Basking in her own self pity from A. Customer
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Well, I was given this book as a gift and managed to read about half of the book before I gave up with it.
The young girl sounds so self pitying throughout (well, what I read anyway), she doesn't seem to take responsibility for her own alcoholism, in fact at times seemed to revel in the fact that she was a drunk. She seemed so proud of her achievements! Maybe she may have come to her senses at the end of the book and realised the mistakes she had been making hence writing the book, but I personally couldn't read any more. Advice for anyone wanting to buy this book, don't, unless you want to read a sob story.
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Well written but disturbing for the wrong reasons
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Koren Zailckas' memoir is definitely an interesting read. It's very well-written, and I stopped more than once to admire a few descriptive sentences or paragraphs. Unlike some of the other reveiwers, I do not believe she "denies" her "alcoholism" at all. Horribly abusing alcohol is not necessarily proof of alcoholism. One can be addicted physically and psychologically and still not be an "alcoholic". And, even when one is no longer physically addicted, but still may be psychologically addicted, it doesn't mean they are an "alcoholic". It means they have a compulsion they need to learn how to control. It doesn't necessarily always follow that everyone needs to admit powerlessness and be in endless recovery and has a disease. Although the disease model is accepted by the AMA and other organizations, there is more evidence and proof that it is, in fact, not a disease, but a compulsion or choice that can be conquered. (Please see the work of Stanton Peele PhD, Albert Ellis PhD, James DeSena PhD, Jeffrey Schaler PhD, etc. for more info) In addition, Harvard University did a study that cited that 80% of all addicts quit on their own without the assistance of "recovery programs", so there is no reason to doubt her ability to quit drinking and/or even drink moderately in the future (as opposed to the 95% failure rate of AA).
This said, I am not sure I'd really recommend this book, though I'd definitely recommend A Million Little Pieces (James Frey) or Dry (Augusten Burroughs). And, I can't even tell you why this is! I found Zailckas almost tiresome by the end of the book. I found the continuing mistakes she made absolutely annoying. Yes, I finished the book, but by the time I was through with it, I was so happy I wouldn't have to read her anymore.
Still, I found much of her story mostly interesting-- enough to keep reading. I did empathize with her as she found herself in humiliating and dangerous situations after a night of drinking and, at times, blacking out. And, although I stand by my earlier comments regarding abusing alcohol and being an "alcoholic", I wonder what the author believes would actually define an alcoholic, if not her behavior, since she does seem to accept the disease model of alcoholism and does seem to believe that some people do suffer with this disease-- just not her.
I am a bit ambivalent about recommending this book. It's worth reading or skimming. It's something I'd pick up from the library and only purchase for a high school- or college-age girl who you believe might have an interest in the subject.
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Smashed: Growing Up a Spoilt Brat
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The biographical path entitled "personal journey from the depths of drug/ alcohol/food abuse" is increasingly well trodden. Whilst there are some good reads out there, unfortunately this isn't one of them. In fact this will possibly be the most pathetic attempt at self justification you will read this year (unless you also bought Kerry Katona's autobiography- in which case, shame on you!).
My main issue with the book is that I was unable to shake off the conviction that the emotional turmoil the author describes to justify her drinking was overlaid retrospectively in order to create a story out of what seemed to be just a prolonged bout of teenage angst. Throughout the book, she comes across as a spoilt, stroppy girl who needs to grow up and stop blaming everyone else for everything that happens to her. This is a girl whose key gripe is that her mother has aspirations for her. Oh my heart bleeds. It's laughable- never has anyone needed so badly to get a perspective. I read the whole book expecting her to come to this conclusion herself, which she didn't. She remained a deeply unlikeable person who was hard to sympathise with.
Recommend you don't bother reading it - if personal redemption is your thing read "A Million Little Pieces" instead. The artistic license used by James Frey may be well publicised but it's much more convincing than Smashed.
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Sick Sick Sick
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This is a book that will leave you with memories of something you wern't even there to experience. I read this book over a year ago and I can still recall tales that were told within the novel.
A real eye opener and made me more aware of the situations that I could have gotten self into if I hadn't have stopped drinking excessively at parties.
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a chilling insight
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I picked up this book because i was intrigued by the title but was a little concerned that it might be abit over the top and glamourised. however, firstly i couldn't put it down and secondly i found it to be a very truthful account of what can happen to young girls through experiments with alcohol and the influences thats come with college life and peer pressure. i think that it shows a very chilling reality that alot of people don't see about how easy it is to fall into a certain lifestyle and being oblivious of what you are doing to yourself and to the others around you. and whether you like it or not there will be at least one part, situation or thing in this book that you personally will relate to.
i thought this book was fantastic, id recommend it to anyone of any age and gender, a lot to be learnt from the authors experiences.
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