Book Review: “Every Grain of Sand” by David P. Wichman (via Reedsy Discovery)

TITLE: Every Grain of Sand

AUTHOR: David P. Wichman

GENRE: Memoir

THEMES: Recovery, addiction, sexuality, childhood, abuse, life, struggle, spirituality, motivational/inspirational, overcoming obstacles, against all odds, etc.

NOTE: A COPY OF THIS BOOK WAS PROVIDED FOR FREE BY REEDSY DISCOVERY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

David P. Wichman, sexual healer, entrepreneur, author and survivor, has written a riveting recovery memoir full of heartache and redemption. Readers are calling it “captivating,” “authentic,” “inspiring,” “beautiful,” and “a masterpiece.” Do yourself a favor and read this memoir. You can purchase the book on the author’s website.

David P. Wichman – author, speaker, sexual healer, and entrepreneur — has written a riveting recovery memoir with co-author Heather Ebert, a life story teeming with deep despair and ultimate triumph.  Wichman’s memoir is a gritty and grotesque depiction of the deep wounds a lifetime of abuse and trauma, drug and alcohol addiction, and debilitating life choices can leave on a person.

The memoir hits the ground running with Wichman’s foreboding incarceration, opening a rock-bottom chapter in his life when the laundry list of illegal and destructive acts of his past finally catch up with him. Wichman writes “My life pivoted sharply in September 2005, and after decades of struggle and failure, I found my way to freedom from my addictions, as well as an abiding gratitude for the wonder of my own existence.”

He tells the story of a troubled soul, a lost boy whose life was forever altered by catastrophic events outside his control. He spends decades trapped in desperate situations, most of them initially inflicted by others – but many of them self-inflicted as he grows into a displaced adulthood, physically and emotionally.  There are moments when the reader might feel overwhelmed, but Wichman’s experiences and perspectives are well worth exploring until the last page.

The seamless balance of light and dark frees this often-heavy memoir from being potentially morose. The content itself is far from pleasant, but the writing is substantive and beautifully poised. Best of all, the reward for riding this roller coaster is a man’s eventual spiritual discovery, personal and professional enlightenment, and hard-won optimism for life over death. This story is brutal, but it is vital.

NOTE: This book is replete with sensitive topics and events. The descriptions of childhood sexual abuse, adult sex work, and drug use might be overwhelming for some readers.

From the book’s dedication

Here’s what readers are saying about the book.

My review was originally published on Reedsy Discovery.

For more information about the book, please visit Mr. Wichman’s website.

See you soon with more great reads!

Take Care,

UPDATE: Adventures as a Freshly-Minted Reedsy Discovery Book Reviewer

Hi Bookish Friends! A little update for you all —

As of May 8, 2020, I became an official reader/reviewer for a book-discovery website called Reedsy Discovery. My application was approved and now I’m staying busy and entertained reading and reviewing various independent titles, before and after publication. I am so excited to be a member of the site; I can’t wait to discover more independent gems!

The publishing world would be much less interesting without self-publishing formats and indie presses. Not every author wants or needs to go the way of a “traditional” or “mainstream” publisher. Honestly, many of those publishers wouldn’t know a great story if it smacked them in the face. I’ll read just about any book, regardless of the publisher. As long as it’s an interesting story with great proofreading/editing, I’m there!

The first book I discovered on the Reedsy platform was the spiritual recovery memoir “Every Grain of Sand” by sexual-healer, author, and entrepreneur David P. Wichman. I’ve been sharing articles and information about Mr. Wichman’s memoir (published March 10, 2020) to spread the word about his amazing story.

I made contact with Mr. Wichman after signing up to review his book, which launched today on Reedsy. His story is entirely unique and inspiring, and if you’d like to check it out, here’s a link to his website: https://dpwichman.com/ My review of Mr. Wichman’s memoir is/will be all over social (Reedsy Discovery, Goodreads, NetGalley, Litsy, Amazon, etc.) but of course I’ll post it here as well. I’m so excited to share this title with the world and witness Mr. Wichman’s future projects 😉

I’ll be spending a lot of my time reading and reviewing for Reedsy Discovery, but I’ll definitely maintain my presence here on the blog. I’ll be checking in from time to time to post updates and reviews, share links to great titles, authors, and publishers, and posting general bookish goodness. You know, the stuff I try to do every now and then anyway. I have been stumped for unique features for the blog beyond reviews and updates, and for now I think that’s all I’ll have time for anyway!

I hope everyone is taking care out there, and following their dreams wherever they may lead…even if they lead you *GASP* outside your home! Seriously, get out there and LIVE YOUR ONE PRECIOUS LIFE! And tell me what you’ve been reading, please, because I still need constant book recommendations! You see that sun shining outside? Take your book out there and enjoy it!

Sincerely,
Allison (Readage)

2-minute book review: “Furiously Happy” by Jenny Lawson (audiobook)

Rory the Raccoon is “Furiously Happy” on the cover of Jenny Lawson’s book

2-minute book review:

How can anyone prepare for their first Jenny Lawson experience?! I thought it would be a “quirky” read. I was so naive! I thought some parts were incredibly obnoxious; the 3 stars are for her straight-from-the-heart words about her extreme mental illness. Those honest “I’m bat-shit crazy” sections were priceless and worth the cost of admission. I’m going to try her first book soon, so don’t worry: I’m not scarred for life! When all else fails, WAVE YOUR CRAZY FLAG! Jenny does–and she makes it kinda funny. Listen on audiobook or you’re REALLY missing out!

3/5 ⭐️ ya’ll

PICK UP THIS BOOK IF: you enjoy laughing at extremely inappropriate life stuff and other peoples’ suffering

AVOID THIS BOOK IF: you don’t like bat-shit crazy rambling nonsense and/or books about severe mental illness…because that’s very much what this book is–which isn’t to say it doesn’t have its redeeming qualities to those who can appreciate the weirdness

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23848559-furiously-happy

tbr thursday

//TBR THURSDAY…where I highlight some titles related to 1 book I’m currently reading//

This week’s current read is: Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love.” Let’s explore some related titles I’ve got on my TBR list:

NOTE: “Eat, Pray, Love” is a completely original piece of writing and might differ in many ways from the mentioned titles. I’m aiming for titles already on my TBR with (arguably) similar concepts and themes.

• Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, Cheryl Strayed, 2012

• Under the Tuscan Sun, Frances Mayes, 1997

• Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values, Robert M. Pirsig, 1974

• This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, Ann Patchett, 2013

• A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, Eckhart Tolle, 2006

• The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, Sue Monk Kidd, 2002

See you next time!

Flashback Friday

//FLASHBACK FRIDAY…where I take a look back at my Readage from years past, and reflect upon my interests and reading-related memories…//

1 YEAR AGO, I was reading:

• Yes Please, by Amy Poehler, 2014
  • VERDICT: ♥ I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK! LAUGH-OUT-LOUD FUNNY; I COULDN’T WAIT TO START WATCHING PARKS & RECREATION AFTER READING IT! 4/5 STARS.

2 YEARS AGO, I was reading:

• And Furthermore, by Judi Dench, 2010
  • VERDICT: ⊗  I ABSOLUTELY LOVE DAME JUDI DENCH BUT WASN’T OVER THE MOON WITH THE BOOK. I STILL ENJOYED IT, JUST NOT AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO. I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE MUCH OF HER CAREER INVOLVED THE STAGE AND THEATRE AND I JUST DON’T GET INTO READING ABOUT THAT. 2/5 STARS.

Short post for now, be back later with more stuff. School is starting up Monday so my time on the blog will be limited, but I hope to make an appearance from time to time!

Have a great bookish weekend,

Wordsmith Wednesday

//WORDSMITH WEDNESDAY…//where I excerpt from the book I’m reading/showcasing this week

Excerpts from “Troublemaker” by Leah Remini, Ballantine books, © 2015

Since I left the Church of Scientology in 2013, I am often asked the question “How does someone like you get involved with an organization like Scientology?” Or some people may phrase it more like “How the fuck did you get into some crazy shit like this?”

Describing Scientology is no easy undertaking for anyone. There are plenty of people (many of whom are smarter than I am and have more formal education) who have worked to define and examine the church and the sway it holds over its members. This book, written from my heart and based on personal knowledge, is my attempt to portray my experience within Scientology and the repercussions I endured as a result.

I, like many current Scientologists, was a second-generation practitioner (meaning you were either born into Scientology or brought in by your parents as a child). When you are raised in the church, your whole life–each and every day–becomes all about the church. Unlike members of other churches or synagogues, who attend Sunday Mass or Shabbat dinner once a week, as a Scientologist you are expected to spend a minimum of two and a half hours a day, every day, seven days a week, at church, studying and/or in counseling. The same goes for your family, friends, and business associates. It’s no wonder the indoctrination quickly sets up an “us against them” mentality. To leave, to question it, would mean leaving anything and everything you have ever known.

For those who are not born into the church or brought in as children, the attraction to join is most definitely there. Imagine you are struggling in your life, in your career, or you are maybe an actor with little or no fame. You walk into a Scientology church or a Celebrity Centre (a Scientology church that caters specifically to artists), having been enticed by an ad you read in a magazine about improving your life or career. You are impressed with the beautiful building, and the welcoming people there. They offer you food, listen to what you have to say. Maybe you talk about how your parents are not supportive of your endeavors, and they respond, “Wow, that is not cool. You CAN achieve your goals in life. Maybe you need to step away from your parents’ negativity for a bit and do a course here that will help you to reach your goals.” You feel vindicated. This person understands me. He or she is my ally. This group believes in me. In the real world you may feel like you are nothing, but here you are treated with respect.

The other aspect of Scientology that draws people in is the recognition the church bestows on its members for their donations. Let’s say you are a successful businessperson. Where else would you be pulled up onstage with crowds cheering in admiration for the million(s) you have donated? You are doted on by the church at this level, recognized, and made to feel special. Very enticing. Or what if you are someone who earns $45,000 a year? You’re now going to be celebrated and acknowledged for your $2,000 contribution (even if you have no money the church will find a way for you to borrow it) with a framed certificate in calligraphy certifying your donation. This in turn, again, makes you feel special. You believe you are doing great things for not only yourself, but for all of mankind. This type of celebration and recognition works on members of all levels.

During my thirty-plus years in Scientology I spent close to $2 million for services and training, and donated roughly $3 million to church causes. Most members, regardless of their income, over a lifetime in the church spend upwards of $500,000 to get to the highest levels, which often takes more than twenty years. During this time, they are required to purchase roughly 300 books, 3000 lectures, and 100 courses.

Scientologists funnel their hard work, money, and emotional capital right back into the church, often to the detriment of their own lives. They may sacrifice relationships with family members, contact with friends, and their life savings to move up through the assigned spiritual levels that are dictated by the church’s principles. They do this because they’re indoctrinated with the belief that Scientology has the answers not only to their own ills but to the ills of all humankind.

Tasty Tuesday

//TASTY TUESDAY: where I spotlight this week’s book by pairing it with an appetizing food and drink recipe…//

TROUBLEMAKER, by Leah Remini, Ballantine books, © 2015

I’m on page 58 of this memoir, and I am loving it! Remini recounts her thirty-plus year involvement with the Church of Scientology with honesty, humor, and well…”balls.” She exposes the organization for its rampant mistreatment, hypocrisy, celebrity endorsement fetish, and gives a general history of how she came to the realization that she wasn’t living her best life as a practicing Scientologist. I was hooked from the introduction!

I love the title of this book (“Troublemaker”) so I thought I’d go with a recipe that starts with “T” (truffles) and has a little “balls” itself (it’s a recipe for truffle balls with the kick of rum!) Don’t tell me you aren’t on board for RUM TRUFFLES!

I think these look especially delicious, and if you try the recipe you’ll have to let me know what you think!

RUM TRUFFLE BALLS (click this link to go to original recipe)

 

• 8 (1 ounce) squares bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup cream
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup chocolate cake crumbs
• 2 teaspoons dark rum
• 1/2 cup chocolate sprinkles

1. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Place chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
2. In a saucepan, combine cream and butter. Place over low heat, and bring to a boil. Pour over chocolate, and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in cake crumbs and rum. Set aside until firm, but not hard.
3. Roll heaping teaspoons of chocolate mixture into balls, then roll in the chocolate sprinkles. Place on the prepared tray. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm. Serve in small paper cups.

Ok, I’m being naughty for posting 2 recipes with alcohol as an ingredient, but this book is all about being a troublemaker! LOL. Let’s take it up another notch with a recipe for:

TEQUILA SUNRISE (click this link to go to original recipe)

 

• 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger tequila
• 3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• ice cubes
• 1/2 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger grenadine syrup
• 1 slice orange, for garnish
• 1 maraschino cherry for garnish

1. Stir or shake together tequila and orange juice. Fill a chilled 12 ounce glass with ice cubes; pour in orange juice mixture. Slowly pour in the grenadine, and allow it to settle to the bottom of the glass (be patient). Garnish with a slice of orange, and a maraschino cherry.

 

NOTE: PLEASE DROP ME A LINE IF YOU ARE ENJOYING THE BOOK + RECIPE + DRINK! Are you reading the book and liking it, or not so much? Let’s talk about it!

Recipe credit: allrecipes

See you tomorrow for another new feature. Until then, keep on reading and enjoying life! (Yes, alcohol can help with that! But don’t be TOO MUCH of a troublemaker!)

Your Friend in Books,

 

Book Review: “Never Broken” by Jewel

JEWEL IN THE ROUGH: Singer-songwriter Jewel Kilcher tells her poetic life story in the emotional memoir “Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story” [Photo courtesy of Parnassus Books]

People living their lives for you on T.V./They say they’re better than you and you agree/He says “Hold my calls from behind those cold brick walls”/Says “Come here boys, there ain’t nothing for free”/Another doctor’s bill, a lawyer’s bill/Another cute cheap thrill/You know you love him if you put in your will but

Who will save your soul when it comes to the flowers now/Huh huh who will save your soul after all the lies that you told, boy/And who will save your souls if you won’t save your own?

I remember 1995.

I remember hearing Jewel’s voice on the radio for the first time. I was only 8 years old, and I didn’t understand many things: her voice, her words, her songs. I was too young to appreciate the magnitude behind the radio hit “Who Will Save Your Soul,” or why anyone needed to sing about souls in the first place. It was beyond me. But now I understand.

I finished her wonderful memoir “Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story” about a week ago, and I can’t stop thinking about it. What’s more, I don’t want to stop thinking about it.  This book does not follow the usual “celebrity memoir” trajectory. This book is not your typical…well, anything. In fact, even calling this book a “celebrity memoir” feels wrong because quite frankly, celebrities just aren’t this retrospective or this transparently convenient. They’re not this human.

Few books–least of all nonfiction–have this impact on me. This book actually shut off the bothersome noise of the outside world, and brought me to a good place. I took the better part of 5 months to read this book. I am so glad I did, because this manuscript is meant for savoring.

This book has so much to offer and reflect upon, I don’t know where to start. I could start with many things: the music, the rough upbringing, the continuing hardships, the poetry, the conquering of fears, the pleasure and pain, all of which find full, satisfying expression in this memoir. After all, these are the reflections of a battered but unbroken soul. But to lay it all out would deny you the pleasure of reading it for yourself. And I want you to have this pleasure.

Jewel Kilcher is an amazing artist who has endured more than her fair share of turmoil and tribulation. She puts it all out there in this book, and reveals the truth of her character on every page. She does not wipe away the bad bits or hold back any emotion; she embraces her roots and makes peace with her past so convincingly that you see she’s really the whole person. Not just an entertainer or artist. But someone you might actually know, or want to know. Someone who’s trying and struggling and searching, but never ceasing.

Jewel Kilcher is a true creative, and the book discusses every major turning point in her life up until this point, creatively and personally. She covers the good, the bad, the ugly, and does not hide from her imperfections and past mistakes. She flavors this memoir with bits of lyrics and full-length poems that she’s so clearly written from the bottom of her heart. She weaves in motivational sections and chapter titles describing how she’s trying to live her best life and her personal convictions. She inspires with every page. She breaks her life story down with such honesty and grit, how can you walk away not knowing and appreciating this side of Jewel?

What I most appreciate about this book is that it’s so very accessible. While it reminds me that she carries many labels (artist, writer, musician, actor, author, etc.), it also reveals the reality of these labels and the life titles that carry so much more weight for her: (daughter, friend, mother, woman, etc.) I think the word I’m looking for is: perspective. Jewel seems to have perspective.

I never knew she had it so rough. I never knew she was so complex. I never knew how inspirational her story was. I never knew how much I needed Jewel’s wisdom in my life. Read this book, if you want to learn more about the artist, the woman, the human. You won’t be disappointed.

 5/5 stars to “Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story”

BUY THE BOOK

VISIT JEWEL’S WEBSITE AT: www.jeweljk.com

 

Book Review: “Blankets” by Craig Thompson

All the feels you guys, all the feels…

All the feels you guys, all the feels…

I did not think a graphic novel could pull me in this quickly and keep me satisfied for so long. “Blankets” was one of those books I took a chance on, and I’m so glad I picked it up and read it! It’s a hefty piece of work (592 pages), and I made it through in decent time. (The only reason it took me most of August to finish was because I couldn’t haul it with me on vacation; otherwise, it would’ve been finished long before now.)

I don’t re-hash books in my reviews; I mainly just gush and guffaw and recommend. Usually, (and depending on mood), if I take the time to review a book it’s because it’s touched me in some way or made a difference in my reading life. “Blankets” is one of those books, and its format was simply delightful. I honestly don’t know if I could’ve maintained interest in the story had it NOT been in graphic novel form. I found myself very wrapped up in the story, and I think this is mostly because Thompson is a very talented artist who brought the characters to life so clearly through his drawings.

I’ve only read a handful of graphic novels so far, and I’m glad to count this one among them. Craig Thompson’s story is beautifully-rendered and very special. Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

Wrapped in the landscape of a blustery Wisconsin winter, Blankets explores the sibling rivalry of two brothers growing up in the isolated country, and the budding romance of two coming-of-age lovers. A tale of security and discovery, of playfulness and tragedy, of a fall from grace and the origins of faith.

Thompson writes his own story here, taking us deep into the heavy-hearted confusion that seemed to abound in his adolescent years. He writes and illustrates honestly about his experiences, so honestly in fact that it felt almost like a voyeuristic endeavor on my part as the reader. His adolescent confusion regarding his fundamentalist religious faith, family relationships, and budding romantic interest were (collectively) completely overwhelming at times, but nonetheless enjoyable. I can’t say much more than that; it is just a beautiful book, and I recommend anyone pick it up and start reading it. The almost 600 pages will fly by like you wouldn’t believe!

*Don’t judge my reasoning here, but the only reason it wasn’t a 5/5 star read for me is 1) because I’m not a die-hard graphic novel fan (yet?), and I’m still learning how to read and experience a graphic novel. (The graphic novel reading experience is just not the same as with novels but I’m learning to adjust.) And 2) because, while the subject matter was beautiful and I will read his other books, I couldn’t exactly relate to Thompson’s individual experience (the crazy-strict fundamentalist religion, the sibling relationships, etc.) do not apply to my life in the least. I was very much an outsider looking in, and that’s just fine 🙂

4/5 stars for “Blankets”

 

 

Tell me what you’re reading as we merge into September!

Keepin’ on with the keepin’ on,

Book Review: “Waiting to Be Heard: A Memoir” by Amanda Knox

I started this book last year in hardcover but didn’t finish it before having to return to the library. I picked it up again about a month ago via OverDrive Media Console (I love technology!) and started it again. It only took me a few weeks to finish it, and I still can’t believe I zipped through 480 pages so quickly! It helped immensely that the book was authored by Amanda Knox, the young Seattle woman (six months younger than myself) who found herself caught up in a terrible murder scandal in Italy in 2007.

In November 2007 (when the murder of Meredith Kercher was first being publicized and investigated) I was living out West for the first time. I don’t remember being particularly interested in the case at the time but over the years my attention (and much of the world’s) was drawn to the details of the perplexing murder mystery. One disappointing point I will get out of the way is that I still don’t know if Amanda Knox (and Raffaele Sollecito) were involved in the British student’s murder or not. I am tempted to strongly believe in Amanda Knox’s proclaimed innocence and feel that she made a very convincing case for herself in writing this book. However, recent news stories of Knox’s alleged drug connections in Perguia, Italy and also her most recent re-conviction, have me doubting claims of her complete innocence. I don’t believe she is an angel but I don’t believe she is a devil either. The point is, after finishing the book, I’m still unsure of her involvement. And I didn’t want to be.

I think the memoir was well-written and not overstated in any way, and I think she had a right to have her perspective published. I also believe that she wrote the book in order to help restore the depleted funds put forth by her family for her acquittal campaign. The details of the case all point (forensically, at least) to Knox’s innocence and it definitely seems that the Kercher family was (and is) on a crusade to persecute her in order to bring “justice” to Meredith’s memory. It is known that Rudy Guede was investigated, convicted, and sentenced for Kercher’s murder, and that the Italian justice system made a mockery of the case by capitalizing on inept and inaccurate means of collecting evidence and a lynch-mob prosecution. I feel that Knox was fair and respectful in dissecting the actual problems that the prosecution ran into in trying to condemn her (and Sollecito) and I do believe that the investigation in Italy was heavily botched and non-professional. I also simply believe that the Italian system of convicting and incarcerating BEFORE evidence is carefully examined and reported makes for a highly unjust system of “guilty until proven innocent.” This is the complete opposite of our American system, and Knox would have been so much better off if the whole incident had occurred in the States. For more information on her alleged “drug connections” in Perguia, see this article.

Amanda Knox on the set of Good Morning America in January 2014

I refuse to submit to easy conclusions even after reading Knox’s own words, but I think the media’s tendency to demonize her according to her admitted habit of “casual sex” is unfair. It has been proven that both Knox and Kercher were having “casual sex” in and out of committed relationships; neither one was more morally upright than the other. They were, as the press has dubbed them, each other’s “doppelganger,” shadows of each other in these regards. Portraying Knox as an obnoxiously evil, psychopathic, sex-crazed killer and Kercher as a reserved saint, helpless and at odds with Knox emotionally just isn’t fair. (The fact that Kercher’s friends all turned against Knox on the stand makes for another issue that I believe should be addressed, if possible. If stories don’t align, someone is lying. Knox asserts that even her two Italian roommates’ testimony loosely correlated to her own).

The book was very entertaining and if I were judging it solely on its ability to keep me entertained and amused, it would score five stars outright. The writing is excellent, professional, and highly convincing for anyone with or without much knowledge of the facts of the case. I hate to say I didn’t give it five stars because I don’t completely trust the author, but I feel that in such a highly publicized case as this one everyone’s motivations must be looked at with skeptical eyes. I’m about 70% convinced of her innocence regarding the murder, but that damn 30% keeps me thinking that she might know more than she’s willing to admit. I just don’t know.

Whether you walk away believing in her guilt or innocence, it’s still a good read if you’re interested in true crime and memoirs. Watch Amanda Knox reassert her innocence on Good Morning America in January 2014.

bookgirl1987’s rating:

Four stars out of five for professional, emotional writing from Knox (assisted by ghostwriter Linda Kulman); I will reasonably put aside my still uncertain verdict of guilt or innocence in order to praise the quality of the writing.