Lit: A Memoir Audiobook

" AAAAHHHH! Mary effing Karr, you are a literary genius, and you make me feel more human. This book is incredible, amazing, and every other annoying superlative adjective you can think of. Raw? Check. Heartbreaking? Check. Well-written? Check, check, check. You won't be disappointed. You won't be able to put it down. You won't leave your bed for hours. You're welcome. "

" If I could I'd give this book 3.5 stars... was a great memoir for getting a kind of insider's understanding of addiction, and was a page turner. However, I often found her writing a bit egotistical and found myself wondering if she at times was a little too nice to herself about some of her not so nice moments. I do recommend it though. "

" I loved how Mary used so much detail. The book flowed like a fiction book and wasn't boringly factual like some other memoirs I have read. "

" Mary can sure turn a phrase. Just wish, for her sake, her life hadn't been so damn awful. Up to now, that is. "

" It messed with my head little, but I never bonded with the character. "

" If you can get past the first 20 pages, it will be worth it! I liked this book more than Liars' Club, just so beautifully written and what a voice! And she's not overly dramatic, she just tells it like it is. That's all I really want in a memoir--authenticity (oh and great writing)! "

" I've fallen in love with Mary Karr once again after reading this latest book by her...a great, honest read. "

" I was a little disappointed. Karr can really write but how much can one read about her alcoholism and recovery? I liked her early memoirs much more. "

" This was great - engagingly written, honest, reflective, and helpful insights. "

" I was into it at first and then misplaced it for 3 weeks. By the time I got the book back, I was disinterested. Not necessarily the book's fault. "

" good writer. I don't think I'm giving it away to say she's an alcoholic who becomes a Christian. I do not understand her but I do respect her. "

" I love Mary Karr, although I was ready for this one to come to an end; the final fourth of the book lagged. "

" I really enjoyed this book even though it is about a tough subject "

" I learned a lot about Recovery from this book. Karr's matter of fact tone and honesty about religious experience set this work apart from other memoirs I've read. I'm not enamored of it in a 5-star way, but it certainly was powerful. I've put a book of Karr's poems on hold at the library. "

" Can't wait to read more of her stuff. What an amazingly honest and raw memoir. "

" Mary Karr's writing is lovely, and makes what could be a difficult topic inspirational and often funny. "

" This is a great memoir to read if you are a writer. She does a great job chronicling her struggles with succeeding in the world of writing and surviving. Even though it is about her descent and ascent and descent again into alcohol addiction, it is surprisingly not depressing. "

" Love, love, love Mary Karr. Her writing is absolutely delicious. "

" At first I was put off, I feel like I have read a lot of autobiographical books about the road to recovery. Although the narrative some times seemed scattered I really heard her voice and humor and in the end felt like I really knew her. I will put her earlier biography on my to read list. "

" Wonderful memoir. Full of humor, amazement, survival and honesty. "

" Wonderful honest description of her descent into and ascent out of alcoholism. Clearly not a subject for everyone but Karr's writing is amazing. Her forays into religion are not my cup of tea but they are shared with honesty. How her mind can craft sentences after the life she has lead is beyond me. "

" I couldn't get into this the first time I picked it up. I'm so glad I tried again. "

" A great, entertaining story, written with colorfully crafted language and a sense of humor. As much as this memoir is a story about substance abuse, it is more accurately a study about resistance to spiritual truth. "

" Spectacular. So many levels of learning about the self here, especially when the author's personal recovery begins. I found myself staring to believe in prayer and the power of putting your wish out there. "

" Compelling and tough read but certainly worth the time. "

" Love her style--the rough poetry of it. Went on too long, though, and the relentless self-pity even in the face of her great good luck and blessings grew tiresome. "

" I loved how Mary used so much detail. The book flowed like a fiction book and wasn't boringly factual like some other memoirs I have read. "

" Got love a former drunks excapades. "

" If there is a better writer out there than Mary Karr, I haven't read her/him. She's a master - a poet and a storyteller. "

" Tough and gritty but an interesting story. Now want to go back and read The Liar's Club. "

" I couldn't finish this. It wasn't very good. "

" I'm a sucker for ppl's stories. And this one is great to read. A whole lot of sad, but very funny too, and then hopeful. "

" The first half was well-written and fairly interesting, but it was not until the second half (when she really starts trying to change and reflect on her alcoholism) that I was moved and inspired. "

" This was a wonderful memoir showing the origins and downward spiral of addiction and addictive personalities. I loved reading about Mary Karr's emotional and spiritual growth throughout the course of the book. I wish I had read Liar's Club first, but I am definitely ready to read it soon! "

" Wonderful memoir. Full of humor, amazement, survival and honesty. "

" An amazing writer and an amazing story. The language is fresh and moving. This is her story of recovery from alcoholism, which is not a subject that I have particular interest in, but the way she relates it, I think it would be interesting to anyone. "

" Gets preachy towards the end "

" Mary Karr shares more than most people will even admit about themselves and does an amazing job of illustrating how to grow one's ability to be empathetic even while healing one's self. "