Caroline Knapp - Drinking: A Love Story

Pros: Eloquently written. Important subject matter.
Cons: Some people may not expect Knapp to be so functional.

As the daughter and granddaughter of alcholics, I felt compelled to read Caroline Knapp's 1996 memoir about her own experiences with the disease, Drinking: A Love Story. The first time I read Knapp's book was in the fall of 2001. I was studying ...

Pros: insightful exploration of alcoholic "rationale"
Cons: much like dealing with an alcoholic- tedious.

Doesn't everyone know someone with a drinking problem? Maybe a parent has a few, or more, after work each day. Maybe you are out every weekend, tossing them back until you can't remember how you got home. Maybe your best friend calls every other week...

Pros: well-written by an author with intelligence and some wit
Cons: badly organized by a lazy editor, the author doesn't have much to say

A few weeks before I read "Drinking, A Love Story" by Caroline Knapp, I had the misfortune of reading "John Barleycorn," the delusional alcoholic memoirs of Jack London. Mr. London's book is badly dated. For example, he personifies Demon Rum,...

Pros: Factual; Enlightening; Emotionally Charged
Cons: None

As an alcoholic in remission for nearly 6 years, I thought I knew everything there was to know about the disease. DRINKING, A LOVE STORY, by Carolina Knapp, proved that I knew little. I had no idea how complicated the mind of an alcoholic (or anyone...

Pros: Informative and enlightening
Cons: None

I bought this book because I was becoming concerned about my own moderate drinking. I was surprised to find that this author who had been an alcoholic for many years, described to a tea many of my own reasonings and excuses for drinking a little too...

Pros: Brilliantly written with painful honesty, emotion, and feeling.
Cons: Caroline Knapp is no longer here with us in the physical form.

Caroline Knapp was a truly remarkable individual with so much love to give and share. In her short time after recovering from alcohol and other issues she was working through, she gave us her love, wisdom, strength, and hope in her written word.

I have never read an author that has touched my soul like Caroline has. Everyday I think about her, her life, and her legacy. Caroline, even though you are not here in the physical form, you will always be with me in the spiritual form. When I re-read sections of her books, they tend to always be fresh, alive, and as if I have never read them before.

God speaks and teaches us through people. Caroline, you have given me the two most important lessons for my own alcohol and emotional recovery - hope and love.

I hope Caroline’s twin sister, Dr. Rebecca Knapp, continues her sister’s legacy by being a voice for Caroline’s struggles.