melissakuzma's review against another edition
3.0
Wow, this was a tough book to read. A woman, raised by a completely insane mother, does some crazy stuff herself. A compelling, sad, quick read.
adelamercedes's review against another edition
I'm only 25 pages in, but I love Susanna's writing style.
nicole_oa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
courtneyeli's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
mick's review against another edition
4.0
This memoir was extremely engaging. It paid great attention to detail and flowed well. The stories about the person's mother were outlandish and astounding.
thepoemreeder's review against another edition
4.0
Susanna decides to not go to her mother's bedside after she's been in a nearly-fatal accident. The bulk of recovery work falls to her sister, who makes the trek to South America to care for their illing mother. Susanna looks like the bad daughter.
But when you've grown up with a cocaine-using, pill-popping, self-absorbed pathological liar for a mother, what can you expect?
Susanna tells the story of the complex, twisted relationship she has with her mother, ranging from moments of complete disgust to enthrallment. There's no denying her mother has a charm and wit about her that draws people in. It's just that no one knows what it's like to be forever caught in her web quite like Susanna does.
I admired Susanna's brash honesty, especially on the topics of her own life (sexual promiscuity, abortion) and felt she did a great job of depicting the way she longed to be free of her mother while at the same time wanted nothing more than to be a shining star upon her arm.
But when you've grown up with a cocaine-using, pill-popping, self-absorbed pathological liar for a mother, what can you expect?
Susanna tells the story of the complex, twisted relationship she has with her mother, ranging from moments of complete disgust to enthrallment. There's no denying her mother has a charm and wit about her that draws people in. It's just that no one knows what it's like to be forever caught in her web quite like Susanna does.
I admired Susanna's brash honesty, especially on the topics of her own life (sexual promiscuity, abortion) and felt she did a great job of depicting the way she longed to be free of her mother while at the same time wanted nothing more than to be a shining star upon her arm.
teahorse's review against another edition
5.0
What a fantastic memoir. This is the kind of book that makes it sound like someone is narrating the story to me in my head, and it would have been a good one to listen to on audiobook. The sentences flowed well, and the language was captivating and interesting.
totallyshana's review against another edition
2.0
This seems like it would be right up my alley, but a lot of the book just didn't make any sense. As a teenager, and then an adult, why would you just accept your mother sleeping with all of your boyfriends? And not even get upset enough to confront her? Where the hell was the rest of your family when your mother was giving you cocaine? Why would you not live with your father, who seemed so much more normal? I don't buy a lot of this.
sjurban's review against another edition
3.0
This book is riveting. I do hope that the author is exaggerating and that her childhood wasn't truly this bad. It does seem a little unreal, a little Jame Frey-ish maybe?