Patti H

A memoir that is an "in your face" memoir. Ms. Diaz pulls you in right from the very first page. She talks about "finding ourselves, even as we are losing the people we love, how we are not defined by the worst thing we've ever done". An extraordinary statement in the eyes of this reader.

Her story is about survival, battling addictions, mental illness and deplorable situations of abuse and neglect at the hands of those who are meant to protect her. Ms. Diaz is strong, willful, defiant, yet caring and compassionate. When she loves, she loves with every part of her being......her friends, "abeula", Alaina, Mami and Papi. Her love is fierce and unremitting.

This is the memoir of all memoirs. Ms. Diaz tells us exactly as it is, as it should be and as it isn't. Comparable to none, Ms. Diaz is at the top of her league. Writing for all the "girls" and those who have no "voice", she is an undeniably, remarkable, empowering woman. She is the "voice" for all those who dare not speak. Perhaps now they will........

A woman sitting next to me on an airplane had this book. I had never heard of it. She told me to read a few pages. I read a chapter. After, she told me that Mr. Frey had made "some of the story up". Still, I felt compelled to read it. I got a copy.

Frey's writing was so choppy with run-on sentences, making it a little difficult to read. Yet read it I did. I couldn't put it down even though I knew some facts were skewed. I knew something was wrong when Frey told of going to the dentist, have teeth pulled and root canals performed with no anesthetic or pain medication. This is something that would NEVER happen regardless of such incidences as drug and alcohol abuse.

However, as more of the story unfolds events are more "real" for this reader. Frey's comradarie with others in the facility is often found in a variety of treatment facilities, be it drugs/alcohol, PTSD, depression and the like. Comfort is found in forming these friendships and from what I have been told these are lifelong friendships.

Speaking of friendships, his "relationship" with Lily should never have happened. Even though I get it, rehab is not Match.com and I have been told by a reformed alcoholic that one should never seek out a relationship with someone who has drug/alcohol problems. They just feed off one another. No idea if that is true or not.

Having said all that, Frey's book was one that I could not put down. I had to see it to the end. I must add that the ending was anti-climatic. I guess I just expected more.