A Mother's Story: Angie Doesn't Live Here Anymore

By Maggie C Romero

Book Overview

A Mother's Story is a searing and intimate portrait of addiction and how it has been passed down in Maggie Romero's family from generation to generation. Maggie is herself an addict, and when Angie's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1940769140
• ISBN13: 9781940769141
• Release Date: July 2014
• Publisher: Mercury Heartlink
• Length: 362 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Contrived, Santized, Lacking Authenticity

I think I should begin by stating that I am approaching this book from the point of view of someone who is a former heroin addict. And so I am well-acquainted with the affliction. It is almost always prompted by some kind of trauma, usually childhood. In both myself and those I've seen descend into opiate addiction, there was a whole long series of red flags. Usually, if parents/loved ones missed ALL the red flags, it's because they weren't paying attention, OR purposely ignored the red flags. Maggie starts out by describing her shock, surprise, and dismay, at her daughter's drug addiction, as well as the destructive, abusive behaviors that usually accompany it: such as lying and stealing, and............. bad language??? I found this to be a very odd addition, as most of Angie's generation curses casually and often. I just found that statement disingenuous and pearl-clutchy. Maggie then goes on to describe her own childhood, in particular her hostile relationship with her older sister, Lucy, who was sent away while their mother was pregnant with Maggie, and returned after she was born. Maggie was only made aware of this in 2009, thus solving a "life long mystery" as to why Lucy hated her their whole lives. But then Maggie goes on to describe infuriating behavior on her OWN part, when she was about 6 years old and would constantly take Lucy's shoes. Maggie describes being puzzled as to how Lucy knew right away to check her closet. This is what Lucy then said to their mother; “Mother, Maggie has been in my closet again. She took my favorite shoes. You always let her get away with this. Please do something this time!”. So why was Maggie puzzled?? She had apparently done it many times before, which was how Lucy knew! It was such an obvious contradiction, i found MYSELF puzzled! I mean, did ANYBODY edit this?? Also, perhaps the constant theft is the inception of Lucy's animus? No (lifelong) mystery there......This book would turn out to be rife with similar contradictions and non-sensical situations..... One of the main features in ADLHA, are Maggie's "thoughts", that make up most of the book. Unfortunately, these "thoughts" are some of the most contrived, sanitized thoughts I've ever seen. Hilariously so. For example, here are her thoughts regarding Lucy; [In her fathers voice] “Maggie, I find you guilty of jealousy and theft. You are sentenced to eternal alienation from your sister." "But I just wanted to get her attention,” protesting loudly through my tears. “I’ll do anything to get her attention! Please try to understand. I’m not a bad person. It’s just sometimes I do bad things. I’m so lonely in that house. My brother’s gone now. And I need my sister.” First, I want to point out that NO 8-9 year old has EVER thought those first two sentences. As for the rest, how wholesome! How innocent! So misunderstood! How......completely fake-sounding?? Maggie claims to be inspired by AA, AlAnon, and the 12 steps, which I thought emphasized that one be rigorously honest, not hiding our flaws or offenses, nor white-washing our histories. Most of Maggie's thoughts read like the ones above, and it becomes clear that she is not being authentic, or brutally honest. Qualities that the best recovery memoirs possess.This just reads as fiction. The author would do well to show us her ugly side, her most shameful moments, and throw in a few of her ACTUAL thoughts. Make Maggie someone that people can see themselves in. Versus a perpetually earnest mother ALWAYS doing her absolute best (personally, i think its an total myth that parents ALWAYS just do the best they can) it's just that no one appreciates her, you guys........last, I find the fact that she describes herself as a martyr, to be rather unsettling. Especially combined with what I think is a lack of real honesty and authenticity.