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Tom J. Bross
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Don't Call Me Jupiter — Book One "Tightrope": Memoir of a Reluctant Hippie Kid Kindle Edition

by Tom J. Bross (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 785 ratings
See all formats and editions

For fans of The Glass Castle, Hillbilly Elegy & Educated, comes a true coming-of-age story of psychedelic adventure.

The story begins with an episode that occurred in 1974. When Tom Bross (age 12) experiences a sudden move from Davis to San Anselmo to live with their God Family. Just two months later they move back to Davis with no place to live. His brother and sisters are dropped off at their friend's houses. Tom ends up in the garage of one of his mother's ex-lovers. It's from this dreary location that he recalls his family's truly strange transition.

Led by his mother, the Martha Stewart of Hippies, they transform from a normal conservative, mid-western, Catholic family into a clan of liberal, psychedelic-bus-tripping, pot-smoking, nature-loving, California free spirits.

Devastating family drama, abandonment, and drugs are balanced with laugh-out-loud humor that will keep you turning pages. You'll laugh, cry, cringe, and beg for more.

And as with most dysfunctional families, they come with a cost.

The Don't Call Me Jupiter memoir series is like a 1970s version of Shameless—less booze, more weed, and way more hallucinogenics.

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Don't Call Me Jupiter
  2. Print length
    300 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    February 19, 2021
  6. File size
    8138 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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From the Publisher

Daisy Image with text

Family Photo from the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Quote from Book

Yellow Bus Image

Image of Tom Bross Holding all three books and text about the book.
Book one of Don't Call Me Jupiter Don't Call Me Jupiter Book 2 Don't Call Me Jupiter Book 3 Evergreen Lodge Cover
Don't Call Me Jupiter — Book One "Tightrope" Don't Call Me Jupiter — Book Two "Lightning Crashes" Don't Call Me Jupiter — Book Three "Wheel in the Sky" NEW! Evergreen Lodge: A Memoir
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Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
785
4.5 out of 5 stars
356
4.7 out of 5 stars
344
—
Price $4.99 $5.99 $5.99 $5.99
Number of Pages 300 317 389 315
Kindle Unlimited ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Digital ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Paperback ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Hardback ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Audio ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Don't Call Me Jupiter is packed with hilarious and horrifying true stories...

Funny, yet its central theme is abandonment

Climb aboard the magic yellow bus for a psychedelic trip with a cast of unforgettable characters caught in circumstances that will make you laugh, cry and cringe.

The story begins with an episode that occurred in 1974. When Tom Bross (age 12) experiences a sudden move from Davis to San Anselmo to live with their God Family. Just two months later they move back to Davis with no place to live. His brother and sisters are dropped off at their friend's houses. Tom ends up in the garage of one of his mother's ex-lover's. It's from this dreary location that he recalls his family's truly strange transition.

Led by my mother, the Martha Stewart of hippies, we transformed into a clan of liberal, psychedelic-bus-tripping, pot-smoking, nature-loving, California free spirits.

About the Author

Tom Bross looks familiar, doesn't he? Could it be that you recognize the 1968 San Francisco Hula Hoop Champion? Or, do you remember him as 'the mustard stain kid' from a Clorox bleach ad he appeared in back in 1969? Either way, Tom peaked at an early age and it's been downhill ever since.

After his mother's second divorce, things went from strict to strange as his mother fully embraced her inner hippie. Not only did she change her name to Mare, (it wasn't short for Marilyn, it had something to do with her astrological sign and her need to live near the sea), she purchased Birkenstocks from the Whole Earth Catalog, quit shaving and no longer owned any clothes Tom deemed appropriate for parent/teacher conferences. For the next several years Tom excelled in school because it was the exact opposite of what his mother wanted. He worked his way through college and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design from California State University Chico in 1986.

"I was an extremely sensitive kid who always felt the force of emotions growing up. I realized how different my family was at an early age and literally started taking notes, which eventually led to this book series."

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08X2VF7T1
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (February 19, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 19, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 8138 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 785 ratings

About the author

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Tom J. Bross

Tom J. Bross

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Tom Bross looks familiar, doesn’t he? Could it be that you recognize the 1968 San Francisco Hula Hoop Champion? Or, do you remember him as ‘the mustard stain kid’ from a Clorox bleach ad he appeared in back in 1969? Either way, Tom peaked at an early age and it’s been downhill ever since.

After his mother’s second divorce, things went from strict to strange as his mother fully embraced her inner hippie. Not only did she change her name to Mare, (it wasn’t short for Marilyn, it had something to do with her astrological sign and her need to live near the sea), she purchased Birkenstocks from the Whole Earth Catalog, quit shaving and no longer owned any clothes Tom deemed appropriate for parent/teacher conferences. For the next several years Tom excelled in school because it was the exact opposite of what his mother wanted. He worked his way through college and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design from California State University Chico in 1986.

“I was an extremely sensitive kid who always felt the force of emotions growing up. I realized how different my family was at an early age and literally started taking notes, which eventually led to this book series.”

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
785 global ratings
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK
5 Stars
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK
I’ve read the first and second books in this amazing trilogy, and I could not look away until I had devoured every word. I’m thrilled there will be a third installment coming soon! Tom Bross tells many stories of his childhood experiences in the 60s and 70s with a raw and witty narrative that captivates the reader. He covers tragedy and horror along with comical and creative events as “a reluctant hippie kid” going from a straight-laced Catholic Midwest family into the wilds of California Dreaming in small-town Davis, just an hour away from the peace/love/freedom culture movement in San Francisco. Anyone born after 1950 can relate to these stories, but few could tell the stories with such irony, honesty, and heart. Tom Bross is a brilliant story teller, and I will happily follow his career as an author. Thank you, Tom, for the trip down memory lane during such an impactful and dramatic time!
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Top reviews from the United States

KAT
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!!!
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
I was hooked from page 1. The reader gets to know Tom and his family through flashbacks he is telling his therapist. It is, by turns, funny, unbelievable and dramatic. But the end. The end. I'm starting book two in ten minutes.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars I don't want to - but I am.
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2024
Verified Purchase
You can tell by the way the acknowledgments are written what kind of an author he is going to be. Easy to read, using a lot of humor, pointing that finger at himself and others. It wasn't until I saw the first picture that I realized that this WAS the life they lived. It made my headache and my heart hurt. I swore that I would NOT read the next book..but I am. Read it and then see what you do.
2 people found this helpful
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akpresto
5.0 out of 5 stars SO MUCH FUN TO READ!
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
I whizzed through the three-book series. I can't remember loving, laughing, and crying over such a personal, funny, gut-wrenching (at times) book. Use of language: FANTASTIC! What an entertaining trip!
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Best books ever
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024
Verified Purchase
I honestly have to say that this book series are the best books I have ever read. You can nor put them down !
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SUSAN STORM
3.0 out of 5 stars Good story
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2022
Verified Purchase
A little slow, but ok
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Paula
4.0 out of 5 stars Light reading
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
An easy read, the story flows, the descriptions are vivid.
Moments of both laughing out loud, and sadness. He is a little younger than me and his mom is a little older but anyone who lived through that era can surely relate. He's got me interest. I will read all 3. Enjoy!
One person found this helpful
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Kimberly
5.0 out of 5 stars Jupiter Memoir
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoyed books 1 & 2. Reading book 3 right now. Sad story but there is some really funny parts in this memoir that makes you laugh out loud. Love it ❤️ Can’t wait to read Evergreen Lodge!!! Thanks for sharing.
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Patricia Catania
5.0 out of 5 stars I love him
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
What a great sense of humor. We were six siblings and each tried to top the other. Very creative kids. Very strong constitutions. I hope he keeps writing.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Sandraburke
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't call me jupiter
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2024
Verified Purchase
Really enjoyed this although was quite sad in parts , showed the children's resilience .It highlighted the emotional effects of parenting by a mother without her own needs first , whilst relying on drugs for escapism
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dinglis173
5.0 out of 5 stars Do not miss
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
I binge read all 3 books over a few days.
They made me laugh, cry and shake my head in disbelief.
Tom Bross is a brilliant writer and I have recommended his books to everyone I know.
One person found this helpful
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