Unwasted: My Lush Sobriety

This book is beautifully-written and could be enjoyed by someone not even remotely interested in recovery from addiction for the superb quality of the prose alone. A poignant account of how a non-believer found through AA humility and a spiritual dimension to existence, it is witty, incisive, imaginative and profound. I was spell-bound from start to finish by Scoblic's masterful use of language and am now going to hunt down anything else she has ever written! The last chapter finishes in a crescendo: her words therein will reverberate in my head for days to come.

I enjoyed this book and I felt that Scoblic gave what felt like a very truthful account of her journey to sobriety. She didn't try to shock or horrify as to the depths of her addiction, instead she told it like it was for her. She is clearly a talented writer who thinks deeply and philosophically. The chapter about the religious aspect of the "12 step" recovery programme was particularly insightful and I enjoyed her description of training for a marathon. Without being at all mushy, Scoblic described the support she had from her family with real gratitude and - I am wondering if she rents her husband out! Having read her acknowledgements, I think she really should write the non alcoholic cocktail book!

This is a very well and honestly written book about a woman's relationship with alcohol. The author discusses her out of control drinking in an honest and yet humorous way. But its in no way self indulgent, and doesn't try and gloss over or make light of the dangers she got into and her struggles. How she moved into recovery and her relationships with the people around her and indeed her changing relationship with herself is beautifully written. Highly recommended.

rambles on a bit would have liked a bit more of the drinking experience

This book is a great look into the mind of a recovering alcoholic. I would highly recommend it for some light hearted reading and then pass it on to a friend who you think may sound similar to the author. The one who always stays behind at the dinner table mopping up the leftover drinks...It may prove to be an eyeopener to them!

Reasonably entertaining but the author doesn't actually seem to enjoy or embrace sobriety, instead seeming to pine for alcohol. Not very useful for those interested in sobriety, I'm very thankful it wasn't the first book I read on the topic.

Scoblic titles her book ‘My LUSH Sobriety’ but when you read the book she describes nothing lush about her sobriety. The book is filled with negativity about being sober and missing her ‘old life’. The fantasy sections are just awful and all I found was it made me want to drink. It’s not positive in anyway shape or from for people recoverying from alcoholism.

I just didn’t get what this book was trying to be. It would start on one route then switch to a new track. I hated the fantasy sections and felt it was just a non starter really. It was just such a mish mash.

A great read!! Very entertaining and well written. I found it very helpful in my early stages of recovery.

Unwasted is an incredible, entertaining, and illuminating book that simply made me 'happy' to have read it. It reads like a witty conversation, with amazing perceptions, and hidden truths revealed about the freshly sober thoughts of a great and fun writer. As a recovering individual, I was constantly thinking "I did that!" or "Oh my gosh, someone else thinks that too?" So many experiences mirrored my own as well as others I know in recovery, and the way they are presented is fresh, clever, and with a near dark humor where the author never takes herself too seriously, yet never lets the stakes of sobriety be dismissed. The novel didn't have the oozing sentimentality most writers treat their addiction, and had just the right dash of AA program to make it a deep, honest, and fun reflection on sobriety. The marathon section that related running to sobriety worked perfect for me. I will never forget her dreams of wearing the post-marathon 'space blanket.' Unwasted is great book for anyone in recovery or interested in the mental workings of an addict who has always had 'the hunger.' Read it with Led Zeppelin playing softly in the background, because we all know you just can't dance to Led Zeppelin

Lots of amusement with a serious and very helpful side to it. Whether or not the reader has a problem it is a good read and surprisingly good english Good book.

I have read several books about struggling with alcohol, and this is one of the few that I have reread because of its new perspective on a very timeless problem. The combination of insight and humour make this book one I would recommend to anyone struggling with alcohol related issues.

I couldn't put it down. Reminiscent of Mary Karr's 'Lit,' in that it's well written, honest, and humorous, but it definitely has a unique point of view and its own important ground to cover. I'm glad I didn't miss it.