Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

215 reviews

tetonthewonderdog's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

boba_n_books's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

I love listening to memoirs as audiobooks so I can hear the author narrate; and, though it hurt more due to Perry's recent passing, I really enjoyed hearing him tell his own story. 

The whole book is paradoxical. It's gut-wrenching yet heart-warming. It's devastating yet hilarious. It hurts my heart that Perry won't be able to continue on his journey of sobriety. He had so much to offer the world, and I'm glad he was able to leave a mark on it in more ways than one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse

peacelovereading's review

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Drug use

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

alixcallender's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.25

Listening to the audiobook version of this after Matthew Perry’s death is unbearably, crushingly sad. I am weeping like a child as I write this, having just heard his closing montage of love and gratitude for the people in his life. 

It is not a perfect book, but it’s honest - he equally expresses his anger, fear, and complete selfishness alongside humility, reflection, and love. He’s a complex person, like we’re all complex people. I am actually surprised it has such low ratings, but my guess is probably that people struggle with the beginning. At the outset, he portrays himself as a narcissistic, bitter curmudgeon with mommy/daddy issues and no respect for women.  If you’d picked up the book because you love Chandler Bing, this intro is alarming. (It is also a bit disorganized, from an editing/narrative standpoint.) But to anyone who starts it, I implore you to finish it. You must finish it. As the book continues, Perry stumblingly arrives to a place of gratitude and hard-won optimism, acknowledging his deep-set flaws and realizing the universe is not out to get him. I think the set up of this book is deliberate: you start from the brain of an millionaire drug addict, self-pitying and loathsome and ungrateful; then you join him on the painful journey to sobriety, failing plenty of times along the way but ultimately coming out the other side with love both for himself and for the people in his life.

That’s why the reality of his untimely death is so, so sad. He concludes with such hope and optimism and appreciation for the beauty of the world. Wanting this chapter of his life to be the longest and happiest, wanting to find love, maybe have kids. He continually expressed how thankful he was to just be alive. A sense that he survived what he did for a higher purpose. Listening to this, knowing he would be dead only two years later, is heartbreaking. I can only imagine how his friends and family must feel. 

I don’t know fully what to take away from this. Yes, he had many successes in life and had it a lot easier than some addicts, and yes much of this book is flawed. But addiction like this is unimaginably difficult no matter how much fame and money you have. I was rooting for him throughout, and am sadder for it. I’m only hopeful he found true happiness at the very end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Excrement, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Self harm

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Grief, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexism, Vomit, and Toxic friendship

fanchera's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Chronic illness

Minor: Sexism, Car accident, Misogyny, Cursing, and Suicidal thoughts

wytherwytch's review

dark emotional funny informative sad fast-paced

4.0

I liked how honest and candid Matthew Perry is about his life. The good, the bad and the ugly. A read I very much enjoyed and appreciated him sharing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Abandonment, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, and Medical content

Moderate: Car accident

Minor: Gaslighting and Pandemic/Epidemic

yellowpurple500's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Where do I even begin.

This book has been sitting on my shelf for awhile. After hearing about his passing I decided that the best way to pay tribute was to finally read it. 

This book is an emotional roller-coaster. It is raw, truthful and makes you reflect on areas of your own life at the same time. 

The biggest takeaway of this book has to be that no matter what you're going through, you are never alone. Don't be afraid to reach out for help and check up on those around you. 

Rest in peace Matthew Perry. I hope God is treating you well after that pact. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Vomit, Addiction, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Self harm, and Violence

ereilly151's review

challenging dark emotional

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, and Drug use

linneahbt's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-paced

3.5

Technically, not a masterpiece. Doesn't demonstrate the growth that many memoirs do - but that's also what makes it so very human. Matthew Perry is not that far out of the very dark woods where he spent most of his life. He has made so many mistakes and treated people poorly and despite all that has people by his side rooting for him every day - which he recognizes as the blessing it is. A very tough read, though. Unflinchingly raw and honest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Medical trauma

murve's review

fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Minor: Self harm