SOBER DIARIES

This book had the same effect as watching Nigella to me - too much irrelevant boasting about her life, her house, her fancy education, her 3 week holidays in Cornwall picking blackberries for crumble while 'windswept and dressed in Boden' and returning 'exhausted and happy', how she has a terrible 'ordeal' having to go for a drinks do for her former Cambridge college in the House of Lords. Even her dad gets a few pages where he's described as 'one of the cleverest men I've ever met', 'extremely successful', 'incredibly principled', 'brilliantly witty', 'much admired' and of course 'won a scholarship to Cambridge', all within 2 paragraphs. Yeesh, I was groaning out loud several times on every page and had to give up half way through.I don't like to be negative and if the above hasn't made you groan then hopefully you will find the book helpful, but I felt I needed to write a review to warn off people who would find the chic-lit writing style unbearable. Perhaps she came across better on the blog in small doses. Personally I enjoyed 'The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober' and others more.On the positive side there are some good self-help nuggets in here and through the diary format it is interesting to see how long it really takes to recover (over 100 days) and the stages to recovery. And of course it is a great thing that she is helping people. However, I'm going to have to give the book 1 star because I couldn't finish it and a large amount of the book wasn't actually about kicking the drink.

I really liked Clare throughout this book but did not feel at all connected with her in lots of ways. In her blog she describes herself as over privileged/educated and so on but the constant references to her social status throughout alienated me. Who the hell in the real world can afford to rent a Cornish cottage for 3 weeks (!) in high season with three kids dressed in Boden (!) She has a constant supply of friends for coffee and catchups in her world of Fulham mummies with hubbys in great jobs that afford private health care for partners too (giving very privileged breast cancer care) and a fabby old hol in Jamaica round off the fairytale.The breast cancer chapter left me deeply saddened for her, as this seems to be a leveller for all women living one of their greatest fearsA good book written by a very nice woman with good humour and pathos. However she lives in a very different world to me.The alcohol thing is fairly lightweight, no real scary stuff just hangovers parenting guilt crotchety moods etc, but upbeat snd positive

There are a few negative reviews about this book concerning the authors over privileged life, holidays in a Cornish cottage picking blackberries etc. I didn't find this relevant and it spoke to me in another way.I believe it shows that anyone can be affected, no matter how privileged they are. The patterns of behaviour that add to the denial must resonate with all in this awful situation. I happen to live in a pretty Cornish cottage because I am Cornish, however, in addition to my job, I rely on benefits to make ends meet.Where Clare was drinking more expensive white wine, I was drinking cheap plonk. It's all relative.I believe the book outlines the important stuff, like how we don't enjoy and spend time with our children as much as a sober parent.I decided to stop last Thursday and hadn't planned it, so there was no ' this is my last drink'. It was following an awful time and I needed to do something positive for myself. I read this book over a two day period and found the similarities remarkable, even though my son grew up in charity shop clothes and not Boden. My point is, and Clare's (I think), is that things that should be enjoyable pass you by. Her point about Blackberry picking was that she would have been thinking about her next drink instead of enjoying the moment, and how you feel that life gets in the way of your drinking, when it's actually the other way round. I don't think class, status or money is relevant.Any one going through this should get as much support as possible. I read her book on thursday, saw doctor on Friday for consult and thiamin (vit b1) and found out about local help group called addaction.Clare didn't want to explain to friends about giving up, but I have found it helpful to tell people about it. It makes it real and I feel committed and proud of what I am doing instead of ashamed of where I was. I have not avoided my local pub, I have explained that I am not drinking anymore and I drink alcohol free beer or virgin marys! This book is written about Clare's life, not yours or mine, and she lives where she lives, knows who she knows and holidays where she holidays. The struggle is the same for everyone regardless. I have missed out out on a large chunk of my life and am looking forward to better things.On day 9 and feeling ok. This book was the best help during all of this and I will read it again.

I met Clare, the author, at my daughter's school having decided I wanted to give up alcohol for too many reasons to mention. It was meant to be! I didn't know anything about the book but when she told me she had just got it published I had so many questions for her. She had done IT! I had a role model. I was already reading 'Control Alcohol, The Naked Mind' which Clare encouraged me to finish as Clare's book is more of a memoir. Clare writes with humour and compassion telling her story of her alcohol habit, being a mum of 3 and having breast cancer. I felt like I was reading about myself. Following her diary from day 1 of stopping to year 1 anniversary (of stopping) was so enlightening. She reflects on her (drinking) past throughout the book as well as documenting her daily challenges with giving up. It was a great, easy read and spurred me on to abstain from drinking. It's not as hard as you think, believe me! Whether you drink a bit too much or want moral support for giving up, it's a great read.

I really welcomed the premise of this book and loved Clare Pooley's voice. However ultimately I lost the connection with her world and mine. There are parts I will reread , mainly the early stages of reaching an ultimatum due to feelings that I too have hidden for too long behind lying to myself about the motives and effects of drinkng too much and too often .Nevertheless I failed to link my life to hers and felt that created a barrier to my creating an emotional connection.There is no doubt that the author writes with great warmth and honesty but for those who have less support and dare I say financial clout it feels like a window onto another world.