"I'm the One Who Got Away

Andrea Jarrell’s new book, “I’m the One Who Got Away” is both a cautionary and

celebratory tale of one woman—and ultimately many women.

You will find yourself in this story, and you’ll understand yourself just a little bit better as you watch Jarrell navigate from childhood to adulthood, from her mother’s life through becoming a mother herself.

“I’m the One Who Got Away” is a wonderful read for all women in recovery. All of the things you have faced are right here—and just as when, in a meeting, you find yourself saying, “I never expected to identify with that person” and then you do,  you’ll feel that here as you receive Jarrell's gift.

Jarrell is a child when her mother takes her and they flee from an abusive husband. Their relationship and journey lead to unspoken promises and misunderstandings that take years to unravel. You know those moments when it clicks:  “So, that’s why I do that!”

 Her story reads like one of the best recovery speakers—the one’s we wish for at the podium. You’ll see all the stages of trying, testing and healing that you have gone through in Jarrell’s story—and you’ll laugh, sigh, and maybe like me you will be saying, “Oh, no” and then “Oh, good!” out loud as you read this memoir.

Jarrell’s honesty about her attractions, mistakes, desires, and ultimately her recovery will draw you deeply into I’m the One Who Got Away, and you’ll turn the last page saying, “Me too, sister. Me too.”

Five Best Books on Alcoholics

No, not on recovering alcoholics and not the best books on recovery but here is an article from the Wall Street Journal giving author, Lawrence Osborne's picks of the five best pieces of literature depicting alcoholics.

Osborne is the author of "The Wet and the Dry: A Drinker's Journey" and an upcoming novel, "The Ballad of a Small Player".  In the article linked below he gives his five picks of the best--and I'll say scariest-- books depicting active alcoholics. If you need help keeping it green any of these five will do.

Of special interest is what he has to say about Stephen King's scary thriller, "The Shining."

Here's the link:

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304073204579171871387961880

What books would you add to this list of best book about alcoholics?

Carry On, Warrior

The advice often given to writers is, “Write the book that you want to read.” Well, I feel like I can stop now because I have just read the smartest, funniest and most poignant book about recovery.

The book is called: “Carry On, Warrior—Thoughts on Life Unarmed” by Glennon Doyle Melton.

And maybe this book isn’t even about recovery per se, maybe it’s just a book about how life can change so dramatically and so wonderfully and be both so good and so hard—so very hard –for a woman in recovery.

The best part of this is that Glennon writes in short bursts and sections about all the girl friend stuff: bodies, highlights, babies, sex, clothes, shopping, food and God, fear, pain, infidelity, family and hard forgiveness. This is a girl I want to go have a drink with—a latte, an Italian soda, or a bedtime steamed milk. This is a girl whose story makes me glad I don’t drink, and I’m glad she doesn’t drink any more either.

Really—check this out. It’s funny and smart and very real.

Carry on.