ashtea's review against another edition
4.0
This book struck me with how raw it was. Not only the struggles of the family but the struggles users go through and helped me understand some of the struggles that grip users attempting to stay sober. This has also allowed me to understand to some extinct the struggles some of those around me go through. Very powerful.
emmadthompson's review against another edition
4.0
It's strange to me how many people disliked this book; do people know this is Nic Sheff's real life from his lived experiences? I thought his memoir was moving, uncomfortable, and thoughtful, and I appreciate his ability to put shame aside and talk so opening about his life. I can't help but want to reach through the pages and hug him. His absent mother, borderline abusive stepfather, and his father's inability to step up as a parent and not a friend, all forced him into the cruel adult world much too young. This is a heartbreaking story of someone losing their way and finding it again, as raw as can be.
Tweak was recommended to me by a friend that is a recovering addict. She said she related to his feelings and thoughts surrounding his sobriety and his using. I know her better now that I've read this, even though Nic's story is so singularly his.
If you have a loved one that is currently using or is in recovery, this book is going to be brutal for you, but brutal in a necessary way, I think. It's easy to fall into the mindset of "if they only thought about their loved ones, they wouldn't do this" or "they had no reason to use again; everything was working out for them," which are all thoughts I've certainly had while struggling with my friend's addiction. Sheff talks about how addiction is a "disease of amnesia," and puts in perspective how difficult it is to stay sober for an extended length of time.
Although I do think Sheff's writing was a bit tedious at times, and pretty repetitive in imagery, his voice is authentic and doesn't feel pretentious. It feels like I'm listening to a friend tell me about their weekend.
Tweak was recommended to me by a friend that is a recovering addict. She said she related to his feelings and thoughts surrounding his sobriety and his using. I know her better now that I've read this, even though Nic's story is so singularly his.
If you have a loved one that is currently using or is in recovery, this book is going to be brutal for you, but brutal in a necessary way, I think. It's easy to fall into the mindset of "if they only thought about their loved ones, they wouldn't do this" or "they had no reason to use again; everything was working out for them," which are all thoughts I've certainly had while struggling with my friend's addiction. Sheff talks about how addiction is a "disease of amnesia," and puts in perspective how difficult it is to stay sober for an extended length of time.
Although I do think Sheff's writing was a bit tedious at times, and pretty repetitive in imagery, his voice is authentic and doesn't feel pretentious. It feels like I'm listening to a friend tell me about their weekend.
gvidinglight's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
kipibookclub's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Violence, Body horror, Mental illness, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Injury/injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
lenasloveletters's review against another edition
3.0
*Audio Book, 3.5 Stars
I always really enjoy biographies. I thought Nic's story was really interesting and overall well-formatted. The writing every now and then would tend to get repetitive, but generally, it was a good listen.
I always really enjoy biographies. I thought Nic's story was really interesting and overall well-formatted. The writing every now and then would tend to get repetitive, but generally, it was a good listen.
jillian_danielle's review against another edition
5.0
Powerful read, especially in combination with his father's memoir, Beautiful Boy. To be honest, it seems as though other reviewers who criticize Nic's story or writing style have missed the whole point. It is always mind boggling to me when readers critique the actual content of a person's memoir -- this is literally the story of his life, how can you call it a bad story? Anyway, I thought Nic wrote this beautifully. It was hard to get through for me, at parts very graphic and heavy. As the mom of a young boy, I almost stopped reading cuz my heart could barely handle the depth of darkness. But of course I was left sobbing at the end, so invested in Nic's recovery and so moved by the magnitude of his growth as a person. I really appreciated his honesty and the way he portrayed living as an addict, both in relapse and recovery. I do agree with others that he is a bit more honest/transparent about his childhood trauma than David Sheff in Beautiful Boy but I think that is part of the point. The story of hurt in childhood was Nic's to tell, and as parents we (unfortunately) often don't understand the harm we have caused to our children until they share that with us. Beautiful read that will stick with me for a long time.
casey887's review against another edition
2.0
Very boring, So jumpy... All around it was ok at best.
nancywif's review against another edition
1.0
Read part 1, and then just didn't care enough to finish the book. It's just been sitting on my table for a week untouched. That's never a good sign, so I'm giving up on it.