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My Year of Not Getting Sh*tfaced: How I tried and failed to give up alcohol and learned the joys of moderation
After an exceptionally wild Mother's Day where she danced like there was no tomorrow, picked a fight with a stranger and collided with the floor, Johannesburg scriptwriter and author, Pamela Power, is forced to take a hard look at her drinking habits. She realises that although she does not need to find an AA group immediately, she might be a serial binge drinker and needs to take back control.
In this honest, yet humorous account of her year of not getting sh*tfaced, Pamela examines her long relationship with alcohol. She is shocked to realise just how much of a crutch alcohol has been for her. There is always a bottle of wine or prosecco around to help her manage the many demands of life as a freelancer and a parent.
Pamela starts her journey to sobriety at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic as her family faces financial troubles and life in the suburban parks of Johannesburg isn't so blissful anymore. Through her, we experience all the frustration, irritation and surprising benefits of going dry.
In dealing with her dependence on alcohol, Pamela also confronts her troubled relationship with her parents. While many other sober-curious books portray sobriety as the only answer, in the end Pam finds a sweet spot between total sobriety and binge moderation.
In this honest, yet humorous account of her year of not getting sh*tfaced, Pamela examines her long relationship with alcohol. She is shocked to realise just how much of a crutch alcohol has been for her. There is always a bottle of wine or prosecco around to help her manage the many demands of life as a freelancer and a parent.
Pamela starts her journey to sobriety at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic as her family faces financial troubles and life in the suburban parks of Johannesburg isn't so blissful anymore. Through her, we experience all the frustration, irritation and surprising benefits of going dry.
In dealing with her dependence on alcohol, Pamela also confronts her troubled relationship with her parents. While many other sober-curious books portray sobriety as the only answer, in the end Pam finds a sweet spot between total sobriety and binge moderation.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2023
7 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Power
12 books17 followersPamela Power is the author of the novels Ms Conception and Things Unseen. A novelist, television scriptwriter and script editor, she has worked on the television shows Top Billing, Generations, Rockville, Gauteng Maboneng and Uzalo and is currently the script editor at Muvhango. She has two children and one husband and lives in Johannesburg. Check out her vlog: #BetweenTheSheetsWithPamela.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 2, 2023
What a self-obsessed, I just want money, Ho-hum, hahaha, let me publish my unedited diary!
If the author wasn’t so obviously desperate for money, she might have bothered to edit the manuscript, or her editor would have demanded it. It was such a shoddy read!
Not a lot of full sentences. Using sms language at times. In the mo v much. Diary style is fine, but not to publish as is.
Spelling errors and generally a repetitive obsession with her financial situation.
Someone thought it was a good idea to publish this? Quitlit and sober curious is definitely on the rise, Lockdown was the perfect setting.
Truly a missed opportunity to engage with people and think of the purpose and impact the author could make. She made no connection, she rambled on about herself.
But, dear Reader, you will be a little side note added here and there, to make it look like this was written for you. It was not. Dear, Reader, it could have been edited and it was not, it’ll drive you to drink!
In hindsight, I spent a day reading really good stuff, while deep down feeling guilty about my scathing review, but the more I think about it, the more I get upset that this was an entitled rambling about having too much work during lockdown and that all of it was published unedited. There were so many themes to develop. The relationship between childhood trauma (Rhodesian war) and addiction. Prohibition and the impact on our healthcare system during lockdown - certainly warranted more than a passing remark? The KZN riots and floods, all of it themes…that was not explored. Nothing even caused a chapter of introspection…? It was just published.
If the author wasn’t so obviously desperate for money, she might have bothered to edit the manuscript, or her editor would have demanded it. It was such a shoddy read!
Not a lot of full sentences. Using sms language at times. In the mo v much. Diary style is fine, but not to publish as is.
Spelling errors and generally a repetitive obsession with her financial situation.
Someone thought it was a good idea to publish this? Quitlit and sober curious is definitely on the rise, Lockdown was the perfect setting.
Truly a missed opportunity to engage with people and think of the purpose and impact the author could make. She made no connection, she rambled on about herself.
But, dear Reader, you will be a little side note added here and there, to make it look like this was written for you. It was not. Dear, Reader, it could have been edited and it was not, it’ll drive you to drink!
In hindsight, I spent a day reading really good stuff, while deep down feeling guilty about my scathing review, but the more I think about it, the more I get upset that this was an entitled rambling about having too much work during lockdown and that all of it was published unedited. There were so many themes to develop. The relationship between childhood trauma (Rhodesian war) and addiction. Prohibition and the impact on our healthcare system during lockdown - certainly warranted more than a passing remark? The KZN riots and floods, all of it themes…that was not explored. Nothing even caused a chapter of introspection…? It was just published.
October 28, 2025
Did not enjoy the narrator.
June 3, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed the honesty in this book and found so much of it so relatable. I will definitely read the authors other books as I loved her humour and style.
May 21, 2023
My Year of Not Getting Sh*tfaced by Pamela Power is a witty and candid memoir of a woman who decides to examine her relationship with alcohol and try to find a balance between sobriety and binge drinking. Written in a journal format, covering a full year, the book covers a year in Power’s life, during which she faces various challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, financial woes, and uncertainty about the future of South Africa. Along the way, she shares her insights, struggles, and successes with humor and honesty, drawing on her experiences as a scriptwriter, author, mother, and wife.
As with “Bloomer” by Anne Schlebusch, that I read a month or so ago, it was another reminder of what we lived through during the crazy and uncertain COVID-pandemic, especially here in South Africa.
The book is not a preachy or moralistic account of quitting alcohol, but rather a personal and relatable exploration of what it means to be sober curious in a society that often glorifies drinking. Power does not claim to have all the answers, but rather invites the reader to join her on her journey of self-discovery and moderation. Moderation is key here, not quitting. She also references other books and blogs that have helped her along the way.
My Year of Not Getting Sh*tfaced is a refreshing and entertaining read that will appeal to anyone who has ever wondered about their own drinking habits or who simply enjoys a good laugh.
Power’s voice is authentic, and her story is hilarious and honest. This is a book that will make you think, feel, and smile. If it will appeal to a wide, general audience is another question – and it probably doesn’t, and it is fine!
With thanks to Exclusive Books for the opportunity to read this book.
As with “Bloomer” by Anne Schlebusch, that I read a month or so ago, it was another reminder of what we lived through during the crazy and uncertain COVID-pandemic, especially here in South Africa.
The book is not a preachy or moralistic account of quitting alcohol, but rather a personal and relatable exploration of what it means to be sober curious in a society that often glorifies drinking. Power does not claim to have all the answers, but rather invites the reader to join her on her journey of self-discovery and moderation. Moderation is key here, not quitting. She also references other books and blogs that have helped her along the way.
My Year of Not Getting Sh*tfaced is a refreshing and entertaining read that will appeal to anyone who has ever wondered about their own drinking habits or who simply enjoys a good laugh.
Power’s voice is authentic, and her story is hilarious and honest. This is a book that will make you think, feel, and smile. If it will appeal to a wide, general audience is another question – and it probably doesn’t, and it is fine!
With thanks to Exclusive Books for the opportunity to read this book.
April 3, 2025
Tough one to get through for me. Entertaining at times, even laugh out loud funny, but it didn’t give me the “excited to read it” feeling. I’ve been sober 8 yrs and moderation has always intrigued me. She makes a good case for it based on her year of some abstinence before starting to drink again. But it’s a slippery slope, and alcohol is cunning, baffling and powerful. I hope she has been able to stay the course in her moderation.
May 23, 2023
a diary of honesty
Having known the writer albeit on a basic level I felt proud that she had written an account of her life which was candid, amusing, sad in some ways and vulnerable but there was always an overtone of positivity and humour.
Think South African readers will be able to relate.
Having known the writer albeit on a basic level I felt proud that she had written an account of her life which was candid, amusing, sad in some ways and vulnerable but there was always an overtone of positivity and humour.
Think South African readers will be able to relate.
April 12, 2023
An interesting perspective on binge drinking and loads of lessons to be learnt. Came across informative and witty without being preachy which was refreshing.
July 16, 2024
"ME: *after two glasses of wine* I am going to be the BEST gay mom ever.
THE SON: I'm sorry, Dad, did Mom never mention she was a lesbian?
THE DAUGHTER: *massive eyeroll* You're not gay, Mom. He is.
THE SON: I'm sorry, Dad, did Mom never mention she was a lesbian?
THE DAUGHTER: *massive eyeroll* You're not gay, Mom. He is.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews