Breakfast at Sally's: One Homeless Man's Inspirational Journey

Breakfast at Sally's: One Homeless Man's Inspirational Journey

3.82 of 5 stars 3.82  ·  rating details  ·  401 ratings  ·  133 reviews
One day, Richard LeMieux had a happy marriage, a palatial home, and took $40,000 Greek vacations. The next, he was living out of a van with only his dog, Willow, for company. This astonishingly frank memoir tells the story of one man's resilience in the face of economic disaster. Penniless, a failed suicide, estranged from his family, and living "the vehicular lifestyle" i...more
Hardcover, 432 pages
Published October 17th 2008 by Skyhorse Publishing (first published October 6th 2008)
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Mary
As a person living in Bremerton, WA I found this to be an extremely interesting book as the author lives here. It is well written by a homeless person who lived with his dog Willow in his car for over a year after loosing his lucrative business. His battle with depression is an issue that is frequently overlooked and not understood by many who cast the homeless aside as being lazy and not worthy of assistance. The generosity of the poor to give to each other is a memorable part of his saga as we...more
Karen & Gerard
Nov 15, 2008 Karen & Gerard rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone
Recommended to Karen & Gerard by: husband
This is an excellent book about being homeless, written by a homeless person. He was once a very successful, wealthy business man who even had traveled abroad but when his business failed, he lost everything. His wife left him and his grown children didn't want anything to do with him. All he had was his van, some clothes, an old typewriter and his dog, Willow.

It's an inside look into the homeless way of life and their community. I will never look at the homeless in the same way again after read...more
Terzah
As with most non-fiction that includes significant conversations in direct quotes, I wondered how accurately recalled some of the dialogue in this book was. But then again, the author, who lived mostly in his van for more than a year after losing his business and his family and succumbing to depression, was meeting some striking people and living in an American culture that most of us only brush up against uncomfortably.

The stories in this book are like something out of a modern day Oliver Twist...more
Sharron
Richard LeMieux was a successful college educated business man. He lived in a lovely home, took vacations to Europe and had a weekly golf date with his buddies. He had a loving family and had the typical Hallmark holiday gatherings. But when his business failed and depression overcame him, he found himself homeless, living out of a van with his only companion his dog Willow. I found LeMieux's story extremely compelling. Not just because of his own story but the story of the many other homeless m...more
Jami Kumar
This book is about a lucrative business man that ends up, in one year, losing his lively-hood and is out on the streets in Bremerton, WA. Richard's experience makes you think about appreciating what you have and to also recognize the simple gestures and gifts around you- sometimes these get things get lost in our daily hustle.
Bill Hall
This is a memoir by a man who lost everything--except his humanity. Richard LeMieux had it all--a palatial home, a family, a business, luxury cars, boats--all the outward trappings of success. But after a series of business reverses, he was evicted from his home, abandoned by his family, and found himself living in a van on the streets of Bremerton, Washington, with his dog Willow ("the wonder dog") his only companion.

Richard began writing this memoir on a beat-up manual typewriter while still h...more
Mick
Richard LeMieux had everything (or so he thought), nice home, a good business, cars, boats, family. When he lost it all (including the family who turned their backs on him), all he had was his van and his dog.
The dog who "saves Richard's life", the amazing people he meets both those with and those without, the care and love of the fellow homeless friends he makes, all go to make this a wonderfully inspirational story.
I thoroughly recommend this book. I gives us all a wake-up call (or it should...more
Cecelia Hightower
(2009) Richard was born in 1943 and had become a very successful self-made publisher. Due to a downturn in the economy and the reduction in demand for printed reading material he lost his business, his home, his family, and his friends (people that wanted to be around him when he was living the life of a highly successful businessman). When Mr. LeMieux had his business he lived on Bainbridge Island in a big home, had three boats, lots of toys, provided employment for his lady friend and his chil...more
Marcia
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Kristi
this book made me very mad at first. There were some true sad tearjerker moments, but the whole book felt false. Not hearing Richards complete story made it not ring true for me, Jagged little pieces.
I do believe that giving people dignity is the only way to save them, but they don't want to play by the rules.


The biggest biggest bunch of pcky in this book is C. i'm assuming he is a totally made up character, and illiteration of Christ. A drug dealer that preforms miricles and has the cash or en...more
Carolyn
I give my book group’s May selection, Breakfast at Sally’s, a 1 star. It did encourage compassion for homeless people but it offered the wrong answers and dragged me through too much crud. It is very sad that the world is so unfair, that some people struggle with such difficult circumstances, addictions and bad habits but the hero, C, is covetous, ungrateful, slothful and misguided. I was insulted by his misunderstanding of Christ. Christ did encourage care for the less fortunate but he had very...more
Mary
I picked up this book not only because it had a stunningly cute dog on the cover, but also because somebody told me that the author, Richard LeMieux, spent a lot of time at his recent reading talking to people and explaining at length the agonies of homelessness. It isn't--fortunately,perhaps--a brilliant literary deal, but rather a true-feeling account of LeMieux's descent from wealth and security to living in his car with that extremely cute dog, eating at the Salvation Army, and hanging out w...more
Kyle
Breakfast at Sally's is the true story of Richard LeMieux as he reveals the story of how he fell from a great worldly position and lost everything - his business, nearly all his possessions, love, family, and his faith in God. He literally went from taking European vacations to taking handouts in order to survive.

Richard introduces us to various homeless people such as "C" and Jake, as well as people like Mrs. Pebbles and the Major who devote their efforts to helping those in need. Through thes...more
Ellen
This is the memoir of a man who had it all and then lost it. He and his dog lived in his van for quite a while, and during part of that time, he wrote this book. His story is full of eccentric people, and maybe some of the dialogue is embellished. That is of no consequence to me. If you want to learn about homelessness and how people become homeless, reading this book would be a good start.

Some of the Goodreads reviewers said that they felt sorry for the author; others have a great amount of an...more
Amanda
Aug 06, 2012 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone
Recommended to Amanda by: Debbie Macomber
I looked into this book after seeing it mentioned in a non-fiction book by one of my favorite authors, Debbie Macomber. I can see now why she found it so meaningful as to include the author, Richard LeMieux, in "God's Guest List," a list of people who have been influential in her life.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it brought so much from insight to empathy to inspiration. One passage that stood out to me was the following:

"The homeless were my new family. They embraced me. The...more
Marsha
Once a successful businessman, Richard never explains the details about how he became homeless or much about his past at all. He says however, that his business failed and then he became deeply depressed. It sounds like he was then dysfunctional and self-defeating, after which point his children alienated him, as did his wife. It seems strange to me that Richard had no savings, no retirement, no social security, no prospects for any other type of employment, but after awhile, I stopped questioni...more
Deborah
Some interesting portraits of the homeless and those who reach out to help, yet at times I felt like it was just another attempt to capitalize on an author's misery while "down and out." What redeemed it all were the uncomfortable truths about those of us who are among the "privileged" and our attitudes towards the homeless, whatever the causes of their condition. It certainly gave me pause for thought...
Karen
This is a first-hand account of what it feels like to suddenly become homeless. From having it all to having only an old van in which to sleep. It's the story of the daily struggle to get enough food for himself and his little dog, and to find money for gas for his van. His journey introduces him to some incredibly helpful and wise people. People who are generous even though they themselves don't have enough.

Along the way, he learns the importance of being kind, of listening or of just being th...more
Nancy (Hrdcovers)
Call me insensitive; call me unsympathetic; call me jaded; but don't call me someone who thought this book was inspirational. I usually get my book recommendations from other reader friends or from high ratings from other Amazon reviewers. In this case, I got this recommendation from one of my doctors who told me the book was terrific. After he said that, I immediately came home and checked out the Amazon reviews and it looked like all of the reviewers concurred with my doctor. Why is it then th...more
Cyndi
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Brenda
OK, I'm done and my feelings for the author are unchanged. He apparently suffers from debilitating depression and for that he has my sympathy. That's where my sympathy ends, however. I believe he wrote this book to illuminate to the rich, selfish public how prevalent homelessness is and how deserving of our sympathy are the homeless. Sorry, Richard, you failed to make me a believer.

The author never tells us precisely how he came to be homeless, but he did let us know that he was also once a ric...more
Allison
I had a hard time finishing this book, and almost completely gave up about 200 pages in - it was a book club selection so I felt obligated to complete it. There were several moving moments, lessons about the misconceptions of homeless people, and positive takeaways to gain from reading it.

However, I couldn’t move past the fact that we never learn the whole story of how Richard ended up homeless. He briefly sums up his downfall like this: his lost his business, filed for bankruptcy and became dep...more
Beth
This is the story of a Seattle area man who becomes homeless and starts living in his van with his dog, Willow. He suffers from depression and almost commits suicide and later starts writing about his experiences. The book is well written and very readable. LeMieux was a successful businessman with his own company before things fell apart for him - his business went downhill and he went bankrupt and was unable to repay loans from friends and family. He recalls expensive European vacations, regul...more
Wellington

What a wonderful book showing the creativity and caring community of the homeless. Richard LeMieux writes about his year of homelessness after losing it all except for his van and Wonder Dog, Willow.

Some of the episodes in the book can really drag you down. Some of the characters will make you laugh out loud. Throughout the book, it gnawed at me wondering what the author did. I can understand the financial loss but for his own children to turn his back on him?

So, I wouldn't call this book enjo...more
Libby Sellers
Jan 14, 2012 Libby Sellers rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Adults wanting a first hand account of being homeless
Recommended to Libby by: My Neighbor's book group was reading it this month.
Shelves: biography
I am almost through with the book ( update- I have now finished reading the book) and while I can't say the writing is exceptional the story IS. It is transparent and heart felt. He is very open and honest about his ongoing battle with clinical depression and struggle with believing in God and what it is like to be homeless. It is opening my eyes and challenging my attitudes toward the homeless which isn't always pleasant. It makes me feel and think. It removes the barrier that" It could never h...more
Jeanne
This is a book about homeless people, written by a homeless man. He is unlike any of the homeless I have met. He's not homeless because of addiction or mental illness and he's well educated. The stories he writes about living in his van in Bremerton, Washington are very interesting. He encounters a lot of characters. But there's something missing in the book. He only slightly mentions why he is homeless. His family and friends will not speak to him or help him in any way. I think he forgot to te...more
Margaret
A very good book that makes you think about how fragile life is. This a memoir of Richard, a man who had it all and lost it all and winds up living in his van with his dog Willow. He meets others like him, sometime homeless for years at the Salvation Army (called Sally's). The language is very rough but the people are fascinating. C especially. they all watch out for each other, sharing what they have. He includes a quote from the "Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck ----"If you are in trouble or...more
Colleenish
This book has a terrible cover. It looks like a cheesy self-help book, and I was embarrassed to carry it around.

Nonetheless, it was a very good read about homelessness. The author talks about living in his car and about the people that he meets. You come to love the people that he describes and to see their worth and humanity, especially C, his Jesus-esque, pot smoking, book reading, compassionate friend. You also came to better understand the reasons and realities of homelessness as you see pe...more
Jill Boyd
This book was a gift from my dh for Christmas. He heard Richard LeMieux on a radio program and then ordered the book for me. I enjoyed it. The guy was homeless in Bremerton for a few years and wrote a book on his adventures. As is typical for me, I don't believe every word, but he did have some good adventures. Eye opening on the plight of the homeless and the depth of issues involved. I have the book if anyone wants to borrow it. Love, love, love his dog, Willow. The book does not get happy unt...more
Kaylen
Very good book on the life of a homeless man.
I actually lived in the city where the author was homeless, which is why I got the book. I actually know the places he talks about, but now I can see them in a different light.

I do wish that the author had given a little information about how he came to be homeless. I think the flashbacks were great, comparing his old life with his new - but I think it would be more powerful if we actually heard more about how easy it was for someone to go from bein...more
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Meeting Richard 1 3 Feb 28, 2013 10:01pm  
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