Cupcake Brown

First of all, this book is an undeniably gripping and gritty read. It brought tears to my eyes several times, and I'm always in awe of books that can do that.

If ever a book demonstrates the perils facing the underclass, this book does . . .starting with the risk of single parenthood, the ridiculous family court decisions, the abuses in the foster care system, followed by the dangers faced by runaways. Prostitution, gangs, drugs, spousal abuse, homelessness. The author's life careens out of control after the horrific trauma of her childhood.

I felt like the best parts of the book were really how Cupcake shows the reader how drug addicts think, act, and feel . . .but incredibly, it seemed like an awful lot of work (and a surprising amount of initiative) to be one.

The ending is very uplifting in good measure because of the people who were able to see beyond the drugs to the human being. Honestly, there must have been something special about Cupcake that wasn't quite conveyed because people helped her repeatedly, sometimes when it was hard to see why she deserved it (from the reader perspective) given how much she lied.

The writing is not particularly literary, but I think if it was, it really wouldn't read as true. It's an incredible story, and honestly, it doesn't need a lot of embellishment in the language department.… (més)

This is a very raw account of drug/alcohol addiction and recovery. It was an incredible book BUT the writing is awful, the situations Cupcake gets into are just repetitive and can get to the point of boredom, and worst of all, with all the books that have come out and then you find out the ‘truth’ is very different to what is written in the book and so it does make you wonder if this is all true. Also for everything she has been through, and having been on her website, it appears she has nothing to do with people who write to her for advice unless they pay her. That sticks in my throat!!… (més)