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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
You could see this as a companion piece to Anthony Kiedis' [book:Scar Tissue|96647]. It's not about the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, but it is a kind of flipside to the Kiedis coin. Kiedis' parents separated when he was a kid, and he went off to live with his dad, where he learned to drink, take drugs and have lots of underage sex. Cupcake Brown's mother died when she was 11, Brown's real father handed her to a foster home, and she spent her childhood being raped, abused, running away, prostituting herself and taking drugs.
Kiedis was fortunate that he had a supportive family who wanted him, while Brown's family couldn't get the authorities to rescue her. That, and that Kiedis had music, is where the two memoirs differ, because other than that it's all drug addiction and, finally, recovery. Actually, in Kiedis' case, it would be fairer to say it's drug addiction, recovery, drug addiction, recovery, drug addiction, recovery... just as many times as it takes to get to the end.
It feels then, like you're reading the same book except that Kiedis' has the benefit of also being about the music of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers - who I used to like.
Brown's book on the other hand, has a harrowing and upsetting beginning, followed by a ridiculous amount of self-destructive and selfish behaviour. I didn't think I'd be able to continue reading it at first, then I became bored as it emerged that Brown wasn't a very nice person. But she kept on keeping on, and the bit about being a gangsta was quite interesting.
I was expecting, when I picked it up, that there would be more about the world of prostitution, but in actual fact there is very little detail on this. Brown was never a full time ho', so to speak, and she doesn't dwell on what went on with her business partners, instead being very matter of fact.
Finally though, she gets her act together, and I was surprised to find that I enjoyed the parts about her rehabilitation and redemption most interesting of all. I have to say though, considering the way the system had failed her, the way it had caused her to live a life of crime, and the manner in which the American legal system is known to discriminate against minorities and the poor, I was surprised that she wanted to study criminal law but didn't state a specific intent to try to help people who might be or have been in a similar position to her. There's no doubt that she worked very hard to change her life, and that is inspirational, but some people still don't have that possibility. Sure, there's no obligation, and maybe she does this but just didn't mention it, but I feel a stronger ending would have been a commitment to using her education and career to help reform the welfare and legal systems, and provide legal help to the disenfranchised.
I didn't have any problem with the grammar or language as many other reviewers did, but there were one or two half-questions that reared their heads. For example, in the bit about cheerleading practice, she tells how her abuser would give her LSD. How long was cheerleading practice supposed to be?!? LSD can last more than 8 hours so... well, I don't know.
I also wondered how she was able to remember so much detail (I wondered that about Anthony Kiedis, too), so I guess some scenes were probably reconstructed with a certain amount of imagination and artistic license.
Overall, if you can get through the horrible parts and the pages upon pages of drug abuse, you get a really nice ending. It's too unpleasant in general to really enjoy though.
Kiedis was fortunate that he had a supportive family who wanted him, while Brown's family couldn't get the authorities to rescue her. That, and that Kiedis had music, is where the two memoirs differ, because other than that it's all drug addiction and, finally, recovery. Actually, in Kiedis' case, it would be fairer to say it's drug addiction, recovery, drug addiction, recovery, drug addiction, recovery... just as many times as it takes to get to the end.
It feels then, like you're reading the same book except that Kiedis' has the benefit of also being about the music of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers - who I used to like.
Brown's book on the other hand, has a harrowing and upsetting beginning, followed by a ridiculous amount of self-destructive and selfish behaviour. I didn't think I'd be able to continue reading it at first, then I became bored as it emerged that Brown wasn't a very nice person. But she kept on keeping on, and the bit about being a gangsta was quite interesting.
I was expecting, when I picked it up, that there would be more about the world of prostitution, but in actual fact there is very little detail on this. Brown was never a full time ho', so to speak, and she doesn't dwell on what went on with her business partners, instead being very matter of fact.
Finally though, she gets her act together, and I was surprised to find that I enjoyed the parts about her rehabilitation and redemption most interesting of all. I have to say though, considering the way the system had failed her, the way it had caused her to live a life of crime, and the manner in which the American legal system is known to discriminate against minorities and the poor, I was surprised that she wanted to study criminal law but didn't state a specific intent to try to help people who might be or have been in a similar position to her. There's no doubt that she worked very hard to change her life, and that is inspirational, but some people still don't have that possibility. Sure, there's no obligation, and maybe she does this but just didn't mention it, but I feel a stronger ending would have been a commitment to using her education and career to help reform the welfare and legal systems, and provide legal help to the disenfranchised.
I didn't have any problem with the grammar or language as many other reviewers did, but there were one or two half-questions that reared their heads. For example, in the bit about cheerleading practice, she tells how her abuser would give her LSD. How long was cheerleading practice supposed to be?!? LSD can last more than 8 hours so... well, I don't know.
I also wondered how she was able to remember so much detail (I wondered that about Anthony Kiedis, too), so I guess some scenes were probably reconstructed with a certain amount of imagination and artistic license.
Overall, if you can get through the horrible parts and the pages upon pages of drug abuse, you get a really nice ending. It's too unpleasant in general to really enjoy though.
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
This book was very sad. I felt so bad for the author and all the things she went through. I’m very happy how it ended!
Stressed out to the end
I have never been more frustrated by a story in my life, but in the end it was all worth it. What a truly amazing triumph.
I have never been more frustrated by a story in my life, but in the end it was all worth it. What a truly amazing triumph.
An excellent story of one woman's struggle to overcome her past, poverty, sexual abuse and drug addiction. Brown's story will anger you while at the same time bringing a tear to your eye. There are parts of the story that are a bit redundant (we figure that a drug addict isn't going to be the best employee) but you will cheer her on as she changes her life.
Read this book as it was recommended by a reader and it had good reviews. It's a very compelling story, but at 531 pages it's way too long. The story of her life is extraordinary and shocking, and I'm glad I read it. I'm also ridiculously impressed she wrote it (really impressed just that she survived). I really would like to give it a positive review but it's just not very well written and as I said earlier, way too long.
I'll definitely finish this one day but it's a little too heavy for where I am mentally right now.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
This was absolutely incredible. From start to finish, the character progression from Cupcake’s beginnings to her remarkable transformation is a powerful testament to resilience. It dives into so many important themes, exploring the depths of perseverance in a way that feels both raw and inspiring. I’m thrilled to add this to my forever library and can’t wait to come back to it!
I enjoyed this book! A great memoir of a lady beating all odds!!!