This is a powerful memoir, full of heart-stopping moments in a “wrong side of the tracks” childhood. It’s a topical book about what happens to children who grow up in chaotic homes and how the system treats the poor and the addicted.
It’s quite hard to read at times, but at the same time, they are also beautiful bright moments like the school teachers who supply her with clean underwear. Those bright spots in a childhood devoid of safety are hauntingly poignant and make you think deeply of the interactions you have with the world.
This memoir focuses on Katriona’s childhood and what it’s like growing up in a family where people are addicted. Expect a very nuanced view that examines the fault lines of family loyalty and love. This is not just a book about bad things happening to a person, it’s also a book about love and redemption and trying to understand who you are and what you’ve come from.
Katriona ends up going onto study, and I think it’s really interesting seeing her work through that experience and the way that she interacts with other more privileged students. Katriona is open about her own “imperfect” path out of addiction and her long journey to security.
Again, what I really like about this book that it isn’t just a redemptive or simplistic narrative of someone who’s given an opportunity and how they just must fawn and be grateful. Katriona has a very clear sense of her own worth and dignity and an acute compassion for her parents.
Her criticism of the system and the way that it treats people is very insightful. Through her own example she shows how things have gotten even worse in terms of access.
This is an emotional book, but I think ultimately it’s a book about a charismatic woman that you can’t help but fall a little bit in love with in terms of just having upmost respect for her.
I really like her exploration of her relationship with her parents. I think it’s really really empathetic view of people who obviously really struggled.
One word: compassionate.
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