KellyToronto

Drinking: A Love Story, by Caroline Knapp.

She really got my attention in chapter 1 - geesh, every weekend in the summer, in her 20's, stuck in a little village on the west side of Martha's Vineyard (her parents' summer cottage)...45 minutes' drive from the nearest liquor store, really put the panic into her.

Kelly

defyinggravity

Definitely one of my favorite books!

silly

I've heard it's great. I can't find it in audio though... With my hours of commuting each day, I love any book about recovery that I can listen to. I loved Dry by Augusten Burroughs, Blame by Michelle Huneven, Beautiful Boy by David Sheff... I did actually read (and not listen to) Diary of an Alcoholic Housewife by Brenda Wilhelmson. It was pretty good but I couldn't exactly relate.

silly

I would have had a major meltdown in that situation! Talk about panic...

SSIL75

I just finished that! loved it. sad post script, though.

aasharon90

Reading stories about addiction and recovery
help us understand how drugs or alcohol affects
people with similar situations as us. Each one
of us has a story within us to share just as you
read them in books or novels.

Im glad you are working ur program to build a
strong foundation in recovery to live ur life on.

Recovery works if we work it.

defyinggravity

silly, if you liked Dry, you might also like Magical Thinking (also Augusten Burroughs), if you haven't read it.

I'm also a fan of Elizabeth Wurtzel's stuff - she's the one who wrote Prozac Nation, but she also has a book called More, Now, Again which focuses more on her addiction. I like her especially because she addresses her mental health issues and their contributions to her addiction.

I have a whole collection of books about addiction, mental health and recovery! I love to read memoirs, especially.

silly

defyinggravity,
I just finished listening to Magical Thinking and Possible Side Effects by Burroughs. Both are great! I wasn't a huge fan of Running With Scissors though.
Thanks for the recommendation of E. Wurtzel. I haven't read anything by her.

I find memoirs and books about recovery to be a wonderful addition to my efforts each day. Gives me hope!

Dee74

Knapps book is one of my favourites too

D

NightsWatch

I just finished reading this book last week. Great book!

I'm new here. My therapist recommended the book to me because I was doing the whole, "I'm not as bad as those (the "real" alcoholics) people" thing. I recognized myself a lot in Knapp and the types of excuses she employed to allow herself to keep drinking. Her book is one of the reasons I'm taking this quitting thing a bit more seriously.

Anna

Caroline Knapp's memoir is the first time that I really allowed myself to believe maybe, just maybe, I could do this.

I think she would be so grateful to know how many people she has inspired with her story.

Hevyn

I must get that book again - I read it while still drinking & didn't retain any of it. Thanks for the reminder - and the other suggestions.

musicman66

I loved Knapps book too....I find myself with quite the collection of self help and addiction books on the night stand these days - reading about this stuff is very helpful to me...

I am going to try some of the Burroughs stuff....more recommendations would be great too - keep em coming......

defyinggravity

Some other favorites are:
Parched by Heather King
Smashed by Koren Zailckas
The Lost Years by Kristina Wandzilak

NightsWatch

A book I'm reading that isn't about alcoholism, but has been really helpful for me is Dancing With Life by Phillip Moffitt. I know religious stuff is a bit touchy, but it's about The Four Noble Truths. As someone who drinks to escape from uncomfortable or unpleasant feelings and thoughts, it's helpful to read about sitting with those feelings instead of trying to obliterate them with alcohol.

ttbp

Off to get the book - thanks x

Bethany57

Just downloaded it on my kindle yesterday. Excellent so far!

SSIL75

I am reading "Lit" (Mary Karr) and really enjoying it. It's not as easy a read as Knapp's but it's better written, IMO.