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Breaking Night
In the vein ofThe Glass Castle,Breaking Nightis the stunning memoir of a young woman who at age fifteen was living on the streets, and who eventually made it into Harvard.
Liz Murray was born to loving but drug-addicted parents in the Bronx. In school she was taunted for her dirty clothing and lice-infested hair, eventually skipping so many classes that she was put into a girls' home. At age fifteen, when her family finally unraveled, Murray found herself on the streets. She learned to scrape by, foraging for food and riding subways all night to have a warm place to sleep.
Eventually, Murray decided to take control of her own destiny and go back to high school, often completing her assignments in the hallways and subway stations where she slept. She squeezed four years of high school into two, while homeless; won aNew York Timesscholarship; and made it into the Ivy League.Breaking Nightis an unforgettable and beautifully written story of one young woman's indomitable spirit to survive and prevail, against all odds.
Liz Murray was born to loving but drug-addicted parents in the Bronx. In school she was taunted for her dirty clothing and lice-infested hair, eventually skipping so many classes that she was put into a girls' home. At age fifteen, when her family finally unraveled, Murray found herself on the streets. She learned to scrape by, foraging for food and riding subways all night to have a warm place to sleep.
Eventually, Murray decided to take control of her own destiny and go back to high school, often completing her assignments in the hallways and subway stations where she slept. She squeezed four years of high school into two, while homeless; won aNew York Timesscholarship; and made it into the Ivy League.Breaking Nightis an unforgettable and beautifully written story of one young woman's indomitable spirit to survive and prevail, against all odds.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Liz Murray
41books270followersLiz Murray completed high school and won a New York Times scholarship while homeless, and graduated from Harvard University in 2009. She has been awarded The White House Project Role Model Award, a Christopher Award, as well as the Chutzpah Award, which was given to Liz by Oprah Winfrey. Lifetime Television produced a film about Liz’s life, Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story. Today, she travels the world to deliver motivational speeches and workshops to inspire others. Liz is the founder and director of Manifest Trainings, a New York–based company that empowers adults to create the results they want in their own lives.
As a child, Liz Murray crammed cafeteria food in her backpack on Fridays so she could stave off starvation during the weekend. Now 29, she works with a non-profit organization called Blessings in a Backpack (www.blessingsinabackpack.org) that supplies today’s children with food for the weekend when school cafeterias are closed. Liz says, “If I’d had access to a program like Blessings in a Backpack when I was an undernourished child in New York City, I may not have gone to bed hungry all those nights. Thankfully, with this organization’s continued commitment, thousands of children across America won’t have to.”
As a child, Liz Murray crammed cafeteria food in her backpack on Fridays so she could stave off starvation during the weekend. Now 29, she works with a non-profit organization called Blessings in a Backpack (www.blessingsinabackpack.org) that supplies today’s children with food for the weekend when school cafeterias are closed. Liz says, “If I’d had access to a program like Blessings in a Backpack when I was an undernourished child in New York City, I may not have gone to bed hungry all those nights. Thankfully, with this organization’s continued commitment, thousands of children across America won’t have to.”
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February 3, 2023
This book is the memoir of Liz Murray, who overcame all the arduous tasks she had to face in her life through her assiduous nature and became successful in her life.
Her parents were both drug addicts, and Ms.Murray tells us how parents' drug addiction destroys children's future. She had to live in the streets without food or a warm place to sleep. She was unable to clean herself up or wear new clothes due to the lack of money. She was bullied in school due to it. Subway stations and hallways were the places where she studied and slept. Yet, even after all these problems in her life, Ms.Murray was not ready to give up. She knew that education is the best way to change her future and worked hard to win a New York Times scholarship. She later also got admission to Harvard University.
If you are having a tough time in your life right now, please try to read this book. You will get a lot of energy and inspiration to get back on your feet to achieve your goals.
April 17, 2023
***ALL SPOILERS HIDDEN***
The summary describesBreaking Nightas “in the vein ofThe Glass Castle.”For those considering readingBreaking Nightbecause of this comparison, know that in a few ways itisapt. Both memoirs are shocking rags-to-riches tales about women who grew up destitute with physically neglectful but kind parents. Both women worked very hard to overcome great odds. Both stories are captivating page-turners. Although it’s common for publishers to compare books, and they many times miss the mark, fans ofThe Glass Castleprobably really will enjoyBreaking Night.
Liz Murray started from the very beginning, detailing an interesting history of her troubled parents from before she was born. She then dedicated a significant portion of her story to descriptions of their numerous drug exploits.Breaking Nightis, in a way, a semi-portrait of drug addiction. Further into the memoir, Murray showed well how her mother, Jean, is owned by drugs but how Jean fiercely wishes she weren’t, how she’s aware that drugs have robbed her of everything, all the potential she ever had to be her best self.
What Murray didn’t do as well, and one reason this memoir isn’t as resonant as it could be, is showwhyreaders should sympathize with her parents to the extent that Murray does. Absent are depictions of significant mother-daughter and father-daughter bonding moments--moments that would make Murray’s fierce loyalty, deep love, and resistance to seek help understandable. It’s clear these parents are kind. They speak gently to their daughters at all times, for example, and never lay an angry hand on them; however, they’re distant, being as they are utterly neglectful and lost in a drug-induced high the majority of the time. Murray did try. She did depict a few loving times--an instance of her and her mother sitting together blowing dandelions stands out--but it doesn’t suffice.
Her ability to forgive her parents so fully is simply remarkable, especially considering the years of atrocious physical neglect, punctuated by aching starvation, a starvation so desperate that she and her sister were once driven to split a “tube of toothpaste and a cherry ChapStick.” She seems to expect the same forgiveness from her readers. Unfortunately, her parents are so consumed by addiction that it’s impossible to view them as anything but addicts. The whole time one only wishes desperately that Murray and her sister would be rescued from their living hell.
The writing in this book is straightforward and capable, and Murray's story is engrossing. To say she endured a lot would be an understatement, and she spared no details in describing the variety of circumstances she found herself in. She made her choices--often irresponsible and selfish ones that made absolute sense given her tumultuous upbringing. Her story is a dramatic and exhausting one during her growing years. An awful lot happened in so little time--new people entered and faded out; situations improved a little, worsened, improved again--and this memoir moves along smoothly from one major scene to the next.
Breaking Night’s narrative does suffer from some imbalance. Almost the entire memoir is about the “rags” part of Murray's story: her miserable childhood and scene after scene of her parents’ drug-addicted days and nights. She gave blow-by-blow accounts of how these went down. This is also the time when she and her sister struggled every day to keep their stomachs full, another part of the story she dedicated a lot of attention to. Only a small portion, by comparison, is about the “riches” part
Breaking Night’s subtitle isA Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey From Homeless to Harvard.It really is all these things. This details a true journey. Murray survived, and ultimately, she forgave. The epilogue in particular is one of the most moving chapters in the entire book.Breaking Nightcloses beautifully and is most definitely inspiring, on several levels. Fans of against-all-odds memoirs should enjoy it.
The summary describesBreaking Nightas “in the vein ofThe Glass Castle.”For those considering readingBreaking Nightbecause of this comparison, know that in a few ways itisapt. Both memoirs are shocking rags-to-riches tales about women who grew up destitute with physically neglectful but kind parents. Both women worked very hard to overcome great odds. Both stories are captivating page-turners. Although it’s common for publishers to compare books, and they many times miss the mark, fans ofThe Glass Castleprobably really will enjoyBreaking Night.
Liz Murray started from the very beginning, detailing an interesting history of her troubled parents from before she was born. She then dedicated a significant portion of her story to descriptions of their numerous drug exploits.Breaking Nightis, in a way, a semi-portrait of drug addiction. Further into the memoir, Murray showed well how her mother, Jean, is owned by drugs but how Jean fiercely wishes she weren’t, how she’s aware that drugs have robbed her of everything, all the potential she ever had to be her best self.
What Murray didn’t do as well, and one reason this memoir isn’t as resonant as it could be, is showwhyreaders should sympathize with her parents to the extent that Murray does. Absent are depictions of significant mother-daughter and father-daughter bonding moments--moments that would make Murray’s fierce loyalty, deep love, and resistance to seek help understandable. It’s clear these parents are kind. They speak gently to their daughters at all times, for example, and never lay an angry hand on them; however, they’re distant, being as they are utterly neglectful and lost in a drug-induced high the majority of the time. Murray did try. She did depict a few loving times--an instance of her and her mother sitting together blowing dandelions stands out--but it doesn’t suffice.
Her ability to forgive her parents so fully is simply remarkable, especially considering the years of atrocious physical neglect, punctuated by aching starvation, a starvation so desperate that she and her sister were once driven to split a “tube of toothpaste and a cherry ChapStick.” She seems to expect the same forgiveness from her readers. Unfortunately, her parents are so consumed by addiction that it’s impossible to view them as anything but addicts. The whole time one only wishes desperately that Murray and her sister would be rescued from their living hell.
The writing in this book is straightforward and capable, and Murray's story is engrossing. To say she endured a lot would be an understatement, and she spared no details in describing the variety of circumstances she found herself in. She made her choices--often irresponsible and selfish ones that made absolute sense given her tumultuous upbringing. Her story is a dramatic and exhausting one during her growing years. An awful lot happened in so little time--new people entered and faded out; situations improved a little, worsened, improved again--and this memoir moves along smoothly from one major scene to the next.
Breaking Night’s narrative does suffer from some imbalance. Almost the entire memoir is about the “rags” part of Murray's story: her miserable childhood and scene after scene of her parents’ drug-addicted days and nights. She gave blow-by-blow accounts of how these went down. This is also the time when she and her sister struggled every day to keep their stomachs full, another part of the story she dedicated a lot of attention to. Only a small portion, by comparison, is about the “riches” part
Breaking Night’s subtitle isA Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey From Homeless to Harvard.It really is all these things. This details a true journey. Murray survived, and ultimately, she forgave. The epilogue in particular is one of the most moving chapters in the entire book.Breaking Nightcloses beautifully and is most definitely inspiring, on several levels. Fans of against-all-odds memoirs should enjoy it.
September 12, 2014
This is such a sad, yet hopeful, story. Imagine growing up with two addicts for parents, never knowing when you'll get food again, having your mom stealing your birthday money for a hit and always worrying that something will happen to them when they're out scoring drugs. And Liz was lucky, she at least had parents who loved her.
There were so many things in Breaking Night that got to me. When she was little she tried to do whatever would make them happy. She was the perfect daughter, even supporting their drug habit. Realizing how different you are (almost starving, getting no sleep, not being able to bath for more than two months) and being ostracized in school because of this. Being homeless at the age of 13, while your mom is dying of AIDS.
UnlikeGlass Castle,this is not a funny, humorous read, but the author is amazing in that she never judges, she just tells it like it was. I am amazed that she could get me to sympathize with her parents, especially her mom. This is an amazing memoir, and made me count my blessings. It also shows that anything is possible if you want it enough. I take my hat of to Liz and her sister Lisa.
The story:Liz Murraynever really had a chance in life. Born to a drug-addicted father who was in and out of prison, and an equally dependent mother who was in and out of mental institutions, she seemed destined to become just another tragic statistic. By the age of 15, Liz found herself homeless with nowhere to turn but the tough streets, riding subways all night for a warm place to sleep and foraging through dumpsters for food. But when her mother died of AIDS a year later, Liz's life changed for ever. With no education, with no chance at a job or a home, she realised that only the most astonishing of turnarounds could stop her heading all the way down the same path her parents took. And so she set her mind to overcoming what seemed like impossible odds - and in the process, achieved something extraordinary.
There were so many things in Breaking Night that got to me. When she was little she tried to do whatever would make them happy. She was the perfect daughter, even supporting their drug habit. Realizing how different you are (almost starving, getting no sleep, not being able to bath for more than two months) and being ostracized in school because of this. Being homeless at the age of 13, while your mom is dying of AIDS.
UnlikeGlass Castle,this is not a funny, humorous read, but the author is amazing in that she never judges, she just tells it like it was. I am amazed that she could get me to sympathize with her parents, especially her mom. This is an amazing memoir, and made me count my blessings. It also shows that anything is possible if you want it enough. I take my hat of to Liz and her sister Lisa.
The story:Liz Murraynever really had a chance in life. Born to a drug-addicted father who was in and out of prison, and an equally dependent mother who was in and out of mental institutions, she seemed destined to become just another tragic statistic. By the age of 15, Liz found herself homeless with nowhere to turn but the tough streets, riding subways all night for a warm place to sleep and foraging through dumpsters for food. But when her mother died of AIDS a year later, Liz's life changed for ever. With no education, with no chance at a job or a home, she realised that only the most astonishing of turnarounds could stop her heading all the way down the same path her parents took. And so she set her mind to overcoming what seemed like impossible odds - and in the process, achieved something extraordinary.
April 5, 2016
I'm of two minds concerning this book. On the one hand, I found it to be a compelling and inspirational memoir of a woman who succeeded in life, against all odds. But on the other hand, the over abundance of minute details in the beginning, which worked to engage me at first, also left me numb from the bombardment. And the glossing over of details later on, when she was a teenager and homeless, brought me some much needed relief, but also left me feeling distanced from Liz, her story losing ground because of it. So everything evened out for me, making this a three star book.
This is the true story of Liz Murray who, along with her older sister, Lisa, was raised by drug addicted parents who loved them, but were unable to care for them properly, to say the least. The first part of the book details all that Liz went through as a child when having to grow up way too fast and essentially give up her childhood when looking out for parents who should have been looking out for her. Liz takes the reader on a day by day account of deprivation and neglect that was unbelievable, though the narrative far from damns her parents for it. Anyone interested in family relationships and the psychology involved in dysfunctional ones will find an abundance to engage them here, in addition to the emotional story, itself. But so much detailing of the misery endured, piled onto this reader, felt repetitive and left me emotionally numb after a while. And in the second half, once Liz became homeless, the story took on more of an abstract feel with Liz generalizing and downplaying the day to day struggles when compared to the first half. Instead, she concentrated on her decision to take action to change her life through education as opposed to resigning herself to what seemed like a hopeless situation.
I definitely admired Liz for her bravery and determination to empower herself and succeed, but I never got the real sense of what she went through at this stage when she was a dropout and homeless at sixteen and beyond, not enough to have that same emotional pull so prevalent in the first half of the book. But I did find other things to latch onto such as her building a family out of friends and her devising mental strategies for surviving. It was incredibly astute of her and inspirational for anyone wishing to change their life or simply get through its challenges. My favorite part in the book was when she used her imagination to envision success
I don't want to sound as if Liz' story didn't affect me since it did. But after a while, I felt I'd heard everything I needed to hear about her parents and not enough about other things or other people. I wanted to know more about her sister who remained a shadowy figure compared to most others. And I wanted to know how Liz was able to succeed in her education considering the shaky foundation she had to build upon. This later part felt rushed and left my questions unanswered.
So bottom line, I would recommend this book, keeping the above things in mind. It's perfect for group discussions and for someone looking for inspiration when facing challenges in their own life.
This is the true story of Liz Murray who, along with her older sister, Lisa, was raised by drug addicted parents who loved them, but were unable to care for them properly, to say the least. The first part of the book details all that Liz went through as a child when having to grow up way too fast and essentially give up her childhood when looking out for parents who should have been looking out for her. Liz takes the reader on a day by day account of deprivation and neglect that was unbelievable, though the narrative far from damns her parents for it. Anyone interested in family relationships and the psychology involved in dysfunctional ones will find an abundance to engage them here, in addition to the emotional story, itself. But so much detailing of the misery endured, piled onto this reader, felt repetitive and left me emotionally numb after a while. And in the second half, once Liz became homeless, the story took on more of an abstract feel with Liz generalizing and downplaying the day to day struggles when compared to the first half. Instead, she concentrated on her decision to take action to change her life through education as opposed to resigning herself to what seemed like a hopeless situation.
I definitely admired Liz for her bravery and determination to empower herself and succeed, but I never got the real sense of what she went through at this stage when she was a dropout and homeless at sixteen and beyond, not enough to have that same emotional pull so prevalent in the first half of the book. But I did find other things to latch onto such as her building a family out of friends and her devising mental strategies for surviving. It was incredibly astute of her and inspirational for anyone wishing to change their life or simply get through its challenges. My favorite part in the book was when she used her imagination to envision success
I don't want to sound as if Liz' story didn't affect me since it did. But after a while, I felt I'd heard everything I needed to hear about her parents and not enough about other things or other people. I wanted to know more about her sister who remained a shadowy figure compared to most others. And I wanted to know how Liz was able to succeed in her education considering the shaky foundation she had to build upon. This later part felt rushed and left my questions unanswered.
So bottom line, I would recommend this book, keeping the above things in mind. It's perfect for group discussions and for someone looking for inspiration when facing challenges in their own life.
September 13, 2011
This memoir is truly amazing, especially as it pertains to showing the obstacles its author overcame; she has amazing resilience and she’s incredibly inspiring. This paperback edition includes discussion questions and an interview with the author, and they make this a good edition to read, especially if the book will be discussed with other readers. I’d love to see this assigned at alternative high schools similar to the one Liz graduated from, and to all high school students.
This book is beautifully written, riveting, and very hard to put down. My intention was to read it concurrently with Harry Potter 6 (part of my Harry Potter 1-7 reread) but once I started reading, I had no desire to read any other books until I’d finished, not even Harry Potter books.
It reminded me quite a bit of another favorite memoir about a (in some ways) horrific childhood:Blackbird: The Story of a Childhood Lost and FoundbyJennifer Lauck.
I won this book from Goodreads’ First Reads giveaway program, but it’s one of the few giveaway books I’ve ended up assigning 5 stars; I’ve expected to love all books I’ve tried to win, and I’ve liked or really liked most, but have given out fewer 5 star ratings than I would have expected to give.
I had seen the television movieHomeless to Harvardthat was based on this author’s story, and loved it, and I love the book even more than the movie.
I highly recommend this book to all teens and adults, especially at risk teens and adults who could benefit from taking another look and maybe viewing differently street kids, drug addicts, people living in poverty, homeless people, and those they might see as “others.”
I aspire to be more like Murray and how she let people in and how she took charge of her life, succeeding despite the challenges she faced. I love her down to earth attitude and admire her ability to forgive and move on.
This book is beautifully written, riveting, and very hard to put down. My intention was to read it concurrently with Harry Potter 6 (part of my Harry Potter 1-7 reread) but once I started reading, I had no desire to read any other books until I’d finished, not even Harry Potter books.
It reminded me quite a bit of another favorite memoir about a (in some ways) horrific childhood:Blackbird: The Story of a Childhood Lost and FoundbyJennifer Lauck.
I won this book from Goodreads’ First Reads giveaway program, but it’s one of the few giveaway books I’ve ended up assigning 5 stars; I’ve expected to love all books I’ve tried to win, and I’ve liked or really liked most, but have given out fewer 5 star ratings than I would have expected to give.
I had seen the television movieHomeless to Harvardthat was based on this author’s story, and loved it, and I love the book even more than the movie.
I highly recommend this book to all teens and adults, especially at risk teens and adults who could benefit from taking another look and maybe viewing differently street kids, drug addicts, people living in poverty, homeless people, and those they might see as “others.”
I aspire to be more like Murray and how she let people in and how she took charge of her life, succeeding despite the challenges she faced. I love her down to earth attitude and admire her ability to forgive and move on.
November 30, 2012
There are so many thoughts running through my head after finishing this book. Liz Murray was raised by parents who were addicted to drugs. They loved Liz and her sister, but their need for drugs trumped everything in their lives, including providing for the basic needs of their daughters. Through hard work, determination, hope and the help of others, both girls are able to break the cycle and move on with their lives. At the age of 14, Liz decides it is better to be homeless than stay in her current living situation or return to "the system". She survives some challenging situations and eventually realizes that the key to moving on in life is getting an education. Liz finds, gets accepted in and excels in an alternative high school, most of the time being a homeless student. She then sets her eyes on college - Harvard - and competes for and wins a New York Times scholarship. Before reading the book, I was impressed by the idea of the subtitle: "from homeless to Harvard". After reading, I am still impressed, but what amazes me even more is Liz's memories of her growing up years and the insights she has into her behavior and the behavior of those around her. As a teacher, I am so glad I read this book and was able to learn what life is like for a child with this type of a home life. I hope what I learned from this book will make me more compassionate with children in similar situations.
February 7, 2013
Wow. What a powerful book. I so appreciate Liz Murray writing this deeply personal, intimate book of a childhood full of struggles, neglect, and abuse. Yet she found love there and in the midst of her raw hurt, she was able to rise above her circumstances and be a productive, successful member of society. An incredible story.
This book did for me what I longed for "The Glass Castle" to do - show the link between the awful childhood and the successful adult. She took the reader step by step through the process of her decisions that led from homelessness to Harvard. I can't tell you how many times I was reading this book and thought, "There is no way this girl ends up in Harvard." And yet she did. And we are privy to understanding at least a little bit of the how and why of that all.
Liz doesn't hold back details (or I can't imagine that there were any she held back). She gives all kinds of details about the unbelievably dysfunctional family she was raised in - she starts from the very beginning and takes the reader through it all. (And I love that it was all in chronological order!). We are horrified, touched, saddened, and eventually encouraged by her bravery and success. I am so thankful she wrote this book. She is an inspiration to anyone who works with hurting children - and probably to anyone who had a less-than-desirable childhood themselves.
This book did for me what I longed for "The Glass Castle" to do - show the link between the awful childhood and the successful adult. She took the reader step by step through the process of her decisions that led from homelessness to Harvard. I can't tell you how many times I was reading this book and thought, "There is no way this girl ends up in Harvard." And yet she did. And we are privy to understanding at least a little bit of the how and why of that all.
Liz doesn't hold back details (or I can't imagine that there were any she held back). She gives all kinds of details about the unbelievably dysfunctional family she was raised in - she starts from the very beginning and takes the reader through it all. (And I love that it was all in chronological order!). We are horrified, touched, saddened, and eventually encouraged by her bravery and success. I am so thankful she wrote this book. She is an inspiration to anyone who works with hurting children - and probably to anyone who had a less-than-desirable childhood themselves.
November 17, 2013
Having been told that this was the next Glass Castle, I was really excited to read it and from the opening it was a relentless, shocking, brilliant book.
The pace was fast, the writing beautiful and the story line became a page-turner. I couldn't get enough. Then about two thirds into the book, Murray starts gushing thanks and apologies like she's using the memoir as a therapeutic tool rather than a book. She bangs on, nauseatingly, about sleeping rough, (we got it the 448th time Liz). Then she apologizes, incessantly, for being a bad daughter to a junkie whore of a mother. Then the real irritation began for me, she never stops telling you in the dying pages of the book how grateful she is to her teachers and how brilliantly she's done. It's a massive thank you note!
I would accept all that, but I don't accept that this book is even mildly close to Glass Castle or even the follow up, Half Broke Horses. Liz Murray's story is a story of tragedy and triumph, she just stopped writing her novel two thirds in, so I stopped reading.
The pace was fast, the writing beautiful and the story line became a page-turner. I couldn't get enough. Then about two thirds into the book, Murray starts gushing thanks and apologies like she's using the memoir as a therapeutic tool rather than a book. She bangs on, nauseatingly, about sleeping rough, (we got it the 448th time Liz). Then she apologizes, incessantly, for being a bad daughter to a junkie whore of a mother. Then the real irritation began for me, she never stops telling you in the dying pages of the book how grateful she is to her teachers and how brilliantly she's done. It's a massive thank you note!
I would accept all that, but I don't accept that this book is even mildly close to Glass Castle or even the follow up, Half Broke Horses. Liz Murray's story is a story of tragedy and triumph, she just stopped writing her novel two thirds in, so I stopped reading.
September 5, 2018
I just want to say this: Liz Murray is one of my favorite people on this planet. To me, she embodies resilience, perseverance, and grit. I heard about Murray’s story at a particularly low point in my life – I had just left college due to a chronic medical condition and I had no idea if or when I would go back. But after watching the movie based on her life, “Homeless to Harvard”, I was left feeling inspired and motivated; Liz Murray’s story gave me hope at a time I had none.
“In the years ahead of me, I learned that the world is actually filled with people ready to tell you how likely something is, and what it means to be realistic. But what I have also learned is that no one, no one truly knows what is possible until they go and do it.”
And of course, after watching the movie, I had to read the book. I loved this story because it is realistic and relatable. Murray did not just slip on her Dorothy slippers and wish herself away to Kansas. Instead, her academic journey was a rollercoaster. Murray grew up in one of the lowest income areas of New York. Both her parents coped with severe mental illness and addiction. Her parents did love her, but their illness prevented them from giving Murray the care she deserved.
Murray sometimes went days without a proper meal, shower or clean clothes. She also skipped school a lot. Her absence became so bad that a Social Worker had to investigate what was going on. I think she had too much going on in her life to worry about school. And at the age of 15, she became homeless. At this point in her life, she had no vision for her future. All she could think about was surviving the now.
But then a tragic event changed her life: Murray’s mother passed away. Seeing her mother get buried triggered something inside of her. In an interview I saw, she said at that moment, she realized life was short and she was repeating the cycle of poverty. Her mother had died without accomplishing her dreams, and she did not want that to happen to her. She wanted to use education as a tool to climb out of the place she had been born into.
At the age of 17, Murray started knocking on different high school doors. Everybody rejected her, but then an alternative high school took her in, and this is what set the wheels in motion for her. I guess all she needed was a chance. At her new high school, she gained access to friends and educators who cared about her wellbeing. And ironically, the kid who refused to go to school ended up seeing academia as her refuge.
It gave her a structure, a purpose. But choosing to go to school was hard. She had to navigate the perils of academia while coping with homelessness, but she persevered. She did her homework underneath the lights of empty apartment hallways, she coach surfed, stayed late at school, and showed up early. And none of this was easy.
She wanted to give up. It was a struggle to decide to get up every moment. But what kept her going was the hope for a brighter future. She never set out to get into Harvard. Rather she wanted to do her best and try to make something different of herself. She just wanted to see what would happen if she tried.
But I think this is the part of the story that differentiates this memoir from others like it. Her journey in academia was non-linear. Yes, she got into Harvard, but her past still lingered with her. It took her 9 years to finish her undergraduate degree, and last I checked, she is completing a graduate degree in Psychology now.
I would recommend this book to anyone who needs hope. But I would especially recommend this book to students with “unconventional” backgrounds. If you grew up in poverty, a dysfunctional family, or are going back to school after years of being away from academia, then read this book. I am positive it will be as life-changing for you as it was for me.
“In the years ahead of me, I learned that the world is actually filled with people ready to tell you how likely something is, and what it means to be realistic. But what I have also learned is that no one, no one truly knows what is possible until they go and do it.”
And of course, after watching the movie, I had to read the book. I loved this story because it is realistic and relatable. Murray did not just slip on her Dorothy slippers and wish herself away to Kansas. Instead, her academic journey was a rollercoaster. Murray grew up in one of the lowest income areas of New York. Both her parents coped with severe mental illness and addiction. Her parents did love her, but their illness prevented them from giving Murray the care she deserved.
Murray sometimes went days without a proper meal, shower or clean clothes. She also skipped school a lot. Her absence became so bad that a Social Worker had to investigate what was going on. I think she had too much going on in her life to worry about school. And at the age of 15, she became homeless. At this point in her life, she had no vision for her future. All she could think about was surviving the now.
But then a tragic event changed her life: Murray’s mother passed away. Seeing her mother get buried triggered something inside of her. In an interview I saw, she said at that moment, she realized life was short and she was repeating the cycle of poverty. Her mother had died without accomplishing her dreams, and she did not want that to happen to her. She wanted to use education as a tool to climb out of the place she had been born into.
At the age of 17, Murray started knocking on different high school doors. Everybody rejected her, but then an alternative high school took her in, and this is what set the wheels in motion for her. I guess all she needed was a chance. At her new high school, she gained access to friends and educators who cared about her wellbeing. And ironically, the kid who refused to go to school ended up seeing academia as her refuge.
It gave her a structure, a purpose. But choosing to go to school was hard. She had to navigate the perils of academia while coping with homelessness, but she persevered. She did her homework underneath the lights of empty apartment hallways, she coach surfed, stayed late at school, and showed up early. And none of this was easy.
She wanted to give up. It was a struggle to decide to get up every moment. But what kept her going was the hope for a brighter future. She never set out to get into Harvard. Rather she wanted to do her best and try to make something different of herself. She just wanted to see what would happen if she tried.
But I think this is the part of the story that differentiates this memoir from others like it. Her journey in academia was non-linear. Yes, she got into Harvard, but her past still lingered with her. It took her 9 years to finish her undergraduate degree, and last I checked, she is completing a graduate degree in Psychology now.
I would recommend this book to anyone who needs hope. But I would especially recommend this book to students with “unconventional” backgrounds. If you grew up in poverty, a dysfunctional family, or are going back to school after years of being away from academia, then read this book. I am positive it will be as life-changing for you as it was for me.
April 27, 2015
Liz Murray's memoir so simply and profoundly impressed me,and no question while reading it or watching the TV movie based upon i was burst into tears...
it teaches without the preacher's voice tone,uncovers the essence of human nature and conflict within this life,and i think it inspired and still many of those who are believing in themselves & in their dreams whatever may be their circumferences of living,EVEN IF THEY ARE HOMELESS...
it teaches without the preacher's voice tone,uncovers the essence of human nature and conflict within this life,and i think it inspired and still many of those who are believing in themselves & in their dreams whatever may be their circumferences of living,EVEN IF THEY ARE HOMELESS...
September 21, 2015
This is one of those books that made me count my blessings. Liz was born to parents who loved her but were unreliable drug addicts. They tried to be good parents, but their own needs came first. And second. And third. Liz grew up not knowing when she would eat her next meal, never having clean clothes, and living in a filthy apartment where even basic maintenance wasn't carried out. Eventually her family fell apart and, as the title suggests, Liz became homeless.
What could have been a very depressing autobiography was, in fact, inspiring. Liz had a great sense of self and never let her circumstances define her. Her stories are full of ways in which she took the reins of her own life and provided for herself, even as a young child. I'm grateful I will never have to endure what she endured, and I'm in awe of her strength.
For me, this book was mesmerizing. It's written in first person and at times I had a hard time remembering that I was not Liz. My stomach would rumble and I would wonder where my next meal was coming from before remembering that I am Heidi, not Liz, and I have a whole kitchen full of food. I even caught myself sitting at work wondering where I was going to sleep that night. I finally had to sit down and finish the darned book just so I could get on with my life!
What could have been a very depressing autobiography was, in fact, inspiring. Liz had a great sense of self and never let her circumstances define her. Her stories are full of ways in which she took the reins of her own life and provided for herself, even as a young child. I'm grateful I will never have to endure what she endured, and I'm in awe of her strength.
For me, this book was mesmerizing. It's written in first person and at times I had a hard time remembering that I was not Liz. My stomach would rumble and I would wonder where my next meal was coming from before remembering that I am Heidi, not Liz, and I have a whole kitchen full of food. I even caught myself sitting at work wondering where I was going to sleep that night. I finally had to sit down and finish the darned book just so I could get on with my life!
August 28, 2012
This is truly an amazing and inspirational story. One that I will never forget. Liz's story proves that we are in control of our own lives and our destiny. Her story is definitely heartwrenching as she tells us of her life growing up in a rat infested, filthy NY apartment with her older sister and her drug addicted mentally ill parents. Her parents, who blew through their welfare check each month on drugs and liquor leaving her and her older sister with nothing. I was amazed how she always loved them regardless of their neglect, illnesses and addictions. I was swept away of how strong of a survivor she was, continually overcoming never ending hardships and struggles. As a young teenager, she was homeless, sleeping in stairwells, on the subway, under bridges, or crashing at friends houses once their parents left for the day. Liz was committed to turn her life around and how she belived she could. She is an incredible person and you will constantly be blown away by her strength, maturity and understanding.
November 21, 2013
Wow, this was one incredible read--and it's really hard to believe that it's not fiction.
I had heard of Liz Murray before--who can forget the catchy tagline "from homeless to Harvard?" --but I hadn't really read anything about her or seen the Lifetime movie about her story. So when I saw my library had this book, I was excited to give it a shot.
The book really reads like a novel. It's very fast-paced, and it doesn't get bogged down with too much "explanation" like a lot of memoirs do (the telling, rather than showing). I honestly couldn't put it down. The imagery Liz created was so real, especially her description of hunger as a young child. Those parts were gut-wrenching, as were the parts where her parents blow through the welfare check, leaving Liz and her sister knowing that they're going to be hungry until the next one arrives. Her description of her parents was especially interesting, I thought. Yes, they were coke addicts, and they spent the grocery money on their latest hits more often than not, but they weren't terrible people. They loved Liz and her sister, but they just couldn't break the addiction.
I was really moved by this book--I am definitelynota crier, but the ending of this really had me tearing up when she describes all the help she got from the good-hearted people in her life (and later, from strangers), just to help her achieve her dream. It's the kind of book that opens your eyes and sticks with you.
I had heard of Liz Murray before--who can forget the catchy tagline "from homeless to Harvard?" --but I hadn't really read anything about her or seen the Lifetime movie about her story. So when I saw my library had this book, I was excited to give it a shot.
The book really reads like a novel. It's very fast-paced, and it doesn't get bogged down with too much "explanation" like a lot of memoirs do (the telling, rather than showing). I honestly couldn't put it down. The imagery Liz created was so real, especially her description of hunger as a young child. Those parts were gut-wrenching, as were the parts where her parents blow through the welfare check, leaving Liz and her sister knowing that they're going to be hungry until the next one arrives. Her description of her parents was especially interesting, I thought. Yes, they were coke addicts, and they spent the grocery money on their latest hits more often than not, but they weren't terrible people. They loved Liz and her sister, but they just couldn't break the addiction.
I was really moved by this book--I am definitelynota crier, but the ending of this really had me tearing up when she describes all the help she got from the good-hearted people in her life (and later, from strangers), just to help her achieve her dream. It's the kind of book that opens your eyes and sticks with you.
September 4, 2016
Liz Murray's journey from hell to Harvard & beyond is extraordinary (understatement), but her memoir is not. Granted, my assessment of Murray's book was affected by memories of gripping works by other authors who have managed to emerge intact from childhood experiences that "should" have destroyed their minds, bodies, and spirits. RememberingThe Glass Castle,The Liars' Club,The End of the World as We Know It,Angela's Ashes,I expect "rags-to-[metaphorical or actual] riches" stories to clear a high bar. The memoir in which Murray walks us through her journey, though often interesting, collides with my bar. With fewer details,Breaking Nightcould have been a better book, a more captivating book. But great nonfiction prose? No.
July 19, 2019
За „Да дочакаш утрото “, първо трябва да преживееш нощта
Отварям бележките за ревю, които съм си н��хвърлила след прочита на „Да дочакаш утрото “(изд. „Киви “), и виждам едно-единствено изречение:„Някои хора не трябва да стават родители “.Истината е, че тя носи в себе си много по-смислени и запомнящи се послания, но и това е добра отправна точка.
Лиз и сестра ѝ са дъщери на тежки наркомани и цялото им детство преминава в безнадеждния ад, сътворен от зависимостите на майка им и баща им. Пропилените месечни помощи, страхът от социалните, психическата нестабилност, сексуалното посегателство, болестите, гладът, мръсотията, неглижирането и безперспективността са само част от демоните, които раздират семейството. Преградата на абсолютната мизерия е толкова висока и непробиваема, че изглежда немислимо някой от членовете му да успее да я преодолее. Порочният кръг отново ще се завърти и всички, затворени в него, ще се озоват на същото място, от което са започнали.
Чудото обаче се случва. След като остава без дом, прекарва две години на улицата, губи майка си от СПИН, а баща ѝ влиза в приют, Лиз преминава през своебразен катарзис и завършва своя път на съвсем различно място – като носителка на стипендията на „Ню Йорк Таймс “и възпитаничка на един от най-престижните университети в света.
Ако „Да дочакаш утрото “беше художествена измислица, щях да си кажа, че авторката е пресолила манджата. На„героинята “се случват прекалено много гадости, че да звучи правдоподобно. Няма начин едно-единствено момиче да бъде прекарано през всичко това, да оцелее и да бъде прието в „Харвард “.Просто няма начин.Но ето че историята на Лиз Мъри е реална и този факт е изключително вдъхновяващ и едновременно потискащ. Вдъхновяващ, защото е поредното доказателство за необозримите измерения на човешката воля и подвизите, на които сме способни, дори когато сме изправени пред най-отвратителните обстоятелства. Потискащ, защото на никого не бива да му се налага да гази през подобна тиня.
Един от най-сърцераздирателните и вбесяващи аспекти на книгата е как в подобна семейна ситуация детето поема ролята на възрастния – когато родителят е напълно негоден да се грижи за себе си, малчуганите се нагърбват с цялата отговорност за действията му и се изпълват с токсична вина заради противоречивите си чувства и мисли. Връзката между Лиз и майка ѝ например е съсипваща, защото е основана преди всичко на огромна обич. Обич, която можеш да почувстваш през страниците и която постепенно се превръща в оръжие за емоционална манипулация. Описанията на нощните разходки в търсене на следващата доза, на наркотичните делириуми, на дъното са сърцераздирателни и ужасяващи – като неканено видение от паралелно измерение.
Макар да разполагаш с пълния набор от факти, е трудно да съчувстваш на конкретни участници в трагедията. Осъзнаваш, че всички са жертви посвоему – на наркотиците, на институциите, на средата, на безразличието, на собствената си слабост. Но когато теглиш чертата, едно е сигурно – никое дете не трябва да расте по този начин, сред такива пороци, с такъв товар на плещите си.
„Да дочакаш утрото “ще остане в съзнанието ми най-вече с начина, по който е написана. Книгата съвсем спокойно може да мине за роман, без изобщо да доловите разликата. Лиз Мъри разказва с емоцията и умението на пълнокръвна писателка, а езикът и стилът ѝ са също толкова въздействащи, колкото и самата история. Грабне ли ви веднъж, няма да ви пусне, нито пък вие ще искате да го направите.
Има нещо терапевтично в готовността на Лиз да сподели всяка мъка, всеки детайл от ежедневието си, дори и най-пренебрежимите подробности. Удивих се колко много дребни случки и мигове си спомня, при това така ясно, все едно някой прожектира филм пред очите й. Предполагам, че цялата тази обстоятелственост е едва ли не форма на екзорсизъм, чрез който прогонва демоните на миналото си. Нещо като:„Изречи името му, лиши го от силата му и то ще си отиде веднъж завинаги “.Тук ми се иска да спомена, че изпипаният превод на Калина Момчева и прецизната редакция на Симона Колева определено допринасят за качественото читателско преживяване.
Най-подходящата дума, с която може да се обхване автобиографията на Лиз Мъри, е жизнеутвърждаваща. Лесно е да затънеш в негативизма ѝ, но в пъти по-важни са проблясъците на човечност и емпатия вътре. Хората, на които им пука. Тези, които полагат допълнително усилие и си причиняват неудобството да протегнат ръка. И най-вече онези, които дават шанс, вместо да отхвърлят с пренебрежение наглед безнадеждните случаи. Това са героите, които променят съдби и притежават благородството и волята да прекъснат порочния кръг.
Със споделянето на своята житейска история и дейността си като ръководителка на менторската програма „Артър Проджект “Лиз Мъри също се присъединява към въпросните личности. След всичко, което е изстрадала, мога само да си представя решимостта й на свой ред да помага, напътства и спасява деца и младежи, впримчени в същите клопки.
Няма да ви лъжа, „Да дочакаш утрото “е страшно болезнена за четене. Има отделни моменти, които са потресаващи, други ще разпилеят емоциите ви в сто посоки, трети ще ви засрамят и ще ви накарат да се запитате:„А какво е моето извинение да не правя това, което искам, да не осъществя потенциала си? “.В крайна сметка обаче тази книга е важна и запомняща се не точно на читателско, а на изконно човешко ниво. Преодолейте задръжките и тревогите си, защото тя го заслужава и ще ви върне услугата, като ви вдъхне кураж в борбата с личните ви изпитания.
Линк към ревюто в "Аз чета":https://azcheta.com/da-dochakash-utro...
Отварям бележките за ревю, които съм си н��хвърлила след прочита на „Да дочакаш утрото “(изд. „Киви “), и виждам едно-единствено изречение:„Някои хора не трябва да стават родители “.Истината е, че тя носи в себе си много по-смислени и запомнящи се послания, но и това е добра отправна точка.
Лиз и сестра ѝ са дъщери на тежки наркомани и цялото им детство преминава в безнадеждния ад, сътворен от зависимостите на майка им и баща им. Пропилените месечни помощи, страхът от социалните, психическата нестабилност, сексуалното посегателство, болестите, гладът, мръсотията, неглижирането и безперспективността са само част от демоните, които раздират семейството. Преградата на абсолютната мизерия е толкова висока и непробиваема, че изглежда немислимо някой от членовете му да успее да я преодолее. Порочният кръг отново ще се завърти и всички, затворени в него, ще се озоват на същото място, от което са започнали.
Чудото обаче се случва. След като остава без дом, прекарва две години на улицата, губи майка си от СПИН, а баща ѝ влиза в приют, Лиз преминава през своебразен катарзис и завършва своя път на съвсем различно място – като носителка на стипендията на „Ню Йорк Таймс “и възпитаничка на един от най-престижните университети в света.
Ако „Да дочакаш утрото “беше художествена измислица, щях да си кажа, че авторката е пресолила манджата. На„героинята “се случват прекалено много гадости, че да звучи правдоподобно. Няма начин едно-единствено момиче да бъде прекарано през всичко това, да оцелее и да бъде прието в „Харвард “.Просто няма начин.Но ето че историята на Лиз Мъри е реална и този факт е изключително вдъхновяващ и едновременно потискащ. Вдъхновяващ, защото е поредното доказателство за необозримите измерения на човешката воля и подвизите, на които сме способни, дори когато сме изправени пред най-отвратителните обстоятелства. Потискащ, защото на никого не бива да му се налага да гази през подобна тиня.
Един от най-сърцераздирателните и вбесяващи аспекти на книгата е как в подобна семейна ситуация детето поема ролята на възрастния – когато родителят е напълно негоден да се грижи за себе си, малчуганите се нагърбват с цялата отговорност за действията му и се изпълват с токсична вина заради противоречивите си чувства и мисли. Връзката между Лиз и майка ѝ например е съсипваща, защото е основана преди всичко на огромна обич. Обич, която можеш да почувстваш през страниците и която постепенно се превръща в оръжие за емоционална манипулация. Описанията на нощните разходки в търсене на следващата доза, на наркотичните делириуми, на дъното са сърцераздирателни и ужасяващи – като неканено видение от паралелно измерение.
Макар да разполагаш с пълния набор от факти, е трудно да съчувстваш на конкретни участници в трагедията. Осъзнаваш, че всички са жертви посвоему – на наркотиците, на институциите, на средата, на безразличието, на собствената си слабост. Но когато теглиш чертата, едно е сигурно – никое дете не трябва да расте по този начин, сред такива пороци, с такъв товар на плещите си.
„Да дочакаш утрото “ще остане в съзнанието ми най-вече с начина, по който е написана. Книгата съвсем спокойно може да мине за роман, без изобщо да доловите разликата. Лиз Мъри разказва с емоцията и умението на пълнокръвна писателка, а езикът и стилът ѝ са също толкова въздействащи, колкото и самата история. Грабне ли ви веднъж, няма да ви пусне, нито пък вие ще искате да го направите.
Има нещо терапевтично в готовността на Лиз да сподели всяка мъка, всеки детайл от ежедневието си, дори и най-пренебрежимите подробности. Удивих се колко много дребни случки и мигове си спомня, при това така ясно, все едно някой прожектира филм пред очите й. Предполагам, че цялата тази обстоятелственост е едва ли не форма на екзорсизъм, чрез който прогонва демоните на миналото си. Нещо като:„Изречи името му, лиши го от силата му и то ще си отиде веднъж завинаги “.Тук ми се иска да спомена, че изпипаният превод на Калина Момчева и прецизната редакция на Симона Колева определено допринасят за качественото читателско преживяване.
Най-подходящата дума, с която може да се обхване автобиографията на Лиз Мъри, е жизнеутвърждаваща. Лесно е да затънеш в негативизма ѝ, но в пъти по-важни са проблясъците на човечност и емпатия вътре. Хората, на които им пука. Тези, които полагат допълнително усилие и си причиняват неудобството да протегнат ръка. И най-вече онези, които дават шанс, вместо да отхвърлят с пренебрежение наглед безнадеждните случаи. Това са героите, които променят съдби и притежават благородството и волята да прекъснат порочния кръг.
Със споделянето на своята житейска история и дейността си като ръководителка на менторската програма „Артър Проджект “Лиз Мъри също се присъединява към въпросните личности. След всичко, което е изстрадала, мога само да си представя решимостта й на свой ред да помага, напътства и спасява деца и младежи, впримчени в същите клопки.
Няма да ви лъжа, „Да дочакаш утрото “е страшно болезнена за четене. Има отделни моменти, които са потресаващи, други ще разпилеят емоциите ви в сто посоки, трети ще ви засрамят и ще ви накарат да се запитате:„А какво е моето извинение да не правя това, което искам, да не осъществя потенциала си? “.В крайна сметка обаче тази книга е важна и запомняща се не точно на читателско, а на изконно човешко ниво. Преодолейте задръжките и тревогите си, защото тя го заслужава и ще ви върне услугата, като ви вдъхне кураж в борбата с личните ви изпитания.
Линк към ревюто в "Аз чета":https://azcheta.com/da-dochakash-utro...
March 27, 2017
What I'm going to say I can say of very few books indeed, but here it goes: Breaking night has changed my life; it has made me a kinder, braver, fiercer person, and I will forever be grateful to Liz Murray for writing it.
January 29, 2020
"He did not know he could not fly.And so he did".-Guy Clark,The Cape
I really wanted to like this book.And I did.The writing was glorious;kind,thoughtful and fair.Liz Murray has restored my faith in mankind.
I really wanted to like this book.And I did.The writing was glorious;kind,thoughtful and fair.Liz Murray has restored my faith in mankind.
August 12, 2011
A goodreads friend recently asked me about my antipathy towardThe Glass Castle,and I couldn't for the life of me remember why I gave it only one star. I think there were some contextual factors at play in my own life at the time. I remember thinking it was hard to believe, and that I wishedJeannette Wallshad shared more about how she transitioned from a horrific situation into her current apparently normal one, issues I had with this book as well. I can't really figure out why some rags-to-riches, triumph-of-the-human-spirit memoirs (Angela's Ashes) work for me, and others (The Glass Castle) don't. I can only say that this one fell in between.
I was pretty horrified by Liz's drug-addicted parents and their neglect of her. I'm not sure how much of my disbelief stemmed from my difficulty absorbing Liz's childhood circumstances and how much of it was actual disbelief, especially that Liz could remember conversations and events from earliest childhood in such great detail. It's a question I have about many such memoirists.
Similar to other reviewers, I would have liked to hear more about her complicated relationship with her older sister as opposed to yet more details about her life before she managed to turn things around. Bitter fights, estrangement, and suddenly they're sharing an apartment -- all believable, but I would have liked to understand it better. The relationship between siblings growing up in such horrific circumstances can be interesting and unpredictable. I also felt that I didn't fully understand her relationship with Carlos, a Jekyll/Hyde boyfriend.
And yet, the book held my interest and I appreciate Liz's sharing more of the process of turning her life around thanJeannette Wallsdid, though I still felt that the emphasis on the horrors of her earlier life was more heavily weighted. There were some very inspiring moments and I never felt like it was a chore to read the book, my criticisms notwithstanding.
Overall, if you likedThe Glass Castleyou'll probably like this. And even if, like me, you didn't, there's still a possibility you'll enjoy this one more.
I was pretty horrified by Liz's drug-addicted parents and their neglect of her. I'm not sure how much of my disbelief stemmed from my difficulty absorbing Liz's childhood circumstances and how much of it was actual disbelief, especially that Liz could remember conversations and events from earliest childhood in such great detail. It's a question I have about many such memoirists.
Similar to other reviewers, I would have liked to hear more about her complicated relationship with her older sister as opposed to yet more details about her life before she managed to turn things around. Bitter fights, estrangement, and suddenly they're sharing an apartment -- all believable, but I would have liked to understand it better. The relationship between siblings growing up in such horrific circumstances can be interesting and unpredictable. I also felt that I didn't fully understand her relationship with Carlos, a Jekyll/Hyde boyfriend.
And yet, the book held my interest and I appreciate Liz's sharing more of the process of turning her life around thanJeannette Wallsdid, though I still felt that the emphasis on the horrors of her earlier life was more heavily weighted. There were some very inspiring moments and I never felt like it was a chore to read the book, my criticisms notwithstanding.
Overall, if you likedThe Glass Castleyou'll probably like this. And even if, like me, you didn't, there's still a possibility you'll enjoy this one more.
March 21, 2022
"Господи, благослови ме да приема със смирение нещата, които не мога да променя. Дай ми кураж да променя нещата, които мога и мъдрост да правя разлика"
Тези леко перифразирани думи на Св.Августин от молитвата му за смирение са гравирани върху монетите, давани на хората, посещаващи срещите на Анонимните наркозависими след като достигнат определен брой дни без дрога. Тези монети са символ на пътя им дотук и за бъдещите им битки. Eдна от тези монети съпровожда и Лиз Мъри през живота ѝ като талисман...
***
Напоследък все попадам на сложни за четене книги. "Да дочакаш утрото" е поредната история, която те кара да премисляш прочетеното, да го съпреживяваш, да го съотнасяш със себе си и със своя живот и в крайна сметка да благодариш на съдбата, че си имала късмета да се родиш и израснеш в нормално, любящо и грижовно семейство. Това напоследък се оказва истински дар, огромна ценност и щастие.
Романът е мемоарен и автобиографичен. Лиз Мъри разказва от първо лице за своето трудно детство и тийнейджърски години, за израстването си в дисфункционално семейство на наркозависими и алкохолизирани родители, живеещи в крайна мизерия на социални помощ�� и за нелекия път, който извървява от тази среда до Харвард.
Историята е написана искрено и правдиво, показва ни как да се научим да ценим, това, което имаме.
Това е една от книгите, които ми се иска да бъдат прочетени от повече хора. Провокира те да се замислиш върху последствията, които действията и начина на живот на родителите оказват върху техните деца.
Това е и книга за силата на изборите, за мотивираните решения, за това, че стига да го пожелаеш и да положиш усилия ти можеш да промениш живота си и да не поемеш по наклонената плоскост на най-малкото съпротивление. Удивителна история, наистина!
Книгата в огромна степен ми напомня за "Стъкленият замък" на Джанет Уолс, също автобиографичен разказ за друго дисфункционално семейство. И двете книги ми харесаха по отношението на авторките към миналото си и към родителите - безпристрастно и с обич, без гняв и упреци за трудното си детство, за лишенията и за липсващите родителски грижи, подходящ дом и топлина.
И двата романа са много мотивиращи, искрени и позитивни и ги препоръчвам.
***
"Животът е такъв:в един момент всичко е наред, а в следващия всичко се променя. Хората се разболяват. Семействата се разпадат, приятелите понякога ти обръщат гръб. Докато седях там, осъзнавах какви светкавични промени бях преживяла, но не усещах тъга. Изведнъж, незнайно защо, на нейно място се появи друго чувство - надежда.Щом животът можеше да се промени към по-лошо, значи може да се промени и към по-добро."
"Животът придобива смисълът, който ние му припишем"
Тези леко перифразирани думи на Св.Августин от молитвата му за смирение са гравирани върху монетите, давани на хората, посещаващи срещите на Анонимните наркозависими след като достигнат определен брой дни без дрога. Тези монети са символ на пътя им дотук и за бъдещите им битки. Eдна от тези монети съпровожда и Лиз Мъри през живота ѝ като талисман...
***
Напоследък все попадам на сложни за четене книги. "Да дочакаш утрото" е поредната история, която те кара да премисляш прочетеното, да го съпреживяваш, да го съотнасяш със себе си и със своя живот и в крайна сметка да благодариш на съдбата, че си имала късмета да се родиш и израснеш в нормално, любящо и грижовно семейство. Това напоследък се оказва истински дар, огромна ценност и щастие.
Романът е мемоарен и автобиографичен. Лиз Мъри разказва от първо лице за своето трудно детство и тийнейджърски години, за израстването си в дисфункционално семейство на наркозависими и алкохолизирани родители, живеещи в крайна мизерия на социални помощ�� и за нелекия път, който извървява от тази среда до Харвард.
Историята е написана искрено и правдиво, показва ни как да се научим да ценим, това, което имаме.
Това е една от книгите, които ми се иска да бъдат прочетени от повече хора. Провокира те да се замислиш върху последствията, които действията и начина на живот на родителите оказват върху техните деца.
Това е и книга за силата на изборите, за мотивираните решения, за това, че стига да го пожелаеш и да положиш усилия ти можеш да промениш живота си и да не поемеш по наклонената плоскост на най-малкото съпротивление. Удивителна история, наистина!
Книгата в огромна степен ми напомня за "Стъкленият замък" на Джанет Уолс, също автобиографичен разказ за друго дисфункционално семейство. И двете книги ми харесаха по отношението на авторките към миналото си и към родителите - безпристрастно и с обич, без гняв и упреци за трудното си детство, за лишенията и за липсващите родителски грижи, подходящ дом и топлина.
И двата романа са много мотивиращи, искрени и позитивни и ги препоръчвам.
***
"Животът е такъв:в един момент всичко е наред, а в следващия всичко се променя. Хората се разболяват. Семействата се разпадат, приятелите понякога ти обръщат гръб. Докато седях там, осъзнавах какви светкавични промени бях преживяла, но не усещах тъга. Изведнъж, незнайно защо, на нейно място се появи друго чувство - надежда.Щом животът можеше да се промени към по-лошо, значи може да се промени и към по-добро."
"Животът придобива смисълът, който ние му припишем"
April 11, 2016
Can't finish it. The same thing over and over. It's not the content; it's the unremitting, unendingness of it. Dirt and filth. Hunger and squalor. Drugs, drugs, drugs. Dirt and filth. Hunger and squalor. Drugs, drugs, drugs. Really, just beat me over the head with this, why dontcha.
Initially I gave it no rating, but realizing how far I did get I can certainly offer one star. NOT for content. Good God, no, this kind of memoir needs to be written and read. But this one is so unremittingly the same same same same same...
A dnf and one star for continual repetition that put me, despite the content, to sleep.
Initially I gave it no rating, but realizing how far I did get I can certainly offer one star. NOT for content. Good God, no, this kind of memoir needs to be written and read. But this one is so unremittingly the same same same same same...
A dnf and one star for continual repetition that put me, despite the content, to sleep.
October 23, 2010
I remember seeing the movie Homeless to Harvard on the day it premiered in Lifetime when I was about 15. I found the film incredibly inspiring. The book...not so much. Well, that's not necessarily true. I found it inspiring once Liz started getting her act together, but before then I was just baffled at the choices Liz made. The movie made Liz seem more sympathetic than she actually was.
In Homeless to Harvard, the reason that Liz didn't go to school was because she didn't feel right in leaving her mother, who had AIDS, alone. In Breaking Night, most of the time that she cut school, she did it to hang out with her friends. She didn't go to school because she just didn't feel like it. Not cool, especially if you consider that her older sister, who grew up in the exact same environment, did persevere and ended up graduating high school. Besides all the crap that her sister went through, she decided to get up every day and keep going and not using pathetic excuses to not go. That right there is inspiring.
Liz Murray was just not sympathetic throughout most of the book. It was her decision to leave the house that she was living in, her decision to only visit her AIDS-stricken mom once after she left, her decision not to go back to the apartment her sister was living in once everything became to much. Maybe my non-sympathetic thoughts come from the fact that while I was in high school, my family was homeless for a while and I was shuffled from various family members' houses. Regardless of that, I graduated high school with honors and went on to college with minimal complaints. So, I just don't see what the huge deal is with having a tough home life and not going to school. She had the choice to attend school at first, she chose not to take it.
But again, once Liz actually enrolled in the alternative high school, Breaking Night started getting better. It was inspirational that she actually enrolled in school because it would've been easier to say "Screw it!" She worked extremely hard in trying to cram all of her high school credits into two years. However, the most inspirational thing for me was the number of people who helped her once her article appeared in The New York Times. These strangers capacity to be empathetic and help a complete stranger was just mesmerizing and heartwarming for me.
In the end, I thought that Breaking Night was just okay. Not sure if I would recommend it. I do, however, highly recommend the movie. It was amazing.
In Homeless to Harvard, the reason that Liz didn't go to school was because she didn't feel right in leaving her mother, who had AIDS, alone. In Breaking Night, most of the time that she cut school, she did it to hang out with her friends. She didn't go to school because she just didn't feel like it. Not cool, especially if you consider that her older sister, who grew up in the exact same environment, did persevere and ended up graduating high school. Besides all the crap that her sister went through, she decided to get up every day and keep going and not using pathetic excuses to not go. That right there is inspiring.
Liz Murray was just not sympathetic throughout most of the book. It was her decision to leave the house that she was living in, her decision to only visit her AIDS-stricken mom once after she left, her decision not to go back to the apartment her sister was living in once everything became to much. Maybe my non-sympathetic thoughts come from the fact that while I was in high school, my family was homeless for a while and I was shuffled from various family members' houses. Regardless of that, I graduated high school with honors and went on to college with minimal complaints. So, I just don't see what the huge deal is with having a tough home life and not going to school. She had the choice to attend school at first, she chose not to take it.
But again, once Liz actually enrolled in the alternative high school, Breaking Night started getting better. It was inspirational that she actually enrolled in school because it would've been easier to say "Screw it!" She worked extremely hard in trying to cram all of her high school credits into two years. However, the most inspirational thing for me was the number of people who helped her once her article appeared in The New York Times. These strangers capacity to be empathetic and help a complete stranger was just mesmerizing and heartwarming for me.
In the end, I thought that Breaking Night was just okay. Not sure if I would recommend it. I do, however, highly recommend the movie. It was amazing.
August 4, 2013
It's hard to believe that people actually go through this stuff. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm reading a memoir and not a piece of fiction; pulling up from the depths of somebody's imagination. Then the reminder that it is all real makes the story that much better!
Breaking Night is truly an unbelievable story, but yet it is the truth. The author's battle to escape the circumstances in which she was born in to and raised in is truly an amazing tale. Then once she decides what she wants to do and where she wants to go in her life, the fact that she went out and did it, when so many others succumb to defeat because it is just too hard, is such a motivation. If anything is taken from this story, it should be to never give up because there is a light, even at the end of the darkest tunnel.
I would recommend this book to anyone, even those who only like fiction. Like I said earlier, this story is so amazing, it could pass as a work of fiction. It is a page turner! And the ending will not disappoint!
Breaking Night is truly an unbelievable story, but yet it is the truth. The author's battle to escape the circumstances in which she was born in to and raised in is truly an amazing tale. Then once she decides what she wants to do and where she wants to go in her life, the fact that she went out and did it, when so many others succumb to defeat because it is just too hard, is such a motivation. If anything is taken from this story, it should be to never give up because there is a light, even at the end of the darkest tunnel.
I would recommend this book to anyone, even those who only like fiction. Like I said earlier, this story is so amazing, it could pass as a work of fiction. It is a page turner! And the ending will not disappoint!
March 11, 2020
“Instead, what I was beginning to understand was that however things unfolded from here on, whatever the next chapter was, my life could never be the sum of one circumstance. It would be determined, as it had always been, by my willingness to put one foot in front of the other, moving forward, come what may.”
Liz Murray is born to drug addicted parents and during her first few years, her life is a disarray. Often lacking food and basic necessities, her and her sister Lisa had to rely mostly on themselves as their parents made their choices based on drugs, not on their (girls') well-being. When Liz started to miss too much school, her truancy sent her to a group home. Once back with her mom and sister, Liz vowed never to go back to a group home but when her truancies started to add up again, she had a tough choice to make. She left home to avoid being discovered and became homeless at the age of fifteen. After as series of bad decisions and bad luck, Liz rebuilt her life by retaking her education.
"I was always seeing myself through the eyes of adults, my parents, caseworkers, psychiatrists and teachers. If I saw failure in their eyes, then I was one. And if I saw someone capable, then I was capable."
This is, without a doubt, an impacting, intense, raw, and gritty narrative. The comparisons toThe Glass Castleare not unwarranted. To say that Liz Murray had a tough upbringing is an understatement: "who else cursed freely in front of their parents, went to bed anytime they wanted, knew about sex, and could demonstrate, crudely, how to mainline drugs when they were just six years old?" Liz had loving parents but their whole lives were ruled by drugs and how to acquire them. Feeling observed and judged by classmates and teachers alike, Liz barely attended school. When she was about thirteen, she was taken into a group home and her father did not put up a fight to keep her home. Once back with her family, the truancies started again and rather than go back into the system, Liz left home, effectively becoming homeless. Liz was forced to navigate homelessness, her parent's drug addiction, her mother's Schizophrenia and AIDS diagnosis and a growing doubt of wether she would ever be safe and okay. Through sheer will and determination, Liz overcame a life that to many seemed doomed.
Reading books like this makes me grateful for a childhood and upbringing that were safe and happy. Liz Murray came up against a myriad of obstacles and problems, many due to bad decisions of her parents and some due to bad decisions of her own. It all added to one dreadful and uncertain existance for Liz. The tone of this book is one of fear and uncertainty but also of strength and power. As Murray related her life, you feel the shift from helplessness to empowerment. If I have a minor complaint with the book is that at times, the narrative felt detached and lacking some more details. Still, this is an impressive book about overcoming adversity on a grand scale. I doubt I would have had the same perseverance as Liz for what she went through. All and all, this is an inspiring and brave account. Not an easy read but one that has left an impact.
Liz Murray is born to drug addicted parents and during her first few years, her life is a disarray. Often lacking food and basic necessities, her and her sister Lisa had to rely mostly on themselves as their parents made their choices based on drugs, not on their (girls') well-being. When Liz started to miss too much school, her truancy sent her to a group home. Once back with her mom and sister, Liz vowed never to go back to a group home but when her truancies started to add up again, she had a tough choice to make. She left home to avoid being discovered and became homeless at the age of fifteen. After as series of bad decisions and bad luck, Liz rebuilt her life by retaking her education.
"I was always seeing myself through the eyes of adults, my parents, caseworkers, psychiatrists and teachers. If I saw failure in their eyes, then I was one. And if I saw someone capable, then I was capable."
This is, without a doubt, an impacting, intense, raw, and gritty narrative. The comparisons toThe Glass Castleare not unwarranted. To say that Liz Murray had a tough upbringing is an understatement: "who else cursed freely in front of their parents, went to bed anytime they wanted, knew about sex, and could demonstrate, crudely, how to mainline drugs when they were just six years old?" Liz had loving parents but their whole lives were ruled by drugs and how to acquire them. Feeling observed and judged by classmates and teachers alike, Liz barely attended school. When she was about thirteen, she was taken into a group home and her father did not put up a fight to keep her home. Once back with her family, the truancies started again and rather than go back into the system, Liz left home, effectively becoming homeless. Liz was forced to navigate homelessness, her parent's drug addiction, her mother's Schizophrenia and AIDS diagnosis and a growing doubt of wether she would ever be safe and okay. Through sheer will and determination, Liz overcame a life that to many seemed doomed.
Reading books like this makes me grateful for a childhood and upbringing that were safe and happy. Liz Murray came up against a myriad of obstacles and problems, many due to bad decisions of her parents and some due to bad decisions of her own. It all added to one dreadful and uncertain existance for Liz. The tone of this book is one of fear and uncertainty but also of strength and power. As Murray related her life, you feel the shift from helplessness to empowerment. If I have a minor complaint with the book is that at times, the narrative felt detached and lacking some more details. Still, this is an impressive book about overcoming adversity on a grand scale. I doubt I would have had the same perseverance as Liz for what she went through. All and all, this is an inspiring and brave account. Not an easy read but one that has left an impact.
January 3, 2020
I am so glad that this is the first book that I read for 2020. It was fantastic! Liz was so real about her life; her failures and accomplishments. I highly recommend this book!
"Liz Murray was born to loving but drug-addicted parents in the Bronx. In school she was taunted for her dirty clothing and lice-infested hair, eventually skipping so many classes that she was put into a girls' home. At age fifteen, when her family finally unraveled, Murray found herself on the streets. She learned to scrape by, foraging for food and riding subways all night to have a warm place to sleep.
Eventually, Murray decided to take control of her own destiny and go back to high school, often completing her assignments in the hallways and subway stations where she slept. She squeezed four years of high school into two, while homeless; won a New York Times scholarship; and made it into the Ivy League. Breaking Night is an unforgettable and beautifully written story of one young woman's indomitable spirit to survive and prevail, against all odds. "
"Liz Murray was born to loving but drug-addicted parents in the Bronx. In school she was taunted for her dirty clothing and lice-infested hair, eventually skipping so many classes that she was put into a girls' home. At age fifteen, when her family finally unraveled, Murray found herself on the streets. She learned to scrape by, foraging for food and riding subways all night to have a warm place to sleep.
Eventually, Murray decided to take control of her own destiny and go back to high school, often completing her assignments in the hallways and subway stations where she slept. She squeezed four years of high school into two, while homeless; won a New York Times scholarship; and made it into the Ivy League. Breaking Night is an unforgettable and beautifully written story of one young woman's indomitable spirit to survive and prevail, against all odds. "
April 15, 2019
http://www.writingis.fun/%D0%B4%D0%B0...
Здравейте, книголюбители!
Извинявам се, че малко се поизгубих, но чаках музата на писането да ме навести. Наскоро прочетох една много вдъхновяваща нова книга на издателство „Вакон “, която е биографична. Направих малка пауза от художествената литература и определено си заслужаваше. Книгата на Лиз Мъри е изпълнена с надежда и успя да ме докара до сълзи.
„Вярвам, че истинската благодарност идва от осъзнаването на крехкостта на живота. Ако знаеш колко лесно е да изгубиш хората, които обичаш, ти се държиш за тях много по-здраво. Прощаваш по-бързо, обичаш по-дълбоко, смееш се по-често. “
Детството на Лиз Мъри определено не е било от най-лесните. Поради факта, че родителите й са били наркозависими, тя и сестра й буквално е трябвало сами да се отглеждат. И макар и да полага много усилия, тя спира да посещава училище.
След като на майка й открива, че е болна от СПИН, намира силите да промени живота си изцяло и да спре да употребява. Намира си нов приятел, при който отива да живее със сестрата на Лиз.
През годините, тя усп��ва да намери няколко верни приятели. Заедно със най-добрата й приятелка Саманта решават да избягат от града. И запленена от прелестния чар на Карлос, който им осигуряла престой за известно време, всичко е почти нормално. Само че, нито парите, нито Карлос се оказват спасение за момичетата. Лиз става бездомна и започва да преспива до колкото е възможно при нейни приятели. Имала е и вечери, в които е нямало къде да нощува.
Междувременно апартаментът, в който е израстнала бива унищожен от пожар, взимайки със себе си всички снимки от детството й.
А ако се чудите, баща й намира подслон в старчески дом, но в по-късен етап от живота си също открива, че е болен от СПИН.
И докато времето минава и Лиз се опитва да стъпи на краката си, да започне отново да ходи на училище и да навакса изминалото време, здравето на майка й се влошава. И след като тя умира, а Лиз разбира за смъртта й по телефона от сестра си – всичко в нея се пречупва. Момента, който тя самата описва колко й е било тежко да не е до майка си в последните й мигове, беше един от най-тежките и трогателни моменти в книгата. Това беше и за мен момента, който най-много ме докосна. Накрая с много труд все пак стига до Харвърд и го завършва. Но не това е най-важното от нейната история – ами лишенията и препятствията, през които е трябвало да мине и преживее докато стигне до там.
Историята на Лиз е много тежка, но пълна с истина и надежда, че макар и да нямаш нищо – можеш да постигнеш всичко, което желаеш с много труд и упоритост.
Биографията на Лиз Мъри определено ме докосна и след кратко разряване из интернет, намерих, че е била превърната и във филм, който определено ще гледам скоро.
Здравейте, книголюбители!
Извинявам се, че малко се поизгубих, но чаках музата на писането да ме навести. Наскоро прочетох една много вдъхновяваща нова книга на издателство „Вакон “, която е биографична. Направих малка пауза от художествената литература и определено си заслужаваше. Книгата на Лиз Мъри е изпълнена с надежда и успя да ме докара до сълзи.
„Вярвам, че истинската благодарност идва от осъзнаването на крехкостта на живота. Ако знаеш колко лесно е да изгубиш хората, които обичаш, ти се държиш за тях много по-здраво. Прощаваш по-бързо, обичаш по-дълбоко, смееш се по-често. “
Детството на Лиз Мъри определено не е било от най-лесните. Поради факта, че родителите й са били наркозависими, тя и сестра й буквално е трябвало сами да се отглеждат. И макар и да полага много усилия, тя спира да посещава училище.
След като на майка й открива, че е болна от СПИН, намира силите да промени живота си изцяло и да спре да употребява. Намира си нов приятел, при който отива да живее със сестрата на Лиз.
През годините, тя усп��ва да намери няколко верни приятели. Заедно със най-добрата й приятелка Саманта решават да избягат от града. И запленена от прелестния чар на Карлос, който им осигуряла престой за известно време, всичко е почти нормално. Само че, нито парите, нито Карлос се оказват спасение за момичетата. Лиз става бездомна и започва да преспива до колкото е възможно при нейни приятели. Имала е и вечери, в които е нямало къде да нощува.
Междувременно апартаментът, в който е израстнала бива унищожен от пожар, взимайки със себе си всички снимки от детството й.
А ако се чудите, баща й намира подслон в старчески дом, но в по-късен етап от живота си също открива, че е болен от СПИН.
И докато времето минава и Лиз се опитва да стъпи на краката си, да започне отново да ходи на училище и да навакса изминалото време, здравето на майка й се влошава. И след като тя умира, а Лиз разбира за смъртта й по телефона от сестра си – всичко в нея се пречупва. Момента, който тя самата описва колко й е било тежко да не е до майка си в последните й мигове, беше един от най-тежките и трогателни моменти в книгата. Това беше и за мен момента, който най-много ме докосна. Накрая с много труд все пак стига до Харвърд и го завършва. Но не това е най-важното от нейната история – ами лишенията и препятствията, през които е трябвало да мине и преживее докато стигне до там.
Историята на Лиз е много тежка, но пълна с истина и надежда, че макар и да нямаш нищо – можеш да постигнеш всичко, което желаеш с много труд и упоритост.
Биографията на Лиз Мъри определено ме докосна и след кратко разряване из интернет, намерих, че е била превърната и във филм, който определено ще гледам скоро.
June 28, 2013
This book was a total disappointment. A story of a young woman who chose to be homeless rather than live with her mother and her mother's boyfriend or to live in a group home; who chose not to attend school for essentially her entire elementary school years and then was lucky enough to get into an "alternative high school" where after 2 years she earned a high school diploma. She went from not knowing where Europe was 2 years before to being Harvard caliber student Really? Is she an inspiration to homeless youth? No, she won the lottery and Harvard has played that card - they will continue to recruit A+ students who receive perfect scores on their SAT's and who publish books, or concertize or play on the pro golf circuit as their incoming freshman. She wonders why her sister is indifferent to her or unwilling to discuss the book? - because her sister like so many underprivileged children moved through the system and worked hard. Got a mediocre education from an overcrowded public schools and then despite those odds went to a city college and got a degree. But she will never have the doors open for her the way her sister does with the Harvard degree. Despite making her living as an "inspirational speaker" she should know that inspiration comes from within. In my opinion the admirable people are those that fought that way through overcrowded schools where graduating classes are over 1000 with as few as 2 guidance counselors who attempt to help get kids placed; in reality most kids never meet the guidance counselor, never know about scholarships or loans or any of the options that may be available to them. Those few that make it to college and graduate school and rise above their limitations - those are admirable people. This is just someone who won the lottery and is still capitalizing on it with her Homeless to Harvard biography and website - if you want to read a book about an admirable family who pursues education to the utmost read Gifted Hands the Ben Carson biography.
August 14, 2016
This book broke my heart!
Not only did it shatter me to read about a 4 year old who sees her parents shooting up drugs in the kitchen on a daily basis, having a mother that would steal her birthday money and squander all the welfare money just to score.
What was even more upsetting is that these seemingly uncaring parents really loved their children. Its clear in all their interactions with their kids but their drug habits and the grip that their addiction had on them were just too much to fight.
What also got to me is the way Liz was convinced that if she was just a better child who complained less that she was hungry, or tired or filthy, that her parents would love her more. As I said, heartbreaking stuff.
Besides the obvious horrendous account of the author’s upbringing I really found the rest of the story around her going back to school highly inspiring.
Liz Murray is a talented writer who has an amazing knack for telling a compelling, inspirational story without once being preachy and it will stay with me for a long time. It made me count my blessings and put life’s little stumbling blocks in perspective. If you enjoyedThe Glass Castle,or strong memoirs about beating the odds then you have to read this.
Not only did it shatter me to read about a 4 year old who sees her parents shooting up drugs in the kitchen on a daily basis, having a mother that would steal her birthday money and squander all the welfare money just to score.
What was even more upsetting is that these seemingly uncaring parents really loved their children. Its clear in all their interactions with their kids but their drug habits and the grip that their addiction had on them were just too much to fight.
What also got to me is the way Liz was convinced that if she was just a better child who complained less that she was hungry, or tired or filthy, that her parents would love her more. As I said, heartbreaking stuff.
Besides the obvious horrendous account of the author’s upbringing I really found the rest of the story around her going back to school highly inspiring.
Liz Murray is a talented writer who has an amazing knack for telling a compelling, inspirational story without once being preachy and it will stay with me for a long time. It made me count my blessings and put life’s little stumbling blocks in perspective. If you enjoyedThe Glass Castle,or strong memoirs about beating the odds then you have to read this.
January 9, 2011
I probably would have liked this more if it were the first book of the genre I had read. It’s one of those “raised in horrible conditions but rose above it” memoirs likeThe Glass CastleandThe Liar’s Club.The book jacket describes Liz Murray’s parents as “loving but drug-addicted.” I had some trouble buying the “loving” part. Definitely a fascinating story with an amazing and admirable author, but the narrative of her early years was excessively detailed at time – except for her relationship with her sister, Lisa, which was to me the most interesting dynamic.
Liz’s decision to turn her life around, which came about three-fourths of the way through the book, was casually chalked up to her realization that “friends don’t pay your rent.” The remainder of the book was compelling and inspiring: Liz’s quest to stay motivated to finish high school, learning to integrate into society, the realization that she could go to college and make the most of her life. I think that for the author the point of the book was the cathartic recounting of the horror of her childhood, but as a reader I wanted to hear more about the strength within her that inspired her escape from it.
Liz’s decision to turn her life around, which came about three-fourths of the way through the book, was casually chalked up to her realization that “friends don’t pay your rent.” The remainder of the book was compelling and inspiring: Liz’s quest to stay motivated to finish high school, learning to integrate into society, the realization that she could go to college and make the most of her life. I think that for the author the point of the book was the cathartic recounting of the horror of her childhood, but as a reader I wanted to hear more about the strength within her that inspired her escape from it.
June 2, 2013
The triumph of Liz' life made it worth reading all the other difficulties she experienced. Her journey was about being raised in a home where her parents' main focus was on where their next high was coming from and advanced to being homeless then arrived to her hope for acceptance to Harvard. She was candidly honest in the accounting of her life and articulate in the retelling of the experiences as well as her feelings towards what was happening to her. Particularly well developed insights into her relationships with family and friends.
The best books, movies and shows I enjoy have a balance between humor and drama. I read this book quickly, in a few days, compelled to go from chapter to chapter but it was so oppressively sad. Surely she would start making decisions that would change her course, bring her happiness, I kept thinking, but on and on it went from unfortunate to tragic with no relief, no snippets of humor. It was not until I was about 85% done that there was finally a glimpse of respite from the darkness. It was almost like there was a tightness in my airway as I read. I kept hoping for more air, knowing it would come but when? When it finally did it was such a relief.
Great ending.
The best books, movies and shows I enjoy have a balance between humor and drama. I read this book quickly, in a few days, compelled to go from chapter to chapter but it was so oppressively sad. Surely she would start making decisions that would change her course, bring her happiness, I kept thinking, but on and on it went from unfortunate to tragic with no relief, no snippets of humor. It was not until I was about 85% done that there was finally a glimpse of respite from the darkness. It was almost like there was a tightness in my airway as I read. I kept hoping for more air, knowing it would come but when? When it finally did it was such a relief.
Great ending.
March 14, 2015
(March book club selection) I was really inspired by Liz Murray and what she's been able to make of her life after being raised in such difficult circumstances. The bulk of the book is spent describing her childhood and teenage years, and they are admittedly not easy to read about. Her parents were both drug addicts and not able to provide any kind of a normal childhood for Liz and her older sister. It gave me a profound sympathy for children raised in dysfunctional homes and a better understanding of why they have such a difficult time pulling themselves out of the gutter, so to speak. Liz describes the way immediate physical needs take top priority for people in these circumstances, and really, when you never have enough food, sleep, or access to basic hygiene, how can you possibly see going to school and following society's social norms as important?
Somehow she and her sister were both able to avoid getting involved with drugs or alcohol, and I was amazed at how Liz persisted in trying to keep her family together and maintain good relationships with her parents. She recognized their small acts of love even though neither one of them was in a position to be decent parents, and she and Lisa were the ones who took most of the responsibility of finding food, earning a little money, trying to keep the apartment clean, and caring for their mom and dad when they were high on drugs, tired from lack of sleep, and sick from AIDS.
As she hits her teenage years, it all becomes too much for her to deal with and eventually she leaves home and begins living on the streets with a couple of friends. More difficulties follow as she struggles to survive the reality of being homeless. She has friends who do their best to help her, but it is still a terribly challenging time.
Remarkably, she is able to maintain a vision of possibility for the future through all of this, and eventually she seeks out a place she can finish high school, realizing that an education will give her more options in her desire to make a better life for herself. This is where the book really gets good. The school she discovers has a wonderful staff that is dedicated to helping kids who have been consistent failures find a way to succeed, and succeed she does, eventually going on to get a terrific scholarship and be accepted into Harvard.
I had a couple of favorite parts towards the end of the book. One was where she described getting her high school transcripts from her old school (which were one D grade and the rest Fs) to turn in to her new school, and how suddenly she was struck by the fact that the transcript for her new school was totally blank, allowing her the chance at a fresh start. She says, "The thought of a clean slate was thrilling, especially after looking at the mess I had created. With all the things that had been difficult, it was one blessing to count on, the knowledge that what I did from this moment on didn't have to depend on what I had done before. Back on Nineteenth Street [at the new school], I asked April to give me a copy of my blank Prep transcripts, which was a simple printout of my name on Prep stationery and rows of blank columns waiting to be filled by my future grades. The JFK ones I handed in to April and never looked at again. The blank ones I kept with me at all times. They were a reminder that I was, day by day, writing my future.”
The other part I loved was at the very end, where she again realizes that she doesn’t have to be limited by her past. She is waiting for news of whether she will be accepted into Harvard, and she says, “Things turning around for me had been the result of my focusing on the few areas in life I could change, and surrendering to the knowledge that there were many more things that I just couldn’t make different. I could not rescue Sam from her family life, but I could be her friend. I could never change Carlos, but I could leave that relationship and take care of myself. I couldn’t heal my parents, as much as I wanted to, but I could forgive and love them. I could also choose to carve out a life for myself that was in no way limited by what had already occurred in my past.” What a life-changing revelation that was for her! Liz doesn’t tie it in to religion, but for me, I see how the atonement helps people do exactly what she describes here—leave the past behind and change for the better.
Somehow she and her sister were both able to avoid getting involved with drugs or alcohol, and I was amazed at how Liz persisted in trying to keep her family together and maintain good relationships with her parents. She recognized their small acts of love even though neither one of them was in a position to be decent parents, and she and Lisa were the ones who took most of the responsibility of finding food, earning a little money, trying to keep the apartment clean, and caring for their mom and dad when they were high on drugs, tired from lack of sleep, and sick from AIDS.
As she hits her teenage years, it all becomes too much for her to deal with and eventually she leaves home and begins living on the streets with a couple of friends. More difficulties follow as she struggles to survive the reality of being homeless. She has friends who do their best to help her, but it is still a terribly challenging time.
Remarkably, she is able to maintain a vision of possibility for the future through all of this, and eventually she seeks out a place she can finish high school, realizing that an education will give her more options in her desire to make a better life for herself. This is where the book really gets good. The school she discovers has a wonderful staff that is dedicated to helping kids who have been consistent failures find a way to succeed, and succeed she does, eventually going on to get a terrific scholarship and be accepted into Harvard.
I had a couple of favorite parts towards the end of the book. One was where she described getting her high school transcripts from her old school (which were one D grade and the rest Fs) to turn in to her new school, and how suddenly she was struck by the fact that the transcript for her new school was totally blank, allowing her the chance at a fresh start. She says, "The thought of a clean slate was thrilling, especially after looking at the mess I had created. With all the things that had been difficult, it was one blessing to count on, the knowledge that what I did from this moment on didn't have to depend on what I had done before. Back on Nineteenth Street [at the new school], I asked April to give me a copy of my blank Prep transcripts, which was a simple printout of my name on Prep stationery and rows of blank columns waiting to be filled by my future grades. The JFK ones I handed in to April and never looked at again. The blank ones I kept with me at all times. They were a reminder that I was, day by day, writing my future.”
The other part I loved was at the very end, where she again realizes that she doesn’t have to be limited by her past. She is waiting for news of whether she will be accepted into Harvard, and she says, “Things turning around for me had been the result of my focusing on the few areas in life I could change, and surrendering to the knowledge that there were many more things that I just couldn’t make different. I could not rescue Sam from her family life, but I could be her friend. I could never change Carlos, but I could leave that relationship and take care of myself. I couldn’t heal my parents, as much as I wanted to, but I could forgive and love them. I could also choose to carve out a life for myself that was in no way limited by what had already occurred in my past.” What a life-changing revelation that was for her! Liz doesn’t tie it in to religion, but for me, I see how the atonement helps people do exactly what she describes here—leave the past behind and change for the better.
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