Smashed - Quickie Book Review

I just finished reading Smashed by Koren Zailckas. Thanks to Kathy for lending it to me.

It is not particularly uplifting. She tells those drunk stories that normally we brag about "I was so wasted. . ." with such dryness and frankness, that you feel silly for thinking you were so cool for ever pounding so many beers that you set something on fire, ended up smooching some weird dude or got yourself thrown out of a bar for trying to order Old Milwaukee over and over despite them telling you they don't have Old Milwaukee.

Her description of her years of boozing are raw and cold. She isn't trying to make any changes, she isn't suggesting any solutions, she isn't blaming anyone (although she makes a few stabs at alcohol advertising), she is just telling her story and it is scary. Scary because other than joining a sorority, her story is eerily familiar. If it isn't you, it is one of your good friends.

Koren offers an extremely unglamourous look at what alcohol abuse does to young women. Not cool. Not funny.

I will say, it is well written and is a very quick read. Oh and there is some feminist undercurrents in the book I loved. I would recommend with the caveat - read only if you want to relive some of your most unflattering drunk moments. Perhaps wait for the holidays to end.