This is a beautifully written book that is quite different from the usual action-packed “Addiction Fiction” thrillers and crime stories I’ve reviewed so far. It was Leslie Jamison’s debut novel.
The narrative is split between the first-person perspectives of Stella and her estranged aunt Tilly, a lifelong alcoholic and former prostitute who lives in isolation in the middle of the Arizona desert. The voices of these two characters combine to paint a picture of the family’s suffering across generations.
Relationship and addiction problems run in the family, although they manifest very differently across the narrators and other characters. Stella suffers from an eating disorder and an unhealthy attachment to a married, emotionally unavailable man. She also struggles with her mother, a no-nonsense workaholic who disapproves of her every thought and action. Tilly’s alcoholism is brutal and she struggles in all of her relationships, but most vividly and painfully with her son.
From a storyline perspective, the most interesting aspect was Stella’s attempt to save her estranged aunt. Her motives for this seem mixed. She’s a caregiver by nature, she’s looking for some kind of adventure, she seems to desperately need a “win” in her life, and she definitely wants to stick it to her mother, Aunt Tilly’s sister.
As an alcoholic, I can relate.
As an alcoholic, I felt that I knew Tilly intimately. She’s one of those chronically devastating people whose salvation I always root for, but in the back of my mind I doubt they’ll ever get it. She is at the center of the book and, as a result, it’s a tragic and bleak read. It’s also extremely well done. As a writer, I was jealous of Jamison’s prose. Her characters are vivid and the world she creates is genuinely emotional. It was a very different type of page turner from the other addiction fiction books I’ve reviewed, but I found it thoroughly enjoyable in the way that a good cry can be.
SOBER CURATOR SPOILER ALERT:
Jamison doesn’t tie this story up with a pretty red bow for us in the end, and I appreciate that. There are former Tillys in AA rooms around the world who have rescued themselves and gone on to have happy, productive lives, but there are countless others who don’t. The light never turns on for these others and they refuse to see themselves as anything but the hopeless cases they’ve always been. Similarly, I was okay with the fact that Stella’s need to fix people is not gratified. That’s not how that story usually goes either. In my experience, if your goal is to change other people, the best you can hope for is a shift in your own perspective.
The Sobees Addiction Fiction Score: 4 out of 5
ADDICTION FICTION BY WILL THATCHER: Addiction fiction is a newer genre of literature that explores the theme of addiction and recovery. These works of fiction often revolve around characters struggling with substance abuse and the emotional, physical, and psychological toll it takes on their lives. They may also delve into the complex dynamics of addiction within relationships and families. Addiction fiction typically focuses on themes of redemption, personal growth, and the journey toward recovery. By exploring these themes, addiction fiction can provide a powerful and relatable message.
ABOUT WILL THATCHER:
Will Thatcher is a sober man. He is also a proud dad, a sometimes-successful entrepreneur, and he is doing his best as a husband. After he finishes with AA, family stuff, work, the gym, surfing, and mountain biking he writes addiction fiction thrillers that feature clean and sober characters. Addiction recovery themes provide endless opportunities for dramatic conflict and resolution.
Will’s stories are exciting, intense, character-driven explorations of these themes. Will is also an Addiction Fiction enthusiast. While working on his own books, he steadily consumes and reviews the work of notable authors in the space. His reviews can be found on The Sober Curator, his social media accounts and on Goodreads.
Debut Novel: Killing Hurt
Coming Soon: The Sponsor
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