lizbiss's review against another edition
3.0
I think there were some great bits in here, but overall it felt very repetitive to me. It also came off very “this is how it is, no room for any in between” and it pissed me off. I think as long as you’re going into knowing this isn’t textbook how every child’s life is, it can be really great. I also read a bunch of the positive reviews and it makes me happy that people are feeling seen by it. I also did in parts, but a lot of it I felt like I’d also covered in therapy
fluffy8u's review against another edition
4.0
I read this on recommendation by my therapist and, to tell you the truth, it was kind of hard to read emotionally. My "father" did drugs and alcohol when I was little, but when he stopped, the verbal and mental abuse came. I was never good enough. He screamed at me, called me names, and made me so afraid of even making a single move because it wasn't right in his eyes. He tried to ground my brother so that he didn't have to go to the school's open house.
All of what I felt in my childhood, were put into words by this book. Others had the same problems? It pained me that the author could see through me so clearly. She explained WHY I had these issues, they're not my fault but I CAN change them. I highly recommend this book if you come from alcoholics or any type of dysfunctional family.
All of what I felt in my childhood, were put into words by this book. Others had the same problems? It pained me that the author could see through me so clearly. She explained WHY I had these issues, they're not my fault but I CAN change them. I highly recommend this book if you come from alcoholics or any type of dysfunctional family.
katlynann's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
I agree with what I’ve seen others say, at times, this is pretty outdated! Sexuality is viewed as an impulsive choice, there are a lot of gender role moments, and some misogyny! This made me trust the book a little less, but I do understand that this was published before I was even alive. Things have changed! Nothing was outright hateful, more of like an underlying belief that sometimes confused me.
That being said, there were moments of this book where I felt read to filth. Like someone had looked inside my soul and written down things I have refused to talk about. It was crazy! Things I didn’t know how to even articulate were there. There’s a lot of beautiful advice and quotes - I think it’s definitely worth the read either way!
That being said, there were moments of this book where I felt read to filth. Like someone had looked inside my soul and written down things I have refused to talk about. It was crazy! Things I didn’t know how to even articulate were there. There’s a lot of beautiful advice and quotes - I think it’s definitely worth the read either way!
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Alcoholism
lynn_x5452's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
A good reference for those beginning to unpack their childhoods that involved one or more alcoholic parents. Some of the language is outdated (as to be expected from a work this old). A lot of the advice is essentially "just don't do it" but it's a good place to start pinpointing areas to work on.
zosiablue's review against another edition
3.0
(3.5) I read this book when I was 11 or 12 which seems…too young to absorb any of it?! But what can I say, I had a mission to read all the books in the house and so here we are. (Ask me how many Danielle Steel books I read as a pre-teen.)
Re-reading 30 years later is a different story - I deeply relate to most of it. I often find books about traumatic childhoods too broad - like, who didn’t spend childhood confused and nervous? (Well, maybe you didn’t.) But this felt very specific and very directed and I’d recommend if your parents were drunks.
It’s not particularly well written and often rambles, but it’s very gentle and feels like a kind but firm guidance counselor talking you through it. Some things didn’t age well (queer stuff, gender, etc) but it could’ve been worse given the time period.
Anyway, I understand my childhood a bit better now.
Re-reading 30 years later is a different story - I deeply relate to most of it. I often find books about traumatic childhoods too broad - like, who didn’t spend childhood confused and nervous? (Well, maybe you didn’t.) But this felt very specific and very directed and I’d recommend if your parents were drunks.
It’s not particularly well written and often rambles, but it’s very gentle and feels like a kind but firm guidance counselor talking you through it. Some things didn’t age well (queer stuff, gender, etc) but it could’ve been worse given the time period.
Anyway, I understand my childhood a bit better now.
cheryl6of8's review against another edition
5.0
Yesterday, while leaving my internship, I passed a Little Free Library and glanced inside out of curiosity. I actually kept walking and then turned around to claim this book because one of my counseling clients is an Adult Child of Alcoholics. I thought the book might provide some insight.
I opened the book just to peek at it and see if it was actually readable and got sucked in. The psychology is sound based on my training and the writing style is simple and direct. It addresses itself to Adult Children of Alcoholics instead of to clinicians or substance abuse professionals and has a level of intimate understanding that is quite effective. This updated version of the original book is nearly 40 years old but is still very much on point. I would recommend it to anyone who deals with Adult Children of Alcoholics or is a member of the group. This will go on my permanent shelf for use in my future professional life.
I opened the book just to peek at it and see if it was actually readable and got sucked in. The psychology is sound based on my training and the writing style is simple and direct. It addresses itself to Adult Children of Alcoholics instead of to clinicians or substance abuse professionals and has a level of intimate understanding that is quite effective. This updated version of the original book is nearly 40 years old but is still very much on point. I would recommend it to anyone who deals with Adult Children of Alcoholics or is a member of the group. This will go on my permanent shelf for use in my future professional life.