My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem
Debbie Nelson's 2007 memoir about her son Eminem.
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My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, an autobiography by Debbie Nelson, was published in 2007 with assistance from British writer Annette Witheridge. By September 2008, it had sold more than 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom.
The book covers Nelson’s entire life, including her difficulties with her son, rapper Marshall Mathers (Eminem), during his childhood and after he became famous. Nelson claims that Eminem’s version of events is fabricated to advance his rap career, though she says she holds no anger toward him. She also recounts suing him for defamation in 2000 to prevent foreclosure on her home. Nelson wrote the book to present her perspective on their relationship, stating she “regrets keeping quiet as Em cultivated his public persona of a trailer dweller with a crazy welfare mom.” The volume includes photographs of Nelson with Eminem, as well as previously unseen poems and lyrics by him.
A week before the book’s U.S. release, Nelson was sued by Neal Alpert, who claimed she was under contract to give him 25 percent of the profits. Nelson later became engaged to Alpert, and the lawsuit was dismissed the following year.
Critics offered mixed reactions. Nathan Rabin of *The A.V. Club* described the book as “almost perversely devoid of the irony, humor and self-deprecation that pervades her son’s music.” *Publishers Weekly* noted that while readers may struggle to reconcile Nelson’s claim of never exploiting her son with the tell-all format, her portrait of him is “tense but sympathetic.” Mike Sweeney of *New Statesman* included the memoir on a list of five of the most controversial memoirs.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Debbie Nelson
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Subject
- Autobiography
- Genre
- Non-fiction
- Publisher
- Phoenix Books
- Pub Date
- 2007
- Media Type
- Print (hardcover)
- Isbn
- 1-59777-596-7
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The book covers all of Nelson's life, including her troubles with Eminem growing up and dealing with fame. According to her, Eminem's side of the story is full of lies he concocted to become a successful rapper. Nevertheless, she says she is not angry at her son. She also states in the book that she sued her son in 2000 for defamation to stop the foreclosure on her house. Nelson's aim in writing the book was to show her side of the story about her relationship with Eminem. She stated that she 'regrets keeping quiet as Em cultivated his public persona of a trailer dweller with a crazy welfare mom.' The book includes photographs of Nelson with Eminem, and poems and lyrics written by Eminem that were rarely or never seen before.
Reader's Guide
My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem is significant as a direct counter-narrative to the public image Eminem crafted in his music. Nelson's account challenges her son's version of their relationship, claiming he fabricated stories for commercial success. The book's legal troubles—Nelson was sued a week before its U.S. release by Neal Alpert, who claimed she was under contract to give him 25 percent of the profit—add to its controversial legacy. The lawsuit was dismissed the following year. Critical reception was mixed: Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club said the book 'is almost perversely devoid of the irony, humor and self-deprecation that pervades her son's music,' while a Publishers Weekly review noted that 'readers may find it hard to reconcile Debbie's claim never to have exploited her son in the pages of a tell-all about him.' Mike Sweeney of New Statesman listed it among five of the most controversial memoirs. The book's sales of over 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom indicate a substantial readership, though its impact on Eminem's legacy remains disputed.
Did You Know?
- The book was co-written by British author Annette Witheridge.
- The book sold over 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom as of September 2008.
- Nelson was sued a week before the book's U.S. release by Neal Alpert, who claimed he was owed 25 percent of the profit.
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