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Diary of an Alcoholic Housewife
Brenda Wilhelmson was like a lot of women in her neighborhood. She had a husband and two children. She was educated and made a good living as a writer. She had a vibrant social life with a tight circle of friends. She could party until dawn and take her children to school the next day. From the outside, she appeared to have it all together. But, in truth, alcohol was slowl...more
Hardcover, 381 pages
Published
January 1st 2011
by Hazelden Publishing & Educational Services
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"I felt depressed and went to a meeting. The guy who spoke said he drank because he didn't want to grow up. I can completely relate. Drinking allowed me to cut loose, feel free, forget my responsibilities. I still fondly remember feeling that way. I have to make myself remember the hangovers, the memory loss, the dangerous driving, the responsibilities staring me in the face when I sobered up. It's funny how easily I remember the good times and have to work at conjuring up the bad. I can love so...more
I encountered this book while going through a period of reading recovery memoirs. What stuck out, to me, about this one was how cranky and negative it was towards the other people in the author's life. (Holy crap, would I hate to have been one of the friends she talks about here.) This strikes me as likely being realistic for the mindset of still-drinking or recently sober alcoholics, and that sense I can well believe that Wilhelmson drew most of the book from journals kept while she was drinkin...more
I saw this book in a bookstore and it interested me. I hadn't seen a book written about a first hand account of someone trying to get sober. With shows like "Intervention" and "Celebrity Rehab" and the like, the whole subject of addiction and getting sober is fascinating. Wilhelmson explains the reason she wrote the book was because no other book she saw could answer her question, "Am I an Alcoholic?" Though she never really came out and said it, I think you get the sense that she understood tha...more
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Aside from the details regarding the use of illegal drugs (which was really difficult to read because the author admitted doing coke while her older son was just 2 years old) I thought this was really eye-opening. It amazes me that alcohol can have such a powerful grip over some people and I was happy to read the author's courageous battle; one that she won in more ways than one. While it's obvious that the book wouldn't be a cheerful read, I did find a lot of the moments to be really depressing...more
This is not a diary. If you are gonna write a fake diary (permissible) you at least have to remember to write without foresight into the future. Also I'd say Brenda is only 50% alcoholic so if you are looking to read about someone's absolute mess rock bottom, this isn't going to satisfy your craving. My other issue is that Brenda is about 2 smidges more self righteous than she paints herself...but that's ok, I have friends who are worse. All of these bad points aside, this book was still readabl...more
Brenda is my cousin and I'm so proud of her courage and completely honest approach in writing this book. She brings her authentic self to the table, for better and for worse. I loved the format of short journal entries and her concise, at times blunt, style. There were times I laughed, cringed, and cried. Even though it was hard for me to identify with her addiction struggles, she has inspired me to explore a new level of honesty with myself.
I bought this one on the Nook because it was so cheap and the budget was tight but I needed a new book. It started out rather dull, but was surprisingly good. This is written in journal form, which makes it a lot more interesting as you read her daily struggles.
Mar 07, 2012
Amanda Callas
added it
Fave lines
Resentments are like swallowing poison and waiting for the other person to die.
What I do today is important because I'm exchanging a day of my life for it.
I miss that warm happy feeling of not giving a shit and getting crazy.
The flaws that annoy you in others are flaws you have yourself.
I want to know who I am.
Resentments are like swallowing poison and waiting for the other person to die.
What I do today is important because I'm exchanging a day of my life for it.
I miss that warm happy feeling of not giving a shit and getting crazy.
The flaws that annoy you in others are flaws you have yourself.
I want to know who I am.
I wasn't sure about this book, and it really is a 12 step book, but there were some really funny parts and endearing, it also makes very real what a person with alchol addiction must go through on a daily basis. I feel very informed and more understanding to people who go through this.
This autobio is the story of how any person with alcoholic tendencies who is involved with a drinking social group courts danger. It reminded me of many people who walk a fine line between social drinker and alcoholic. The social pressures alcoholics face in many situations go unnoticed by non-alcoholics and the book made me aware of just how tenuous a position alcoholics maintain on a regular basis. Kudos to the author and continued success in sobriety.
Loved the way Brenda writes and the short entries made me continue to read "just one more page". She was so honest and courageous in writing and I kept wanting to read more.
Hilarious insight!
Very interesting.
A good page turner! I enjoyed being on her journey of self-discovery.
did not like the book at all did not read it all.
Awesome! Just what I needed to read.
I liked the book. But it was boring at times. But I was very happy that the author was able to recover and enjoy life in the sober side.
Honest diary of a woman who overcomes her drinking.
Got a tad monotonous about 2/3 of the way through, but an OK read overall. Interesting to see how one's self control fluctuates and how important it really is to communicate with family and friends in order to keep peace of mind and control one's drinking urges.
It is an interesting look into the struggle to become sober and stay there. I do have some criticism for the book but I am going to leave it out for now.
not really my reading choice. Read for book club. It was ok. Kind of depressing.
interesting story, but it is what it is....a diary of someone I don't know.
I love a good come-back story.
Local author.
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“accepting a situation doesn't mean you have to be okay with it. You can take steps to change things, but then you need to detach from the outcome & accept how things turn out. You keep doing your best & accept reality. If you keep getting upset over things you have no control over, you have no peace”
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10 people liked it
“Resentments are like swallowing poison and waiting for the other person to die.”
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6 people liked it
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