Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Forgotten Girls: An American Story by Monica Potts

9 reviews

vroomvroomvrose's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, and Death of parent

andrea_lachance's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

My extremely biased review of this book

I grew up and currently live in Arkansas. I checked out this book from the county library and Monica Potts signed the copy. The Forgotten Girls is a perfect encapsulation of the frustrations of growing up in a southern town.

I was texting my friend as I read; we’re both from Arkansas and went to college here. I marveled with her about how atrocious the schooling was in Clinton. If we’d been born a decade later and 100 miles south, we would’ve been taught that women have an extra layer of fat on their bodies and that’s why they tolerate hot dishwater better than men.

This book really resonated with me, even if the ending felt a bit rushed. I hope Darci is slowly building a boring, stable life for herself.

I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Abandonment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

aimebo's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

claireh6's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Car accident

rchatterjee188's review

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Grief, and Car accident

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Hate crime, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

bschweig717's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

5.0

This was a heartbreaking, illuminating, and vulnerable piece of memoir. I am thankful to have read it. I feel like I saw myself in many of the people in it at times. It was heartbreaking and also illuminating about the importance of community for each of us to thrive.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol

bookmaddie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

I read this on audio (exciting for me!!), and even though it took me awhile, I really enjoyed it. Very intense, sad and thoughtful memoir.
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I decided to dip my toes back into audiobooks, and I think I’m ~lightly~ hooked! They’re such a nice companion to cooking, cleaning, and going on walks, and perfect for when I need a bit of a break from tunes (I’m not much of a podcast girl). I started with this book on a whim, and while it took me a month to get through, I found it to be a very valuable, heartrending read.

Potts chronicles her childhood in rural Arkansas, focusing on her friendship with a girl named Darcy and how, and why, their lives went in completely different directions. Potts journalistic roots shine through as she deftly weaves facts and studies about the living in rural areas with her own story, and that of Darcy. By examining how her and Darcy’s paths diverged, Potts questions how and why living in rural areas results in worse health, educational, and employment outcomes for these communities.

Yet hidden just below a somewhat journalistic tone, Potts’ story is full of emotion. Her friendship with Darcy, both as children and then reconnecting in adulthood, is an endless push-and-pull, yet full of loyalty and hope. Potts’ recollections of her childhood, and returning to her hometown, were brought to life through her heartfelt narration. I’m so glad I came to this story on audio!

This is a very balanced memoir with a lot of hope and insight to build better communities in rural areas. I may not have picked up this book in print, but I’m so glad I gave it a listen. It’s a deeply felt love letter to Potts’ home, and all those who prefer open skies to crowded roads. Definitely not one to overlook!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol

debussy's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

I am a white woman not far off from the author’s age and grew up in the Arkansas Ozarks. So much of this book felt like reading about my own life—the relentless isolation, conservatism, and xenophobia of the area as well as the driving need to leave it while developing a strange, complicated relationship with it afterward are so on point. The way the area is a deeply messed up patriarchy steeped with religion makes women scapegoats—there to be blamed or used by the men who have little in their lives except the ability to control others. This is a sad, compelling, and unfortunately accurate portrait of a place I still love. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Miscarriage and Physical abuse

sjanke2's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Car accident

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Death of parent