Engaging. Terrible. Desperate. Lovely.
--LM
05/02 |
Excellent story. The prose is strong and soft at the same time; the character is knowable, likeable. The ethereal, disconnected mood brings a subtle reinforcement to the candid depiction of a life in shambles, but not beyond redemption. I would be proud to have written this story myself.
--TJ
04/14 |
Hey, liked you're story a lot, parts of it seemed like a mirror image of my own experiences in Dublin. Thanks.
--Rei
04/12 |
I have been sober now for 3 days. Your story has helped to reaffirm my own commitment. Your story is insightful; as I was compelled to write down a few lines (lacking the gift of expression myself). You have captured much of what I have often felt but scarcely understood. Thanks.
--JT
04/04 |
fiction or not this piece reminds me of the truth of some of my life. after over thirty years of sex and drugs(alcohol is a drug) and rock&roll it was a waste of life. this piece just for today helped me to stay sober. thank you
--zk
04/03 |
I look forward to reading about more of your journey.
I enjoy reading this story- it took me where you were
and how you got there emotionally- hard work kiddo
What I wanta know is what it took to get outta Philly!!!?
--bj
03/28 |
Intresting, but so are o many lives in the city...what we need is underlyng meaning....what did you learn from all this -- an apocoalyptic resignation...the world needs help...and I'm no pollyanna....but I hope you finish you AA, you're a good writer...but descrptive insn't enough, there hve to be those illuminaions that lift us from the depressing scene you presented....you'd be a good revolutionary once you take back your body, your soul and your fight....failure is impossible as Susan Be Anthony once said, when women were chattel.
--PSB
03/27 |
Alcoholics often change their goals to meet there behavior. Mature adults, who may or may not drink, change their behavior to meet goals. Try AA for three months. I finally sobered up in my late 50s after decades of binge drinking. Get a Big Book and a 12and12 (two AA texts), try to be honest, try not to drink between AA meetings, get a sponsor and read the AA pamphlet, "44 Questions".
--BD
03/25 |
If stopping drinking was so important, you would stop. You would not wait until the party ended. AA has one requirement: a desire (not even an honest desire) to stop drinking, period. Drinkers who are truly motivated to change a behavior do not wait for artificial deadlines or contrived criteria like, "I'll stop drinking when I go to this big party at the beach", etc. There are several D words in alcholism: Dependence, denial, depression. Then try desperation, dis-ease and maybe DEATH. Call AA in your town, go to meetings (90 in 90 days) and see if you can relate. If not, our hats are off to those who can drink normally. Check out WWW.thejaywalker.com, an unofficial AA site with advice from the Big Book and the 12and12, AAs textbooks. If you think alcohol is interfering with the facts of your life, try AA. It is free and not a cult.
--MBD
03/25 |
Ummm. Pardon me but this was not the first time this story was published here. I'm not sure why it's being presented as though it not not been seen on this site before. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure I read it here before...
--dig
03/24 |
This is an awesome story, a great read! It reminds me of my own life story, before I found AA. Unfortunately my story ISN'T fiction! To the author; keep up the good work! :o)
--KW
03/22 |
I thought it was a true story but it appears to be written from a woman's point of view and the author I now notice is a man. I guess it doesn't really matter because we know these things happen. It truly is an inspiration I plan to share with others... thank you!
--SG
03/21 |
I kind of dug this until I read all these responses, which is no fault of the author...it's fucking frightening that so many people can "relate" to this character, and it pisses me off. I hate that people can relate better to fiction than they can to other people, which is probably why they have problems in the first place (or else they would have done something about it by now).
By the way, the initials are real.
--AA
03/20 |
Great story. Great. Written really well. Brought things, it, me, you to life. I could totally relate. My only "complaint?" I want more. A sure sign of a great story.
--KEL
03/20 |
kudos for capturing that nonplussed feeling of waking up someplace you don't recognize, as well as the moment you realize you've really missed your stop on the party train.
mine took place in a farmhouse. chickens outside and everything.
--krs
03/20 |
Really nice piece of FICTION writing (people, it's fiction, don't get all AA uppity and offensive). I enjoyed this story. Although I felt no sympathy for the narrator and was oddly happy that she was s*** out of luck in Phili at the end, it has a good message and the writing style is kind of conversational - slightly babbling, but very nice.
--ba
03/20 |
You have a talent as a writer. I'm hoping I have, too. But your story is just one more story, in a sea of them. Your life isn't a story. It's your life. I hope you get to AA. It changed my life totally. Good luck.
--KH
03/20 |
AA, in case you aren't aware, stands for Alcoholics ANONYMOUS. This story would not have lost any of it's impact to be labelled "The Last Times I Partied Before Quitting Drinking". The anonymous part protects all of us who are sober. If you relapse, people will think AA doesn't work. And, it does work. And, anonymity keeps you safe from discrimination based on your choices, past and present. The 12th Tradition of AA claims, "Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions". Thank you for considering this idea.
--rt
03/20 |
Highly enjoyable story -- I think I've parties with these people myself... and now I'm not sure I want to do it again.
--CZ
03/19 |
kind of a fucking masterpiece. your style speaks to me. i love that you write. keep on.
--vk
03/19 |
Im not a big short story fan, but that was great...and thats coming from someone who has had many an ugly night.
--D
03/19 |
Very good. Keep going with that.
--RAR
03/19 |
When we get sick and tired of being sick and tired, friends of Bill are always there...so when we go down again, at least the chances are good we'll be aware of it by choice.
--BLU
03/19 |
It was beautiful... an intense experience. Thank you.
--JEG
03/19 |
u need help u have serious fu**ing issues i think u need to be evaluated soon like today
--
04/29 |
Hey I read your story this morning and really enjoyed it. I can relate to many of your experiences. I have been sober for four and a half years and studied creative writing in college. But haven't really ever combined those two elements of my life; my drinking and using life never overlapsed into my stories for some reason. But your writing was beautiful, in motion and sad.
Like my memories.
cheers and the best of luck to you-
--mj
10/31 |
compelling and engaging. could have read more.
--
10/17 |
Okay, so I 'm through my fourth beer here, and my new boy friend is of the opinion that I have a drinking problem, and when he was here last Sunday, we half-watched When A Man Loves A Woman, in which Meg Ryan plays an alcoholic, and I got totally freaked out, becuase he, my boy friend, had already said, "You drink too much."
But that has so little to do with your wonderful story other than my relating to it completely. I loved the whole of it-- the goofy details, the dead sister, the Russians. your execution was fabulous and I thank you for sucking me in.
--RJM
10/16 |
this made me cry. excellent.
http://pub10.ezboard.com/bsaltydreamsbook2
--t
10/07 |
oops missed that fiction part. But I was a few sheets to the wind at the time so cut me some slack.
I think the thought behind the criticism stands though; this is obviously a male author writing about his own experiences through the safety of a female protaganist.
Man now I feel bad for mocking all the people who didn't get that Memoirs of a Geisha was a novel.
--KB
09/25 |
What part of "fiction" (and a male author's name over a short story with a female protagonist) don't you understand?
--
09/23 |
So you used to drink yourself comatose and fuck stupidly dangerous men; now you sit in meetings talking about it. And you write it up for Nerve, too, of course. The first addiction was destroying your liver but the second will destroy your soul. God I hate AA.
--KB
09/23 |
LOVED IT!!!!
--BF
09/22 |
AWESOME!!! Mine was very similar. Reading this just inforces my determination to stay sober. I never want to go back to that life. "God thank you for letting me smile, but please O Lord don't let me forget how much I cried"
--NB
05/22 |
Interesting enough. I'm not convinced about this character's claim that the guy who wants to kill his lover is the head case. I don't think she really is either. Its a pretty depressing story and I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not. It seems to me to follow the usual pattern of such stories with no really interesting outstanding elements. It'd have been nice to have something aside from the hopelessness of her life. Not necessarily hope, just something else.
--AAa
03/13 |
you are fucking AMAZING. i hope you are getting paid lots of $$$$$ b/c you're writing's great. very susan cheever, jay mcinerny, etc. how are you liking AA? my sis swears by it. i'm still in denial...
--bed
03/06 |
That was not exploitation, that was her reality, and a very well written reality it was.
Nice that the dysfunctional family --because of a daughter/sister's death-- still allowed a little girl to learn how to read and write.
--dmc
02/27 |
One of the problems with writing “recovery:” stories is the intentional, inescapable glamorization of the whole life style. Artists fucking and brooding. Dangerous characters, New York art scene. The authors talent as a writer and a painter was luckily left in tacked. As a fellow member of AA I have to ask, is the message being carried or exploited. And, should some ones story of degradation give you a hard on?
--ak
02/23 |
I thought it was great article it kind of remindsme of my life not so detailed but yeah the explanaition of all the things she thought were really similar to what my thoughts and feelings are about life it was also really funny I had a great laugh about the iron and a few phases were really funny , it seems like something my friend would write its really good I wonder who wrote it
--as
02/17 |
Did you publish this because it's edgy? Did your fiction editor identify? To me it was a well written bore.
--RS
02/16 |
A very sad and lonely way to live. Unfortunately, its a way of life, that if you choose, you can always find reinforcement by others willing to continue the lifestyle. Other damaged people, unwilling or unable to break the pattern. Thanks for sharing and congratualtions on believing that you are worth and deserve more.
--CB
02/14 |
As a gay man, this really relates to me. Before AA, that story was me! Lost underwearwear, not knowing where I was.. doing things things I was absolutely ashamed of. Blackouts where I wooke up with men I had done, but wondering WHY? Alcohol Gives oneself permission to go crazy. It fuels the sex lives of everyone! If you choose it. Don't!
--djb
02/12 |
very intense and sad
--mwh
01/26 |
I guess it could be worse....
--CH
01/20 |
God, excellent article-almost painful to read, been there, done ALL of that. Hope this time in your life was a LONG time ago-keep writing.
--dah
01/15 |
God, excellent article-almost painful to read, been there, done ALL of that. Hope this time in your life was a LONG time ago-keep writing.
--dah
01/15 |
i really enjoyed this piece, relating to it as an artist and as a drinker..and the relationships with people...thanking myself that i haven't had a black out in a long time....its good
--J.P
01/12 |
Boril Bogoev
--BVB
01/11 |
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