berkles 's review for:

Bewilderness by Karen Tucker

5.0

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Karen Tucker just landed a solid literary gut-punch to my soul. As someone just shy of 9 years sober, this is, without a doubt, a novel that rings true. The highs are just high enough to make sense of it all (in the addicts mind). And the lows so low they scrape the resin off the foil and remind you why you best get out while you can. Written with a certain vulnerability and realism that allows the reader to walk along with Irene and Luce as things fall together and fall apart. Bewilderness is beautifully realistic in its ability to strip away any thoughts of a glorified "drugstore cowboy" opioid mentality. A story that is sorely needed right now.