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An absolutely remarkable mix of memoir and dissertation on substance abuse and creativity. Jamison also expounds on the socioeconomic forces that influence our country‘s approach to addiction and who we tend to see as victims vs. who we see as criminals. It is a VAST undertaking that I spent about a month with but it will stick with me far longer. 5⭐️ 👇🏼

Beautifully written mix of memoir and literary/artist history. Jamison weaves her own story of alcoholism and recovery with stories of various writers and musicians and their own addiction battles. Throughout she presents the history of recovery culture in the US. She is a hell of a writer.

I‘m ~4 hr into this #audiobook and can‘t tell if I should finish. I‘m finding the parts I really enjoy are the quotes and opinions compiled from/about others. But the actual memoir parts, while full of beautiful sentences, feel whiny and self absorbed. Her attempt to discuss the inequality of addiction portrayals so far feels superficial? Am I being too harsh? Should I keep trying this one?

“But consent when you‘re drunk means something I still don‘t have a good language for.”

“My skin is the right color to permit my intoxication.”

I‘m so glad the weather cleared up and I was able to go for another nice afternoon walk around the lake. It was one of those days when I wanted to take pictures of everything 😂📸

I started this audiobook for some added insight to addiction, now that I‘m working at an addiction treatment center. So far, I‘m not that into it, and may have to find a better book on the topic. Also added another hour and a bit to #24B4Monday

#BookFitnessChallenge

Fascinating!

Gave this a pick but man it was long on #audio. Alternated between her story and other writers/artists stories. I'm glad she included the history of AA.

This was a bit rambling for my taste, but I did enjoy putting myself in another's shoes for a time. I am amazed at the strength some people have to overcome addiction, whether it be to alcohol (in this case) or other substances. I believe it has helped me understand the mindset of throes struggling a bit more than I did. The author's own life experiences are intertwined with information about literary alcoholism, both of characters and authors.

So, this isn't what I was expecting. The #audiobook is read by the author and is pretty engaging. It's a different style to get used to; the book switches between Jamison's memories and information about famous alcoholics. It is a longer book than I anticipated, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, as I'm enjoying it so far. About to the halfway mark.

Post 2 of 2: I‘m terrible at narrowing down to official “top ten” lists. But as I look back on 2018, here are 10 books I‘m grateful to have read this year. 📚

My favorite essayist Leslie Jamison (The Empathy Exams) is on a panel with Pulitzer Prize winner Gregory Pardlo to discuss their new #nonfiction books (The Recovering and Air Traffic, respectively)
#morristownfestivalofbooks #mfob

I‘ve made a blog post about fifteen great reads. You can find it here: https://lindypratch.blogspot.com/2018/10/30-books-hath-september.html?m=1

This #audiobook about alcohol addiction, narrated by the author, is about 16 hours long. (The print edition is over 500 pages.) It felt sometimes like a marathon, but I never thought “well, that part could have been edited shorter,” even when I recognized stuff from her earlier essays. A combination of memoir and reportage, this story is important and has shifted my world view. I‘m impressed.

Several years after recovery started changing my mind about cliches, I wrote a newspaper column in their defence. I called them subterranean passageways connecting one life to another, and basically pulled a Charles Jackson, smuggling recovery into my prose, and praising its wisdom, without naming it directly.

…an author insisting his book isn‘t “just another addiction memoir”… This insistent chorus reflects a broader disdain for the already told story & a cynical take on interchangeability. The idea that if we‘ve heard this story before we won‘t want to hear it again. But the accusation of sameness—“just another addiction memoir”—gets turned on its head by recovery, where a story‘s sameness is precisely why it should be told.

I was also starting to cut myself again, like the holes you cut in the crust of a pie to let out the steam as it bakes.

“Jean Rhys called her unfinished memoir ‘Smile, Please,‘ a command she‘d been given as a child, posing for a photographer. It was the constant pressure she‘d felt from the world: hide your unseemly angst.”

This passage reminded me of my very first school photo, and how confused and upset I was when the man told me he wanted “a bigger smile” — what did that mean? — so then he said, “all right you little brat, have it your way.”

I enjoyed this book very much and I gained much from reading it. At 460 pages it may have gotten a little long toward the end, but entirely worth the read.

I‘m a new person having read this.

I loved the parts about Leslie's own addiction and recovery, but be warned there is A LOT of content around other authors and their addictions. It often felt like talking just for the sake of talking...a little all over the place.

So far it‘s a bunch of self-important literary types waxing sentimental about substances. I am in a car driving by my hometown so hey, desert parties are just the desert equivalent of cornfield parties.

Jamison‘s honest description of her “what it was like, what happened, and what it is like now,” is masterfully used to expose addiction‘s nightmare, especially writers, and stands as one more lighthouse for those still suffering addicts and alcoholics. We can never have too many because even those of us who have stayed clean and sober, a day at a time need them no less than those seeking their first breath of freedom from addiction‘s suffocation.

I just added this to my to read list after a local book store recommended it today. #memoirmonday #ReadingResolutions @Jess7

This is a really compelling memoir/history of alcoholic writers/Jamison‘s theory of “sober genius”. Not going to lie, I loved that a good chunk was set in my town (hey, I know where she did x!!). However, I don‘t think she quite makes her thesis stick, that getting sober doesn‘t stifle creativity. She also could have moved part of the Author‘s note into the body of the book to talk about different treatments besides AA. But very good reading.

⭐️⭐️ I though this a bit self-absorbed. I had hoped this was more of an analysis of artists and their addictions.

Your advice, please! I‘ve seen lots of reviews and support for this book, and I started it, and I soon thought, of all the books to read, is this worth my time? Please advise! I haven‘t returned it to the library yet....

Last night and this morning was difficult and stressful. I really needed to have a happy, and books in mail are always happy. Thank you to Little Brown for this.

Incredible exploration of addiction and recovery

I usually try to steer clear of long audiobooks, but started this 16 hour pick this morning! Listened to first chapter and so far so good...

An interesting read.

A personal look at one woman‘s relationship with controlled substances. It explores the allure and mystique of alcohol not only through her story, but that of famous authors and her fellow AA members. I was surprised at all the research behind it. It felt very organic. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Started this one tonight and I‘m already halfway done! Unfortunately sleep is getting in the way.

I‘ve seen some professional reviews of this book say it‘s way too long, too navel-gazey, too steeped in privilege. I get those critiques, but I still thought it was excellent. I love memoir, and I liked her writing very much, so I was happy that she went on and on! Loved how she located her addiction within the long tradition of writers with similar struggles, and I thought she balanced that with personal anecdotes and self-analysis quite nicely.

What a lovely quote that applies in so many situations. This book is sad and scary. How much she needed and loved to drink. .

Always sort of mind blowing the number of writers who came here to write (and drink) #amreading The Recovering by Leslie Jamison, out now from @littlebrown

Falling in love was the only sensation that had ever truly rivaled drinking — for buzz and transportation, sheer immersive force..

Anyone else get annoyed to have to go to work because it cuts into your reading time? #humpday

Inspired by our great discussions in the Onward Litsy FB group, I am once again going to try to read (and post) more. I read an amazing profile of Leslie Jamison in NY Mag this week, and realized I hadn't read Empathy Exams. And to my surprise, the Strand also had an early copy of her latest...for half off! I have a huge TBR, but I think these might go to the top. #readwomen

I‘m excited and intrigued to start this one!! #therecovering #intoxication

My #goodreads giveaway arrived! Yay! Can't wait to start this one. #goodreadsgiveaways

I really like Leslie Jamison‘s collection of essays so am looking forward to her memoir. Although maybe not the lightest vacation reading😜 Pub - 4/3. #netgalley

Woohoo!