Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
This is quite the devastating read. How on earth in can a child be subjected to drugs, rape and prostitution?! It is quite mind-boggling, incredulous really. In fact her sordid detail has come under fire from some who believe her account to be embellished. However Cupcake maintains her memoirs authenticity.
Once I'd gotten over the girls' name (it really is Cupcake) I started to feel quite uneasy as this young girls life exploded, being treated poorly by almost all the adults she encountered, trading drugs for sex and literally waiting on street corners to sell herself. It's a great story that has you pleading with each page to bring a ray of light into this child's life.
Once I'd gotten over the girls' name (it really is Cupcake) I started to feel quite uneasy as this young girls life exploded, being treated poorly by almost all the adults she encountered, trading drugs for sex and literally waiting on street corners to sell herself. It's a great story that has you pleading with each page to bring a ray of light into this child's life.
Cupcake Brown's narrative is very readable; her voice is unique. If there's a flaw, it's not in the use of slang, but that she tells her story in a way that suggests that she expects to shock the reader, but her story, though horrific and at times difficult to read, does not particularly shock me. I find the lack of oversight in the California foster system, especially for black children, in the 70's, the social expectation for low income teens of color in poor neighborhoods to join gangs, and her descent into addiction to crack cocaine very believable.
However, the book was about 100 pages too long. Many of the anecdotes become repetitive over time. It feels like she tells them only to make the reader clutch their pearls. How many times can you clutch pearls?
However, the book was about 100 pages too long. Many of the anecdotes become repetitive over time. It feels like she tells them only to make the reader clutch their pearls. How many times can you clutch pearls?
I read this book many many many years ago - I still remember the words, like I read them yesterday.
The therapy that I didn't know existing, that I didn't know I needed, that I couldn't afford if I did.
Thank you for sharing your story.
The therapy that I didn't know existing, that I didn't know I needed, that I couldn't afford if I did.
Thank you for sharing your story.
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Death of parent
Took me a little longer to finish than I thought. Called myself listening before bed and it was listening to me... lol! Found myself having to go back a few chapters to catch what I missed a few times. But overall a very good book!
I absolutely love this book!! Cupcake was so raw, so real, and so genuine with her feelings throughout this book. As someone that has had a rough life, it left me feeling a camaraderie with her. She definitely went through way more than I did, but it was such a beautiful story about rising above the cards that life has dealt you. It reinforces the notion I believe that we meet people at the right time in our lives to help steer us in the right direction. This is definitely one of my favorite books, hands down.
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
A piece of cake is a memoir written by Cupcake Brown, a lawyer and motivational speaker detailing her childhood experiences.
Her story is incredible story of resilience and community. At the age of 11, she found her mother dead, learned about her bio dad, taken from the family she new and thrust into a horrific foster situation. The book gives a very detailed view of addiction.
A large portion was spent on her partying years, which helps the reader understand what life was like. I do think the focus on this section was longer and more detailed than needed. But it is her story to tell.
I would have enjoyed more focus on the recovery and journey to success.
Hats off to you Cupcake! You are an inspiration!
Her story is incredible story of resilience and community. At the age of 11, she found her mother dead, learned about her bio dad, taken from the family she new and thrust into a horrific foster situation. The book gives a very detailed view of addiction.
A large portion was spent on her partying years, which helps the reader understand what life was like. I do think the focus on this section was longer and more detailed than needed. But it is her story to tell.
I would have enjoyed more focus on the recovery and journey to success.
Hats off to you Cupcake! You are an inspiration!
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
sad
medium-paced
While this was an interesting story it need about 35% of the content cut from it. The narrator rambles and repeats herself as well as adding unnecessary and excessive dialogue including inner monologue. About 3/4 of the way it was hard to get through.