Fifteen million Americans a year are plagued with alcoholism. Five million of them are women. Many of them, like Caroline Knapp, started in their early teens and began to use alcohol as "liquid armor," a way to protect themselves against the difficult realities of life. In this extraordinarily candid and revealing memoir, Knapp offers important insights not only about alcoholism, but about life itself and how we learn to cope with it.
Drinking: A Love Story
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The roots of alcoholism in the life of a brilliant daughter of an upper-class family are explored in this stylistic, literary memoir of drinking by a Massachusetts journalist. Caroline Knapp describes how the distorted world of her well-to-do parents pushed her toward anexoria and then alcoholism. Fittingly, it was literature that saved her: She found inspiration in Pete Hamill's A Drinking Life and sobered up. Her tale is spiced with the characters she's known along the way.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Freelance journalist Knapp began drinking in her early teens and continued unabatedly until she "hit bottom" in 1995 and checked herself into a rehab at the age of 36. During that time she managed to graduate with honors from Brown and have a successful career as a journalist, and few people suspected she had a problem with the bottle. Here she recounts the years of denial that helped her rationalize the blackouts, innumerable hangovers, broken relationships and family tensions characteristic of the alcoholic's story. Knapp interweaves her personal history with factual information about alcohol abuse, including frequent references to the AA meetings she's attended. Here's a confession utterly devoid of self-pity, an extraordinarily lucid and very well-written personal account of a common addiction that is filled with insights as well as a comprehensive treatment of the subject. The text reproduces a questionnaire for alcoholism made up by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. First serial to the New York Times Magazine and Cosmopolitan; Literary Guild selection; author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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I DRANK. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
I DRANK. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By DJ
Format:Paperback
I found myself immediately jumping to the 1-star reviews, curious of what the criticisms were. As I read them, I realized that what we read touches us in a way that is so personal based on the specific place we are in our lives.
I loved CKs story. I could relate to it. I didn't find it inauthentic or self-indulgent. (Similar to the negative reviews of Eat Pray Love haters). It was her way of telling the story of her own personal experience with alcoholism.
Perhaps it is because I too, on the surface perhaps, am a very successful, happy, well-adjusted woman. A successful, happy, well-adjusted woman with a secret. The secret of a lover, a best friend, a confidante, that I call...alcohol.
That being said, I am only just halfway through the book, so my opinion could change towards the end, as apparently several readers have experienced.
But in any case, I am appreciative of a voice which speaks from a unique viewpoint - a viewpoint which is differentiated from the stereotypical 'brown-paper-bag-hitting-rock-bottom-bum'. As we know, alcoholism is a prevalent issue, which far transcends the class barriers, and it is refreshing to hear someone speaking up to that.
I loved CKs story. I could relate to it. I didn't find it inauthentic or self-indulgent. (Similar to the negative reviews of Eat Pray Love haters). It was her way of telling the story of her own personal experience with alcoholism.
Perhaps it is because I too, on the surface perhaps, am a very successful, happy, well-adjusted woman. A successful, happy, well-adjusted woman with a secret. The secret of a lover, a best friend, a confidante, that I call...alcohol.
That being said, I am only just halfway through the book, so my opinion could change towards the end, as apparently several readers have experienced.
But in any case, I am appreciative of a voice which speaks from a unique viewpoint - a viewpoint which is differentiated from the stereotypical 'brown-paper-bag-hitting-rock-bottom-bum'. As we know, alcoholism is a prevalent issue, which far transcends the class barriers, and it is refreshing to hear someone speaking up to that.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I read this book initially as a practicing alcoholic in denial, and then in early recovery. I loved the book the first time recognizing the honesty and courage. The author's style was very pleasing. Now, I appreciate the honesty, courage, and accuracy. I go to A.A. meetings every day, and A.A. is my family now. I wondered, "What could this book offer that I wasn't already getting?" The fact is that this book offered wisdom I hadn't heard before, such as, in decision making, how to tell the difference between the alcoholic alternative and the better choice. I re-read this two days ago, and used it today. I won't spill the beans. You'll have to read the book to learn.
In A.A., sponsors are always the same sex as the sponsee. I wondered what insight I could get from a female alcoholic. I learned tht this is not an issue. I strongly recommend this book to everyone.
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I myself have had a drinking problem in the past and when I was trying to sober up I bought this book and let me tell you, I thought I was reading my life. I am just glad that she had the guts to come out in public and tell her story. I would have loved to have met her. It's a shame she died before her time was up.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Alcoholism and Anorexia AreTwo Different Problems
My guess is this woman wanted to write a book about her alcoholism. But her publisher said (just as mine did when I tried to write a memoir about my heroin addiction) "No, no,... Read more
Published on Jun 23 2004
1.0 out of 5 stars
Drove me to drink
I'm sure Knapp's problems would be juicy and interesting, if she would just be a little more direct in telling them. Read more
Published on May 24 2004 by Brian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magnificent
This book is a truth telling magnificent look from the author's own life that speaks of a childhood of pain, lost in drink...and the years of battle to overcome her addiction. Read more
Published on April 23 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not just for alcoholics
If you're an extra sensitive person, a person who came from a dysfunctional childhood, or even just a person who appreciates well-written and candid memoirs, you will love this... Read more
Published on Feb 5 2004
3.0 out of 5 stars
Very intelligent book ..... but
I read it as someone interested in addiction, having given up smoking and also cutting down on alcohol, perhaps one of the "fringe" people she mentions. Read more
Published on Jan 17 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Life Changer
Now three years sober, I come back to this book again and again for its fresh perspective and dead-on descriptions of addiction from the standpoint of a "high... Read more
Published on Jan 15 2004
4.0 out of 5 stars
Riveting (now all the pages are there)
Drinking
Caroline Knapp
Self Help - Recovery | Delta
Trade Paperback | May 1997
14. Read more
Caroline Knapp
Self Help - Recovery | Delta
Trade Paperback | May 1997
14. Read more
Published on Jan 13 2004 by B. Page
4.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling new perspective
I enjoy reading memoirs on subjects I know nothing about. Alcoholism was one of those topics. I thought that you could just stop drinking, but it's like telling a depressed... Read more
Published on Nov 3 2003 by mL
3.0 out of 5 stars
waiting for it to sink in
I was expecting deeper insight and inspiration from this book but was disappointed. I was frustrated with the lack of depth in her narrative and descriptions of personal... Read more
Published on Sep 23 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book for the woman alcoholic
This is by far the best-written book on the female alcoholic - and I've read plenty. Highly recommend this one.
Published on May 3 2003
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