Hmmm, Anne. I'm sure if I look back at my fiction reading list, there has to be relapsing characters. Lemme think on that. In the meantime, I can recommend a few classics. "The Lost Weekend" by Charles Jackson is THE legendary novel about true alcoholic depths and despair, later made into the Best Picture winner by Billy Wilder. Denis Johnson's "Jesus Son" is a story collection of drinking characters. Lots by Raymond Carver, Charles Bukowski, and John Cheever. My favourite book is non-fiction but is so so so captivating and deep - "The Recovering" by Leslie Jamison - part memoir, part literary criticism, part booze and AA history. So good and bang on.
As the child of a binge drinker who in my youth had long stretches of sobriety I have often wondered what are the precipitating factors that begin the fall off the wagon one more time - when my Dad could not leave the 26 ounce bottle of Lamb’s Rum alone until it was empty. I remember hating the smell of his breath. After five trips to rehab what have you learned about your triggers?
I have learned my triggers, yes. Relapse is complex, and about more than triggers, but those too take deep work to identify. Thank you for sharing this, Anne - I really appreciate it.
Your sharing helps so many people
Keep on keeping on or as Red Green would say "Keep your stick on the ice, we're all pulling for ya."
Do you recommend any fiction (literary) that deals with relapse? Not anything from the pile of self-help. I often turn to fiction for illumination…..
Hmmm, Anne. I'm sure if I look back at my fiction reading list, there has to be relapsing characters. Lemme think on that. In the meantime, I can recommend a few classics. "The Lost Weekend" by Charles Jackson is THE legendary novel about true alcoholic depths and despair, later made into the Best Picture winner by Billy Wilder. Denis Johnson's "Jesus Son" is a story collection of drinking characters. Lots by Raymond Carver, Charles Bukowski, and John Cheever. My favourite book is non-fiction but is so so so captivating and deep - "The Recovering" by Leslie Jamison - part memoir, part literary criticism, part booze and AA history. So good and bang on.
As the child of a binge drinker who in my youth had long stretches of sobriety I have often wondered what are the precipitating factors that begin the fall off the wagon one more time - when my Dad could not leave the 26 ounce bottle of Lamb’s Rum alone until it was empty. I remember hating the smell of his breath. After five trips to rehab what have you learned about your triggers?
I have learned my triggers, yes. Relapse is complex, and about more than triggers, but those too take deep work to identify. Thank you for sharing this, Anne - I really appreciate it.