Beautiful Boy

I read this beautiful and moving account of a father's love for his addicted son, Nic, in just under three days. Don't you love it when a book can grab you and take you hostage for it's duration and haunt your every other thought? Well, I do-- and this book does that. David Sheff manages to tell his awful story with a sensitivity and honesty that takes you there. He begins at the start of his son's life and goes through all the ups and downs that we've all been through, and tells how his son became horribly addicted to methamphetamine and other drugs when that wasn't available to him. He tells how his son quickly loses his way in life, along with his dignity, morals and respect for himself, his families and others. Most importantly, because we have all read tons of stories from a junkie's perspective, he tells how excruciatingly hurtful it can be to fear for a person all day, every day. When his son is using, his family (wife and two kids) are all taken hostage by their love for Nic- all members jumping every time a phone rings. David's depression takes a toll on his whole family and scares everyone out of their wits. I think it's so important to see the viewpoint of someone who is hurt by addiction and just how much one person's abuse, to themselves, can completely change another's life. After I finished this book, I immediately got on the 'net and did some research and found that his son wrote his account shortly after "Beautiful Boy" was published- it's called "Tweaked" and I'm looking for it on ebay!! Also, Nic has a blog in which he is continuing his recovery and telling us about his journey. Here's the link: http://nicsheff.blogspot.com I recommend reading this book, reading "Tweaked" and visiting Nic's blog... these Sheff's have a lot of things to say, and from a recovery point of view, it can be a useful tool.

The Dark Tower Series returns!!!

Well folks, it's Dark Tower time again! It has been six years since I first picked up "The Gunslinger" by Stephen King. Always being a great fan of his work, I still had my reservations about these books simply because the covers just never appealed to me! I am guilty of judging a book by it's cover, don't tell anyone!!! A few friends and I were on a long distance road trip and one of the guys had this book and WOULD NOT put it down until we reached our far distance -- well, it was New York to Vermont, and c'mon, anywhere outside of "the city" is just FAR. But he was so enrapt by it, I just had to ask... and he told me to just read it. So I did. And I'll never judge another book again... The Dark Tower series is fantasy, humor, Western, romance and good 'ol King-horror that we all know and love, but it's more than that too, it's like stepping into another world. And I'll tell you one thing: that world often isn't somewhere anyone would necessarily want to be, but somehow (as he always does) Mr. King makes us believe that we'd ditch the world which we live in now for his freaky one in a second if given the chance! The books hero is Roland Deschain and it's set in a future after the world has "moved on" and he is the last gunslinger alive, roaming different worlds and dimensions toward a Tower that holds the strings of existence in it's floors. He is out to save the world, and he has all kinds of adventures along the way including man eating creatures on a beach called "lobstrosities", I mean really! Maine, lobster! But really, it's just the type of thing that scares the shit out of me and I love it.

I did read all the books, scattered over 2003-2006, but now have to really sit down and read them again, back to back and I'm sucked in again. I find myself thinking about our hero during the day and longing to pick up my book during work hours! So, if you are looking for an interesting read (or seven) do pick it up... but take heed, you won't be able to put it down again!