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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
A good read for anyone looking inward about their relationship with alcohol. The stories and timelines kinda jumped around a bit, but I really felt the overall message!
Embarrassed to say it took me listening to half the book to realized this is not the same Sarah Levy of Schitt’s Creek fame. But enjoyed the essays and appreciated all the thoughts on sober living!
Good message and good insight but gets a little slow towards the end. 3.5 stars
This memoir by Sarah Levy recounts her struggles with alcohol and journey to sobriety. While I found the writing solid and emotionally honest, I struggled with the disjointed timeline and felt her sobriety process seemed overly simplified compared to other addiction narratives I’ve read. Though I didn’t relate deeply to her experiences, I appreciated learning more about sobriety and Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s not a must-read for me, but I’d recommend it for those who might connect with her story.
I know this book is on a lot of must read lists and I was really excited to read it. I first I found it difficult to follow, because each section went back in time to when the author was in college or earlier in her life. So each time a new section started it was like hitting rewind, and you wonder why nothing has progressed and takes a moment to catch up. There’s no doubt this book has some really great experiences that will resonate with a lot of people but it really wasn’t up to par with the type of reading I like to do. Honestly, it sounded like the author was complaining about her life in a lot of ways complaints about social media complaints about the type of friend she had which of things we’ve all been through, but when it comes to substance-reliance and sobriety. There’s a lot of good information.
ARC from Netgalley
I related to several parts of the story and I do think it is an important one. Each story of sobriety is just different enough to invite the right person in.
I had a difficulty with the timeline shifting several times within each chapter. Made it hard to follow at times.
I related to several parts of the story and I do think it is an important one. Each story of sobriety is just different enough to invite the right person in.
I had a difficulty with the timeline shifting several times within each chapter. Made it hard to follow at times.
Rating: 3/5
One woman's self-reflection on her negative experiences as a young adult in a culture where drinking is glorified.
This memoir's structure is a little all over the place - which isn't necessarily bad. It's a collection of essays, and each could be read as a stand-alone. I think this structure might appeal to someone going through a rough time and looking for connection.
The issue with this though is that there's a lot of repetition. Reading straight through we hear over and over again about the same issues and situations over and over again. Each chapter ends in a similar way: she's reached enlightenment. And everything is perfect now.
It starts to feel like soberness was this big magic key - but we weirdly don't hear much about her struggle to stay sober. Sarah Levy makes it seem like a switch: one day she just chose it. She doesn't have setbacks. She just has a few moments of doubt and concern. I wish we got to hear more about her tips to staying sober.
This book covers more of her struggles while being a drinker, all the situations she ended up in. And it works in a lot of these essays. Sarah Levy has a way of putting emotions down in words. Among other topics she has great insights on social media and how alcoholism is perceived. It's a quick, gripping read.
**Dear Netgalley and publisher: thank you for an eARC in exchange for an honest review**
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I know publishers aren't big fans of sharing ARC quotes but the lines that really hit me were:
"Until I got sober, I thought everyone blacked out. To me, it was a rite of passage and an inevitable outcome when I drank heavily."
"I drink to get drunk; there is not an in between."
"This is the real madness of my relationship with alcohol: that I remained so committed to fixing something that had never worked in the first place."
The first connected with me because it's something I also experienced as a new drinker at 18. Blacking out after three drinks is something that runs in my family, and it was great to see this phenomena discussed and recognized.
The second again is something I also experience. I'm not strictly sober but early on in my relationship with alcohol I realized the power it can hold.
The third is just a great critique of society, and something I believe many young adults will relate to.
My Blog Review
One woman's self-reflection on her negative experiences as a young adult in a culture where drinking is glorified.
This memoir's structure is a little all over the place - which isn't necessarily bad. It's a collection of essays, and each could be read as a stand-alone. I think this structure might appeal to someone going through a rough time and looking for connection.
The issue with this though is that there's a lot of repetition. Reading straight through we hear over and over again about the same issues and situations over and over again. Each chapter ends in a similar way: she's reached enlightenment. And everything is perfect now.
It starts to feel like soberness was this big magic key - but we weirdly don't hear much about her struggle to stay sober. Sarah Levy makes it seem like a switch: one day she just chose it. She doesn't have setbacks. She just has a few moments of doubt and concern. I wish we got to hear more about her tips to staying sober.
This book covers more of her struggles while being a drinker, all the situations she ended up in. And it works in a lot of these essays. Sarah Levy has a way of putting emotions down in words. Among other topics she has great insights on social media and how alcoholism is perceived. It's a quick, gripping read.
**Dear Netgalley and publisher: thank you for an eARC in exchange for an honest review**
----
I know publishers aren't big fans of sharing ARC quotes but the lines that really hit me were:
"Until I got sober, I thought everyone blacked out. To me, it was a rite of passage and an inevitable outcome when I drank heavily."
"I drink to get drunk; there is not an in between."
"This is the real madness of my relationship with alcohol: that I remained so committed to fixing something that had never worked in the first place."
The first connected with me because it's something I also experienced as a new drinker at 18. Blacking out after three drinks is something that runs in my family, and it was great to see this phenomena discussed and recognized.
The second again is something I also experience. I'm not strictly sober but early on in my relationship with alcohol I realized the power it can hold.
The third is just a great critique of society, and something I believe many young adults will relate to.
My Blog Review
As an elder millennial, Drinking Games was incredibly relatable. I didn't have my first real drink until I hit college. And like many college students, it was a go-hard or don't drink at all mentality. As I got older, it seemed like alcohol was always a central theme of whatever was happening.
Now in my 30s, I can still relate to many aspects of it. Drinking Games is very eye-opening, and for those in their 20s and 30s (and even early 40s), it will really make you think about your own habits with alcohol.
Thank you to Sarah Levy for penning this important book. Many will benefit from it.
Thank you, St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the eARC!
Now in my 30s, I can still relate to many aspects of it. Drinking Games is very eye-opening, and for those in their 20s and 30s (and even early 40s), it will really make you think about your own habits with alcohol.
Thank you to Sarah Levy for penning this important book. Many will benefit from it.
Thank you, St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the eARC!
reflective
tense
fast-paced
