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Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'
My Friend Anna: The True Story of the Fake Heiress Who Conned Me and Half of New York City by Rachel DeLoache Williams
6 reviews
alliehaleyc's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
cammiem8's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.75
I did feel for Rachel at parts, but her narrative was just shy of the self awareness I’d want from a book like this. She glosses over the privileges that she had that allowed her to survive Anna’s scam, and her irresponsible actions that led her to this problem in the first place. Like I truly don’t understand how after having her card held at the hotel because Anna’s declined, she thought she could expect Anna to cover the bill at the extremely expensive outing they took right after? As a person with a severe anxiety disorder, I really felt sorry for her when she described how physically affected she was by the stress of the events of this book, but materially, she’s just fine and even better than she was when she got scammed. She writes well but I wish I could have seen more genuine self reflection in her memoir.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
runrina11's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcoholism and Self harm
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
2.5
I picked this up about a month ago and took a long pause from listening to it because I was (and am still) focusing on blackathon. Since starting it, I have listened to it on and off while I do tasks like package up books for pangobooks, folding laundry, or getting dressed, and otherwise didn't think about it much, and when I did, I could only think of how much it annoyed me.
However, I couldn't get myself to relax tonight, so I put this on as a distraction while I played a game on my phone for hours on end. I thought that this book was going to annoy me less the closer that I got to the end, and I was simply incorrect.
The concept is interesting and the content - at least some of it, is interesting as well. Williams' story on its own is absolutely a ride, and I empathized with her throughout the narrative...I just wish she'd told it in a more engaging way. The writing just wasn't that attention grabbing for me, and while the beginning was trying to set the scene and introduce "characters," I feel like you can do that without spending almost 100 pages doing it.
That being said, this was interesting sometimes - fascinating, actually. The complete sociopathy of Anna Delvey is very interesting as depicted here, but I would've liked to know more about the pathology of Anna than just about the sting that went down and how much money she lost. I guess, to be fair, I should've looked to a different book for that.
My last gripe isn't with the book itself, but the author. She's been very vocal about how "Inventing Anna" on Netflix is just giving Anna a platform and money in both Netflix and Anna's pockets - and it's true that that isn't ethical. Anna shouldn't be rewarded for her crimes. I can't help but think, however, what is Williams doing with this book, if not profiting off of Anna's crimes, and Anna herself?
Victims have the right to tell their stories, I will never dispute that, nor do I ever want to downplay someone's trauma. At the same time I have trouble with thinking that what she has written and put into the world is any better than what Netflix has done. That's just my two cents though, others might have different opinions and that's cool.
However, I couldn't get myself to relax tonight, so I put this on as a distraction while I played a game on my phone for hours on end. I thought that this book was going to annoy me less the closer that I got to the end, and I was simply incorrect.
The concept is interesting and the content - at least some of it, is interesting as well. Williams' story on its own is absolutely a ride, and I empathized with her throughout the narrative...I just wish she'd told it in a more engaging way. The writing just wasn't that attention grabbing for me, and while the beginning was trying to set the scene and introduce "characters," I feel like you can do that without spending almost 100 pages doing it.
That being said, this was interesting sometimes - fascinating, actually. The complete sociopathy of Anna Delvey is very interesting as depicted here, but I would've liked to know more about the pathology of Anna than just about the sting that went down and how much money she lost. I guess, to be fair, I should've looked to a different book for that.
My last gripe isn't with the book itself, but the author. She's been very vocal about how "Inventing Anna" on Netflix is just giving Anna a platform and money in both Netflix and Anna's pockets - and it's true that that isn't ethical. Anna shouldn't be rewarded for her crimes. I can't help but think, however, what is Williams doing with this book, if not profiting off of Anna's crimes, and Anna herself?
Victims have the right to tell their stories, I will never dispute that, nor do I ever want to downplay someone's trauma. At the same time I have trouble with thinking that what she has written and put into the world is any better than what Netflix has done. That's just my two cents though, others might have different opinions and that's cool.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Bullying and Suicide attempt
rharris86dc's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
nickoliver's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Re: the suicidal thoughts: Anna threatens to kill herself a few times (I think twice or so?), but it's unclear if she really means it or not.
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