Driver8

Has anyone here read this book? I just finished it and found it really helpful. I was going to email the author, Caroline Knapp and thank her but it made me extremely sad to find out that she's dead.
Her book really helped me understand underlying weaknesses and fears that led to and helped feed my alcoholism. I recommend it to anyone who is new to this and looking for a bit of clarity.

miamifella

That book is amazing. Unfortunatley, Caroline Knapp died about five years after it was published. We lose a lot when a terrific writer like her dies at a fairly young age.

Bobbieka

I loved this book. It really helped to define certain emotions I had about drinking that I had never looked at closely. I also looked her up after. I felt like I had lost a friend.

PippoRossi

Yep. I loved it. I had it as an audio-book and listed to it on my commute into work. It was fantastic - I related big time.

lynnmarie123

I read this book also. Great read. I highly recommend it.
I looked her up too. While she kicked the booze, it was cigarettes that killed her. Lung cancer. I was very saddened by this as well.

Ariesagain

I just reread it for maybe the 20th time this week.

She was an extraordinary talent. So tragic to lose her at such a young age...42.

Her other books are excellent, too...

SeaOfSerenity

thank you for the recommendation. added to my never ending saved for later list on amazon

its sad addiction got her in the end

Ariesagain

Well, addiction to tobacco, although a book her best friend wrote said her doctors were divided on whether the cigarettes caused the cancer. She had cancer in her family...both her parents died relatively young from it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending smoking in any way (as I sit here with my daily morning headache from my neighbor's secondhand smoke), but Ms. Knapp got sober at rehab and stayed sober until her death, several years later.

Anna

Her first addiction was actually to food. She wrote "Appetites: Why Women Want" as her first book.

She also wrote 'A Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People & Dogs', about her dog Lucille who she adopted as she left rehab and who played a role in Caroline's recovery.

Drinking: A Love Story is one of the most talked about books here. It's on our Book List:

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ependence.html

least

I've read it too. Very good book, tho sad that she died so young.

nova84

I've just downloaded the audiobook thanks to this thread 💜

Zebra1275

Good book!

jellybean80

I am about to purchase the book for my vacation coming up! Thanks for the recommendations. This may sound like an odd question but does it romanticize drinking at all before she falls out of control? I find that sometimes even when someone is describing how much and what they drank it makes a part of my brain light up. Lol. I'm thinking she talks about her journey?

Anna

In my opinion, no, the book does not romanticize alcohol and I don't think Caroline ever felt she was in control of alcohol. I found Caroline's book to be so deeply honest, brave and raw. She does describe things from her drinking days which are essential to the story. So, if you are concerned, it could be a problem for you. That said, it's a most brilliant book, written by a high-functioning young woman and in my opinion, the best bio about addiction that's out there.

Driver8

She does mention a cold glass of white wine feeling like an old friend, but the book is mostly about finding yourself and your underlying problems.

fini

yes, i red it twice.
and then, later, read "Pack of Two", and love it. Continuation of life coming back together in recovery.
and later still, i did really appreciate her friend Gail Caldwell's " let's take the long way home".
so much possibility in sobriety....so well shown and witnessed in these books.

Dee74

One of the best books I read on alcoholism, ever.

D

Delilah1

It was a good one, I felt the same way when I found out she died.

Driver8

Exactly how I felt.

Driver8

Thank you for the link!