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This Van Could Be Your Life
From the bestselling author of The Long Run comes an emotional and adventurously funny true story of a man, a van, and a family on an epic journey of rediscovering what matters most.
It’s been a rough time for Mishka Shubaly and the women in his family. In a failed quest for something stable, they’ve all arrived at a crossroads. Divorce, unemployment, eviction, addiction, sobriety, an abusive marriage, grief, homelessness, breakups, and abandonment. Can Mishka, still single, self-doubting, and on the lost side of forty, help? Maybe. He’s got the idiotic idea of a pilgrimage from Southern California to northern Saskatchewan for a family reunion. Eight troupers in all. And so sisters, nieces, nephews, and mom (armed with a bulletproof positive attitude) pile into Mishka’s 1976 shag-carpeted Chevy van. It’s a little wounded itself but raring to go.
With four thousand miles of road ahead of them, Mishka steers headlong on a journey toward a better understanding of what defines a family, and what it means to grow up, grow apart, and get back together again—at ten miles to the gallon.
It’s been a rough time for Mishka Shubaly and the women in his family. In a failed quest for something stable, they’ve all arrived at a crossroads. Divorce, unemployment, eviction, addiction, sobriety, an abusive marriage, grief, homelessness, breakups, and abandonment. Can Mishka, still single, self-doubting, and on the lost side of forty, help? Maybe. He’s got the idiotic idea of a pilgrimage from Southern California to northern Saskatchewan for a family reunion. Eight troupers in all. And so sisters, nieces, nephews, and mom (armed with a bulletproof positive attitude) pile into Mishka’s 1976 shag-carpeted Chevy van. It’s a little wounded itself but raring to go.
With four thousand miles of road ahead of them, Mishka steers headlong on a journey toward a better understanding of what defines a family, and what it means to grow up, grow apart, and get back together again—at ten miles to the gallon.
60 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2020
440 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Mishka Shubaly
15 books192 followersAfter receiving an expensive MFA from Columbia University, Mishka Shubaly promptly quit writing to play music. He lived out of a Toyota minivan for a year, touring nonstop, and has shared the stage with artists like The Strokes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Decemberists.
His Kindle Singles for Amazon have all been bestsellers. He writes true stories about drink, drugs, disasters, desire, deception and their aftermath. His work has been praised for its grit, humor, fearlessness and heart. 'The Long Run,' his mini-memoir detailing his transformation from alcoholic drug abuser to sober ultrarunner is one of the best-selling Kindle Singles to date.
Mishka Shubaly lives in Brooklyn where he writes music and plays bass for Freshkills. He is at work on a new solo record of his original songs and a full-length memoir.
His Kindle Singles for Amazon have all been bestsellers. He writes true stories about drink, drugs, disasters, desire, deception and their aftermath. His work has been praised for its grit, humor, fearlessness and heart. 'The Long Run,' his mini-memoir detailing his transformation from alcoholic drug abuser to sober ultrarunner is one of the best-selling Kindle Singles to date.
Mishka Shubaly lives in Brooklyn where he writes music and plays bass for Freshkills. He is at work on a new solo record of his original songs and a full-length memoir.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
February 25, 2020
Short book and thank God it was. I don’t think I could stand any more of his self pitying whining.
Part of a “redneck” family and giving out the impression he is way better than them all whilst on a road trip in a battered old bus.
Part of a “redneck” family and giving out the impression he is way better than them all whilst on a road trip in a battered old bus.
January 24, 2020
Honesty and Heart
If you dig David Sedaris and you dig your family, you'll love this. Writing that keeps us honest; words from the heart.
If you dig David Sedaris and you dig your family, you'll love this. Writing that keeps us honest; words from the heart.
July 17, 2022
Quite possibly the worst thing I have ever read. Boring, self indulgent, typical tough rocker addict lit. Zero plot. Lots of pointless vignettes that give the opportunity for the author to state how much he hates himself and/or to state how much he loves the family he never sees. He writes a lot of phrases like, “I would kill for my nephew. I would die for him.” Or, “My uncle would gut himself for me.” I feel like he wants to be in Sons of Anarchy but didn’t make the cut. He’s also constantly crying.
I might have liked him more before he gave up drinking. He probably would have been a better writer then, too.
I might have liked him more before he gave up drinking. He probably would have been a better writer then, too.
February 8, 2024
I took a chance on this short story because the cover intrigued me. It had plenty of yearning and emotion, and although at times it did seem a bit whiny, I think that was the point of the overwhelming emotions of those moments. No need to censor in a true story about true experiences. I enjoyed the voice of this book and will definitely be checking out his full memoir.
October 26, 2020
This 1-hour read published by KU was deceptively simple. People have written 300-page books on the topic written about here.
Family was close.
Something happened.
The Universe converges something brings family members together for a group effort.
Estranged family members go on road trip together.
They resolve the issues between them.
Writer shares what lessons writer is comfortable sharing.
Here writer is limited to a 1-hour-read length, so one important lesson shared.
What the advantage here is that information is compressed. From what I am reading in comments made in one of the literature groups I have read with recently: More substance, less art. This is the age of information after all.
While I enjoy the art of reading and writing, sometimes time and energy are issues. Such as when reading during a 24-hour readathon. Shubaly and others write short memior for Amazon Original Stories. I may be making readathon selection from this series in the future.
Read for Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon October 2020
Family was close.
Something happened.
The Universe converges something brings family members together for a group effort.
Estranged family members go on road trip together.
They resolve the issues between them.
Writer shares what lessons writer is comfortable sharing.
Here writer is limited to a 1-hour-read length, so one important lesson shared.
What the advantage here is that information is compressed. From what I am reading in comments made in one of the literature groups I have read with recently: More substance, less art. This is the age of information after all.
While I enjoy the art of reading and writing, sometimes time and energy are issues. Such as when reading during a 24-hour readathon. Shubaly and others write short memior for Amazon Original Stories. I may be making readathon selection from this series in the future.
Read for Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon October 2020
March 8, 2020
Super quick read but nicely done
February 10, 2020
A well written, moving read / listen
This short autobiographical work is about relationships, family, breakups, surmounting difficulties, doing the best you can under any given circumstances, understanding yourself and understanding others. In one sense, it describes a seemingly ill-advised family road trip from southern California to Saskatchewan an ancient Chevy van which has seen much better days but, in another, it is a journey through life, eloquently written with wry self-deprecating humour in a very honest and open way, so that you can feel Mishka Scubaly's pain. However, ultimately, the message is one of hope.
If you prefer, you can listen to Mishka read his own work. (The piece is short enough to complete in a single sitting either way.) Authors are not always the best readers but, in this case, I cannot imagine anyone doing a better job than Mishka. With a piece that centres on relations and emotion, who better could express what he felt?
I see he has written several other autobiographical pieces - which I shall be reading / listening to in due course.
A clear 5 stars.
This short autobiographical work is about relationships, family, breakups, surmounting difficulties, doing the best you can under any given circumstances, understanding yourself and understanding others. In one sense, it describes a seemingly ill-advised family road trip from southern California to Saskatchewan an ancient Chevy van which has seen much better days but, in another, it is a journey through life, eloquently written with wry self-deprecating humour in a very honest and open way, so that you can feel Mishka Scubaly's pain. However, ultimately, the message is one of hope.
If you prefer, you can listen to Mishka read his own work. (The piece is short enough to complete in a single sitting either way.) Authors are not always the best readers but, in this case, I cannot imagine anyone doing a better job than Mishka. With a piece that centres on relations and emotion, who better could express what he felt?
I see he has written several other autobiographical pieces - which I shall be reading / listening to in due course.
A clear 5 stars.
January 22, 2020
Sometimes families, like this van, are a little broken down.
Truthful and honest in a way most people wish they could be. We all have expectations. What we want the journey to be. Often, though, it isn’t. The trip we thought we’d have isn’t the one we take. Mishka really captures the beauty of the trip that is in his new work. Family is the source of so much—pain, joy, frustration, laughter. He shares all of that in a story that is a lot more than a book about a van. Families, vans, relationships, lives breakdown...but you still keep going down the road.
Truthful and honest in a way most people wish they could be. We all have expectations. What we want the journey to be. Often, though, it isn’t. The trip we thought we’d have isn’t the one we take. Mishka really captures the beauty of the trip that is in his new work. Family is the source of so much—pain, joy, frustration, laughter. He shares all of that in a story that is a lot more than a book about a van. Families, vans, relationships, lives breakdown...but you still keep going down the road.
January 26, 2020
Brilliant as always
Brutally honest, heart-breaking and heart-walking. I have loved all of Mishka’s work and this is now exception. Highly recommended. Richard
Brutally honest, heart-breaking and heart-walking. I have loved all of Mishka’s work and this is now exception. Highly recommended. Richard
January 16, 2025
This is another short memoir from the Amazon Originals freebie collection. The meandering tale doesn’t talk much about the travel destinations or have a specific plot. The individuals are dealing with serious issues like death, addiction, and failed relationships which will connect to some readers more than others. Mishka tries to bring these desperate ideas regarding divorce, parenting, abandonment, and grief together through the lens family. It almost works. I appreciate the acknowledgment that you are unable to take back things once said or turn back our lives to a simpler time. However, there is not enough resolution to validate the emotional bond/lesson he claims. It feels like a realistic struggle but it wasn’t directly humorous or satisfying.
* _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Summary: Realizing it’s the last chance for such a thing, Mishka Shubaly, his mother, and two sisters along with their kids take an ill-advised road trip from California to Saskatchewan for a special family reunion. The 1976 Chevy van protests the pilgrimage with disabled locks, battery fails, loud vibrations, and an upper range of ten miles per gallon. Meanwhile the eight travelers struggle with self-doubt, divorce, eviction, finances, self-loathing, and other unresolved issues.
* _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Summary: Realizing it’s the last chance for such a thing, Mishka Shubaly, his mother, and two sisters along with their kids take an ill-advised road trip from California to Saskatchewan for a special family reunion. The 1976 Chevy van protests the pilgrimage with disabled locks, battery fails, loud vibrations, and an upper range of ten miles per gallon. Meanwhile the eight travelers struggle with self-doubt, divorce, eviction, finances, self-loathing, and other unresolved issues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2020
The book, "This Van Could Be Your Life," is the author's story about a road trip he took as an adult in his old van. Misha talked his family into going across the country and into Canada for a large family reunion. He went with his mother, two sisters and a van full of his nieces and nephews.
His motivation was a memory of a road trip his family took as a child, and his desire to recapture the feelings of togetherness and freedom he had enjoyed before the hard knocks of life had worn him down.
This is a short read and one that anyone who has spent time on a road trip with their family will appreciate.
His motivation was a memory of a road trip his family took as a child, and his desire to recapture the feelings of togetherness and freedom he had enjoyed before the hard knocks of life had worn him down.
This is a short read and one that anyone who has spent time on a road trip with their family will appreciate.
April 16, 2020
Oh Mishka, why so sad? Because adulting is hard. Once you realise that, it gets a lot less depressing.
I've obsessively followed all Mishka's adventures and this is in line with the other novellas, but less funny and more like therapy (but not in a bad way). It's on Kindle Unlimited, so if you are a member, give it a try. It even has free audio narration, read by the author. But start with The Long Run/ since that has a redemptive arc. This is a lot more subtle, and in passing asks the very big question - I quite drinking. So what?
I've obsessively followed all Mishka's adventures and this is in line with the other novellas, but less funny and more like therapy (but not in a bad way). It's on Kindle Unlimited, so if you are a member, give it a try. It even has free audio narration, read by the author. But start with The Long Run/ since that has a redemptive arc. This is a lot more subtle, and in passing asks the very big question - I quite drinking. So what?
August 4, 2020
Maybe it's the life I lived, or I thought I'd live or perhaps some weird mashup of both but I feel very connected to the stories Mishka writes on a visceral level. This book popped up in my suggestions likely because I read "Beat The Devil" last year and I'm glad it did. Now I need to venture into his other books!
Book aside, I hope Mishka has found fulfillment in whatever he needs to fill the void he had.
On the bad reviews, it just doesn't resonate with their life... if you don't connect with him it will read poorly.
Book aside, I hope Mishka has found fulfillment in whatever he needs to fill the void he had.
On the bad reviews, it just doesn't resonate with their life... if you don't connect with him it will read poorly.
July 24, 2020
I love books about travel and van life, but this was like a short, terrible version of Little Miss Sunshine without any of the interesting plotpoints. The character development is almost non-existent, the plot barely goes anywhere, and although it is only about 50 pages long it felt torturous to try to finish. The tone of the writing is whiny, pessimistic, and overall the book lacks depth.
The only thing I liked was the ending, and the fact that I didn't have to keep reading this book.
The only thing I liked was the ending, and the fact that I didn't have to keep reading this book.
March 8, 2021
This book is not about the destination, but rather about the voyage.
M.S. bring you with him as he tries to navigate not a road trip but his life. Emotionally vulnerable, honest, and raw. At times selfish yet, so deeply compassionate. So full of love while self loathing still peaking through. You just want to hug him and tell him how awesome he is, even if he might tell you to f off.
M.S. bring you with him as he tries to navigate not a road trip but his life. Emotionally vulnerable, honest, and raw. At times selfish yet, so deeply compassionate. So full of love while self loathing still peaking through. You just want to hug him and tell him how awesome he is, even if he might tell you to f off.
January 7, 2024
Family is Family
One family’s journey told through the eyes of the author. Although every journey is unique, the experience is not totally unique. As this family moves forward, each member interacts with each other and there are moments that shape and remind each of who they really are together, a family. Despite circumstances family is family. Family is not chosen but just is….
One family’s journey told through the eyes of the author. Although every journey is unique, the experience is not totally unique. As this family moves forward, each member interacts with each other and there are moments that shape and remind each of who they really are together, a family. Despite circumstances family is family. Family is not chosen but just is….
April 22, 2020
All Setting, No Plot
The writing is good and the story has potential, but it is incomplete, unsatisfying. I know it is short by design, but we only get descriptions of situations, no action, no resolutions. There's no story, only backstory, which, while intriguing, leaves us wanting more than what we get. I purchased one of his other books in anticipation of a better read.
The writing is good and the story has potential, but it is incomplete, unsatisfying. I know it is short by design, but we only get descriptions of situations, no action, no resolutions. There's no story, only backstory, which, while intriguing, leaves us wanting more than what we get. I purchased one of his other books in anticipation of a better read.
July 28, 2021
Disclosure: I knew the person who owned the van before Mishka did, and I follow Mishka on Instagram, so I had seen some of the store before.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book about the road trip to Saskatchewan. Knowing what I do about the van, I never would have attempted it, so the trip and the account of it both came out well.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book about the road trip to Saskatchewan. Knowing what I do about the van, I never would have attempted it, so the trip and the account of it both came out well.
July 2, 2023
Get an old and worn out van and take a road trip and your life will change. Maybe not for the better but change it will.
The author takes his mother and sister and lots of kids on a long trip north towards Canada with no particular plan in mind. This short true story was funny and warm and sweet. His huge family is so much fun.
The author takes his mother and sister and lots of kids on a long trip north towards Canada with no particular plan in mind. This short true story was funny and warm and sweet. His huge family is so much fun.
August 31, 2020
3.6/5, rounded up. For fans of Mishka Shubaly, this one will have some overlap from previous Kindle Singles he's written, particularly in the back story. That's okay--it's unavoidable. It's good and worth reading.
September 26, 2020
Loved this personal, hilarious account of the author's family trip! His sincerity and ability to laugh at himself while in the midst of his own soul searching and heartbreak was really touching. I hope the author has found happiness, and I can't help but hope he found it with his ex-girlfriend!
January 25, 2021
A bit of a disappointment
Not what I expected. Some characters should've been better developed and the book was rather short. Didn't get much of an idea about who the author was until the end.
Not what I expected. Some characters should've been better developed and the book was rather short. Didn't get much of an idea about who the author was until the end.
June 19, 2021
Great Read
Great read. I read this while driving with my mom to my neice's graduation in So Cal. Its lighthearted while trickling into storms of self reflection and life connections.
Great read. I read this while driving with my mom to my neice's graduation in So Cal. Its lighthearted while trickling into storms of self reflection and life connections.
January 25, 2022
Boring
I would not recommend this book. Who wants to read about a dysfunctional family. There is nothing interesting that they did while travelling to. Canada.
i kept waiting for something to happen and it never did.
I would not recommend this book. Who wants to read about a dysfunctional family. There is nothing interesting that they did while travelling to. Canada.
i kept waiting for something to happen and it never did.
February 5, 2023
Family. Can't Live With Them...
This was a short and sweet read. Too short. I feel gypped! I am assuming there are more anecdotes from Mishka floating around out there. Guess I'd better look for them because I got sucked into this family. Well written!
This was a short and sweet read. Too short. I feel gypped! I am assuming there are more anecdotes from Mishka floating around out there. Guess I'd better look for them because I got sucked into this family. Well written!
January 15, 2025
enjoyable short read
I read this while waiting for my husband to wake up so that we could start a trip. At first I thought it was humdrum, but I’m glad I finished it. The ending was worth the time and gave me an understanding into family/life matters.
I read this while waiting for my husband to wake up so that we could start a trip. At first I thought it was humdrum, but I’m glad I finished it. The ending was worth the time and gave me an understanding into family/life matters.
September 16, 2025
O que forma uma família? Nesta pequena narrativa, o autor, ao contar trechos de sua vida junto aos seus, diz que não existe essa história de "família que se escolhe", mas que a gente ama nossa família, e nos forçamos a gostar dessas pessoas. É, sem dúvida, um ponto de vista interessante.
January 23, 2020
Another great addition to Shubaly's mini-memoir collection
January 23, 2020
Amazing
As always Mishka let’s us in his world with passion and love and wanting to slap him in the face or hug him, not sure!
As always Mishka let’s us in his world with passion and love and wanting to slap him in the face or hug him, not sure!
February 3, 2020
Did not see the point to this book. Kept waiting for the plot. It was a waste of time to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews