Review by Vbutera -- Chasing A Flawed Sun by Daniel McGhee
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- Latest Review: Chasing A Flawed Sun by Daniel McGhee
Review by Vbutera -- Chasing A Flawed Sun by Daniel McGhee
[Following is a volunteer review of "Chasing A Flawed Sun" by Daniel McGhee.]
Daniel McGee's Chasing a Flawed Sun is a compelling autobiographical tale of the author's long, gruesome struggle with heroin addiction. Set in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, McGee pulls the reader into the mind of a heroin addict who is constantly on edge to get his next fix, in order to postpone the inevitable "dope sickness". Temptation is everywhere, and McGee demonstrates feelings of frustration and regret with his simple yet empty existence. However, this alone is never enough for him to stay clean, and he frequently falls victim to that moment of weakness. The time frame of the story is set in the 1990's, when Baltimore was known as "the heroin capital of America". McGee traces back his roots and recognizes when and how he got involved in the wrong crowd in middle school. A stable family life, a love for poetry and literature, and compassion for animals was not enough to protect a young McGee from the dangerous allure of alcohol, drugs, and violence. The author longed to suppress his softer, more feminine qualities and adopted a tough, intimidating persona. Alcohol was his gateway drug, and it did not take McGee long before he began using cocaine and eventually heroin.
McGee's journey is one of substance abuse, betrayal, lies and theft that is driven by the dark corners of an addict's mind. "Rock bottom" seams limitless to McGee while he is actively a slave to heroin. Time and time again he hurts his family, breaks the law, and finds himself in and out of both jail and rehab. Nonetheless, the author possesses a stark self-awareness that provokes empathy from the reader, claiming that "heroin saved his life". McGee's portrayal of addiction is beyond the substance itself. Instead, the issue is rooted in a destructive self-loathing and the need to numb human feelings that are overwhelming to process.
Chasing a Flawed Sun is raw, sharp, and honest in its delivery. McGee does not hesitate when retelling life changing events. The text is well edited and explicit in addressing profanity and sexually suggestive content. While this read is incredibly captivating, it is at times emotionally exhausting throughout the author's numerous attempts at getting clean. The reader is on a never-ending roller coaster ride as McGee commits half-halfheartedly to getting clean, only to find him back on the streets shortly after, falling into the same bad habits.
Eventually, McGee is faced with two daunting choices; to complete a rehabilitation program, or to face a lengthy prison sentence. Through one of many strokes of luck, McGee is granted one final opportunity to go to rehab. His passion for reading, spirituality, and his newfound faith in God that pulls him out of the depths of addiction once and for all. The story concludes with a glimmering sense of hope and gratitude as McGee declares his newfound passions and lust for life. However, McGee reminds the reader that he is a minority as he states the devastating statistics of drug addiction and alcoholism.
When asked how one should get clean, the author is at a loss for words because the success rate is incredibly slim, and everyone's story is unique. McGee's story is no exception to this statement. The potency and harsh realities makes this a life-changing read. I recommend Chasing a Flawed Sun to the readers who are fascinated by psychology and intense non-fiction. Ultimately, these readers will find a sense of reward when they understand how heroin ultimately saved the author's life. I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4.
******
Chasing A Flawed Sun
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Daniel McGee's Chasing a Flawed Sun is a compelling autobiographical tale of the author's long, gruesome struggle with heroin addiction. Set in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, McGee pulls the reader into the mind of a heroin addict who is constantly on edge to get his next fix, in order to postpone the inevitable "dope sickness". Temptation is everywhere, and McGee demonstrates feelings of frustration and regret with his simple yet empty existence. However, this alone is never enough for him to stay clean, and he frequently falls victim to that moment of weakness. The time frame of the story is set in the 1990's, when Baltimore was known as "the heroin capital of America". McGee traces back his roots and recognizes when and how he got involved in the wrong crowd in middle school. A stable family life, a love for poetry and literature, and compassion for animals was not enough to protect a young McGee from the dangerous allure of alcohol, drugs, and violence. The author longed to suppress his softer, more feminine qualities and adopted a tough, intimidating persona. Alcohol was his gateway drug, and it did not take McGee long before he began using cocaine and eventually heroin.
McGee's journey is one of substance abuse, betrayal, lies and theft that is driven by the dark corners of an addict's mind. "Rock bottom" seams limitless to McGee while he is actively a slave to heroin. Time and time again he hurts his family, breaks the law, and finds himself in and out of both jail and rehab. Nonetheless, the author possesses a stark self-awareness that provokes empathy from the reader, claiming that "heroin saved his life". McGee's portrayal of addiction is beyond the substance itself. Instead, the issue is rooted in a destructive self-loathing and the need to numb human feelings that are overwhelming to process.
Chasing a Flawed Sun is raw, sharp, and honest in its delivery. McGee does not hesitate when retelling life changing events. The text is well edited and explicit in addressing profanity and sexually suggestive content. While this read is incredibly captivating, it is at times emotionally exhausting throughout the author's numerous attempts at getting clean. The reader is on a never-ending roller coaster ride as McGee commits half-halfheartedly to getting clean, only to find him back on the streets shortly after, falling into the same bad habits.
Eventually, McGee is faced with two daunting choices; to complete a rehabilitation program, or to face a lengthy prison sentence. Through one of many strokes of luck, McGee is granted one final opportunity to go to rehab. His passion for reading, spirituality, and his newfound faith in God that pulls him out of the depths of addiction once and for all. The story concludes with a glimmering sense of hope and gratitude as McGee declares his newfound passions and lust for life. However, McGee reminds the reader that he is a minority as he states the devastating statistics of drug addiction and alcoholism.
When asked how one should get clean, the author is at a loss for words because the success rate is incredibly slim, and everyone's story is unique. McGee's story is no exception to this statement. The potency and harsh realities makes this a life-changing read. I recommend Chasing a Flawed Sun to the readers who are fascinated by psychology and intense non-fiction. Ultimately, these readers will find a sense of reward when they understand how heroin ultimately saved the author's life. I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4.
******
Chasing A Flawed Sun
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Chasing A Flawed Sun by Daniel McGhee
