Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man by Bill Clegg

Bill Clegg’s Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man is a memoir of when even the most affluent among us is addicted to drugs and alcohol. A real life non-fiction drama of one man’s rise against an affliction against Crack cocaine and how Bill Clegg had managed to hide his addiction from family, friends and colleagues in this tense tale of redemption. Clegg tells his story in short spurts and descriptive prose as an up and coming literary agent in New York who chooses the stem of a crack pipe over the love of his partner and the opportunity to grow his literary agency.

This depressing narrative reminds the reader of more of an HBO special than a heart wrenching story of one man’s triumphant rise above addiction. Images of a crack addict digging through hotel carpets looking for a rock, while spying imaginary Swat teams through plaid curtains plays out more than a true to life story. Clegg’s rendered his rise and fall in more of a TV special on Lifetime than a life most addicts can or would relate to.

Quick and interesting take on addiction, but replace crack with mid-night apple pie and ice cream from the fridge and the same story could take place-all around disappointed.

Wait to pick up your copy in a discount bin at your local bookstore.

3 JAGS

Grim Reaper End of Days by Steve Alten

New York Times best sell Steve Alten introduces us to a realistic thriller in Grim Reaper End of Days about an all too real apocalypse taking place in one of the largest cites on the planet, New York’s Manhattan. The story follows Marine Veteran Patrick Shepherd as he is quarantined from a deadly bubonic plague released by an End of Days fanatic as he returns from the war in Afghanistan.

Patrick finds himself recuperating from PTSD in a VA hospital when a deadly act of terrorism sweeps through the borough and he must decide his next move to not only save himself and his Wife and Daughter, but the President of the United States who is making his case for war at the United Nations.

Grim Reaper End of Days combines real life events, with conspiracy theories involving 9/11 and the case for war-and ancient mysticism to give a fast past ride to the end of the world by the hands of dark forces.  

Definite read while taking a flight.

5 JAGS