This is the first book by Michele Miller that I have read, and it was excellent. It starts out as a hard-core zombie story, set in NYC, with a great cast of characters. There are all of the requisite guts, gore, brains splattering… not my usual genre, but brilliantly done. The recovery aspect of the story is barely mentioned in the first few chapters. It comes on slowly and naturally. Eventually, the cast figures out that alcoholics and addicts are “immune” from the zombie disease (the walking dead can’t smell them), so they are ultimately the only ones that survive the apocalypse. I love this concept because I have often thought that my alcoholism is what saved me. Sure, it was awful at the bottom, but without it, I would not have the life that I love today.
Their group grows as they move across the city and then across the country. They are the quintessential AA group in so many ways. They’re a random collection of people who otherwise would not be friends. They are connected by their need for survival. Furthermore, they need each other for survival…they can’t do it on their own.
There are representatives of many of the “types” that we know in recovery. Bill is solid and runs a good program. Jared is in denial of his disease. Courtney was raised by addict parents and has deep resentments. Shane, a college grad with high potential who turned into a drug dealer. Patty, an aging socialite with deep insights and long term sobriety. They are all knowable, relatable and empathetically drawn by Miller. For example, I loved the way she described Courtney’s father “turning” into an alcoholic. Once he turned, he wrecked everything in their lives… very zombie-like.
Mid-way through their journey, the group moves in with a colony of recovering alcoholics that escaped an AA convention in Memphis on “Z-Day.” They are led by an egomaniac “circuit speaker,” who I recognized immediately. No talking about drugs allowed in the meetings. No talking about zombies, either. No dating unless approved by your sponsor. Dozens of oppressive rules were in place to keep him feeling secure and important.
After running the gauntlet for months and surviving countless zombies, nuclear radiation, the dregs of humanity, natural disasters, death and sickness within the group, plus each of their inner demons… I won’t spoil the ending because it’s really cool and surprising, but I will say that they are transformed once they have completed their 13th Step.
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Gabriel de Cuir. It is uncommonly well done. The performance is flawless and engaging – one of the best that I have ever heard.
If you’re interested in the addiction fiction genre, I would put this book at the top of your reading list.
The Sobees Addiction Fiction by Will Thatcher Score: 5 out of 5
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A Disco Ball is Hundreds of Pieces of Broken Glass, Put Together to Make a Magical Ball of Light. You are NOT Broken, Friend. You are a DISCO BALL!
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