LIT

Mary Karr bares her soul in this sharp, unflinching look back at her troubled life. In prickly, self-deprecating prose teetering on the edge of poetry, Karr (THE LIAR’S CLUB, CHERRY) traces her plunge into alcoholism, depression, the inevitable disintegration that confined her to a mental hospital, and her hard-won recovery. Karr narrates with just the right smart-alecky insouciance, smug at times, wildly out of control at others. Her slight Texas twang, tinged with dark humor and honest appraisal, turns melodramatic moments matter-of-fact. When the drunk Karr rationalizes her drinking, her intelligent reading makes her self-justifications reasonable. She gives substance to her crazy alcoholic mother, her good-old-boy dad, and her upper-crust Wasp husband. Karr’s truthful performance and riveting story will keep listeners glued to their headphones. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2010]