Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines

by Nic Sheff | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: 1416913629 Global Overview for this book
Registered by candieb of Austin, Texas USA on 4/3/2008
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7 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by candieb from Austin, Texas USA on Thursday, April 3, 2008
Synopsis

Nic Sheff was drunk for the first time at age eleven. In the years that followed, he would regularly smoke pot, do cocaine and Ecstasy, and develop addictions to crystal meth and heroin. Even so, he felt like he would always be able to quit and put his life together whenever he needed to. It took a violent relapse one summer in California to convince him otherwise. In a voice that is raw and honest, Nic spares no detail in telling us the compelling, heartbreaking, and true story of his relapse and the road to recovery. As we watch Nic plunge the mental and physical depths of drug addiction, he paints a picture for us of a person at odds with his past, with his family, with his substances, and with himself. It's a harrowing portrait -- but not one without hope.

Journal Entry 2 by candieb from Austin, Texas USA on Thursday, April 3, 2008
BOOKRING INFORMATION:

A - Once you receive the book, please read it, journal it, and PM the person next in line for their address within 30 days of receiving this book.

B - This is a book ring, meaning that I hope this book makes it back to me, so please pass it on. If you have any problems getting a response from a ring member, please PM me.

Participants:
1. xallroyx
2. oi-reader
3. msjoanna
4. GateGypsy
5. boomda181
6. rebeccaljames - OH - Ships US
7. Megi53 - VA - Ships Anywhere
8. Megi53 - please do with as you please


Journal Entry 3 by candieb from Austin, Texas USA on Saturday, April 12, 2008
This was a hard book to read. It's got some pretty graphic and very raw. Perhaps because I am a parent, I did enjoy his father's book, Beautiful Boy, more. However, I cannot say I didn't spend more than a few pages in tears while reading this. I can honestly say that Nic changed my mind a bit more about addiction. Nic wrote some things in this book that angered me. But he was honest. Sometimes I feel like memoirs are glossed over. I didn't feel like Nic held much back. It also made me realize that they can't just stop. I found it interesting that even though his dad was being "mean" by not helping him, he seemed to realize somewhere deep down that his dad was doing it because he really HAD to.

Having said that, my heart goes out to this young man. Nic, stay sober. You are worthy of a wonderful life. Your dad deserves to have his son. He loves you, many many people are thinking of you that you have never met...

Journal Entry 4 by candieb at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, April 12, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (4/14/2008 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailing to X to start the ring off :)

Journal Entry 5 by xallroyx from Huntington Beach, California USA on Friday, April 18, 2008
received for bookring-thanks!

Journal Entry 6 by xallroyx from Huntington Beach, California USA on Wednesday, April 30, 2008
I was interesting to read a story about the same subject from a different perspective. This is more of a memoir and mainly stays in the present, unlike "Beautiful Boy". It is more the story of active addiction, with some time given to Nic's sober year. It was raw and Nic does seem egocentric in ways. He says he does not like himself, but then tries to better that the average person. It's hard to tell what makes a person become and addict and he seems to blame his upbringing quite a bit. I was surprised that he didn't like that his dad sheltered his little brother and sister. Can you blame him? He's trying to change his parenting so they might grow up and not go down the same path as Nic. He has a lot of resentments and I hope he is working his steps and that he can make it.

Journal Entry 7 by xallroyx from Huntington Beach, California USA on Friday, May 2, 2008
Mailed today to next reader!

Journal Entry 8 by oi-reader from Toledo, Ohio USA on Monday, May 12, 2008
Arrived today! I just started another book last night but this will be next. Thanks for sharing :)

Journal Entry 9 by oi-reader from Toledo, Ohio USA on Saturday, May 17, 2008
I preferred this over Beautiful Boy. Yes, it is raw and graphic, brutal in many ways, but I like Nic. Once I started this it was difficult to put down. He draws you into his life on the streets almost as if you were there too.I feel that he indirectly blames his parents too much for his addiction, which is a cop out, as he is the one who made the choices he did. We all have choices in life for how we deal with our issues and he made bad choices. Am glad he finally got clean and hope he is able to remain that way.

Pm sent to msjoanna (accidently threw away her addy after sending previous book :( Will send her way ASAP! Thanks for sharing candieb!

Edited 05-19-08 on its way to msjoanna today!

Journal Entry 10 by msjoanna from Columbia, Missouri USA on Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Book is safely here in NYC. I'll start it shortly.

Journal Entry 11 by msjoanna from Columbia, Missouri USA on Sunday, June 15, 2008
I really enjoyed this book and it definitely provides insight into the details of Nic's life and his addiction. I'm left wondering how similar his addiction is to that of other addicts. At least as portrayed in the book, much of Nic's addiction stems from his manic depression and self-loathing. This book and Beautiful Boy are definitely companion books -- I'd recommend that anyone who reads one pick up the other relatively soon afterwards.

Overall, I'm not as negative toward Nic's father, David, as some of the other reviewers have been. While it seems clear that David wasn't a perfect father, he wasn't mean-spirited or neglectful. Maybe because I'm not a parent, I'm willing to be more forgiving. But there are so many parents who are much less involved and caring than David and so many divorces that are messier and more annoying for the children that don't leave the kids feeling the way Nic felt. Something more was going on with Nic -- whether it's a genetic predisposition to addiction or a random confluence of factors (availability of drugs, meeting the right people at the right time, etc.), I certainly don't know. But it seems harsh to lay much of the blame for Nic's problems with his parents.

I'd love to read Nic's mother's story.

Thanks so much for organizing the rings together. I'll be sending this to GateGypsy the next time I can brave the lines at the post office. (mailed 6/16/08)

Journal Entry 12 by GateGypsy from Ladysmith, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, June 26, 2008
This arrived today. There are a few bookrings ahead of it, but I will get along to it as quickly as I can. Keep y'all posted.

Journal Entry 13 by GateGypsy from Ladysmith, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, January 5, 2010
on its way to Boomda181 today!

Journal Entry 14 by boomda181 on Saturday, January 16, 2010
Arrived in the mail this week. I will be packing it to take on the road with me. Will journal more, thanks GG for dropping in the mail my way.

Journal Entry 15 by boomda181 at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (3/17/2010 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I found myself reading this book with a "grain of salt" simply because Nic's account would be skewed due to the addiction. He bore his soul in his account which touched me. I hope this young man has continued his quest for sobriety. Thanks again for the opportunity to read this book.

Journal Entry 16 by rebeccaljames at Cincinnati, Ohio USA on Tuesday, March 15, 2011
I received this book in August and forgot to journal it. I will read it as soon as possible and pass it along. Thank you for sharing.

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