journal entries to meet the deadlines, and this book was the result.
September 9, 2025
(2.5 ⭐)
honestly don't know what I just read. There wasn't really a story here as much as a view into his mind. Several times I thought I was having a stroke and almost gave up the book. I found it at a used book sale and wanted to see into the mind of Macaulay Culkin and I did. I don't know if it'll make sense - but he's exactly as I pictured. A troubled childhood leads you in many different directions and some parts of the book (the unsent letters and the parts with his dad or girls) I do find interesting, but again it wasn't a "story" in the usual sense of the word.
honestly don't know what I just read. There wasn't really a story here as much as a view into his mind. Several times I thought I was having a stroke and almost gave up the book. I found it at a used book sale and wanted to see into the mind of Macaulay Culkin and I did. I don't know if it'll make sense - but he's exactly as I pictured. A troubled childhood leads you in many different directions and some parts of the book (the unsent letters and the parts with his dad or girls) I do find interesting, but again it wasn't a "story" in the usual sense of the word.
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