Review of Chasing A Flawed Sun
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Review of Chasing A Flawed Sun
[Following is a volunteer review of "Chasing A Flawed Sun" by Daniel McGhee.]
An alcoholic, a thief, a drug dealer, a so-called junkie, a borderline prostitute, and a homeless person walk into... Oh, wait, this is not a joke; it's Daniel McGhee's life. On top of that, he has been in and out of treatment and detention facilities. After all of that, he was able to make it out alive and build a new life. But when he is asked, "How did you do it?", he realises that the answer is not simple. To try and help the next person, though, he offers his story.
Chasing A Flawed Sun is an autobiography in which Daniel McGhee recalls and details his journey into, through, and out of addiction. It is a heart-wrenching story that goes from childhood into adulthood. The book is divided into the different seasons of the year and, in these sections, we get to see how McGhee chases warmth. The book not only details the events that took place but also gives us a glimpse into his state of mind in those instances.
In the beginning, the story felt a little jumbled up. As much as I did not expect a chronological tale, I did hope for contextualisation so that I can piece the events together. Considering the fact that the story is quite fast-paced, such details are essential for perspective and understanding, because some facts become distorted without that critical element. But this only happened at the beginning so it is not worth bothering yourself about.
The book is a raw read. The vulnerability and intimacy in it is its most powerful weapon. I found myself going through all kinds of emotions: excitement, disappointment, disgust, and anger. Although the book is from McGhee's perspective, he reveals enough of the other people involved to make you see things from their perspective as well. The result is that you're not only walking this journey in his shoes but sometimes as a parent, a friend, or a stranger that extended him some kindness.
Addicts of different kinds might benefit from this book as McGhee does share enough to pick what would work for you, and also open one's eyes to how bottomless "rock bottom" can be if one stays on their destructive path. To those whose lives cross with or are affected by the lives addicts lead (e.g. loved ones, rehab cousellors, legal and medical professionals), reading this can help shed some light on how they can be of impactful and, possibly, life-changing help.
If I could, I would give all of the available stars despite my discomfort with some of the motifs of the book. I cannot give it all of the stars because of its numerous errors. The errors are not significant enough to make it difficult to enjoy or understand what you are reading, so do not allow that to put you off. Outside of that small hiccup, the story is impressive and written in a way that I believe makes it worth the read. As a result, I give it a rating of 3 out of 4 stars.
******
Chasing A Flawed Sun
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
An alcoholic, a thief, a drug dealer, a so-called junkie, a borderline prostitute, and a homeless person walk into... Oh, wait, this is not a joke; it's Daniel McGhee's life. On top of that, he has been in and out of treatment and detention facilities. After all of that, he was able to make it out alive and build a new life. But when he is asked, "How did you do it?", he realises that the answer is not simple. To try and help the next person, though, he offers his story.
Chasing A Flawed Sun is an autobiography in which Daniel McGhee recalls and details his journey into, through, and out of addiction. It is a heart-wrenching story that goes from childhood into adulthood. The book is divided into the different seasons of the year and, in these sections, we get to see how McGhee chases warmth. The book not only details the events that took place but also gives us a glimpse into his state of mind in those instances.
In the beginning, the story felt a little jumbled up. As much as I did not expect a chronological tale, I did hope for contextualisation so that I can piece the events together. Considering the fact that the story is quite fast-paced, such details are essential for perspective and understanding, because some facts become distorted without that critical element. But this only happened at the beginning so it is not worth bothering yourself about.
The book is a raw read. The vulnerability and intimacy in it is its most powerful weapon. I found myself going through all kinds of emotions: excitement, disappointment, disgust, and anger. Although the book is from McGhee's perspective, he reveals enough of the other people involved to make you see things from their perspective as well. The result is that you're not only walking this journey in his shoes but sometimes as a parent, a friend, or a stranger that extended him some kindness.
Addicts of different kinds might benefit from this book as McGhee does share enough to pick what would work for you, and also open one's eyes to how bottomless "rock bottom" can be if one stays on their destructive path. To those whose lives cross with or are affected by the lives addicts lead (e.g. loved ones, rehab cousellors, legal and medical professionals), reading this can help shed some light on how they can be of impactful and, possibly, life-changing help.
If I could, I would give all of the available stars despite my discomfort with some of the motifs of the book. I cannot give it all of the stars because of its numerous errors. The errors are not significant enough to make it difficult to enjoy or understand what you are reading, so do not allow that to put you off. Outside of that small hiccup, the story is impressive and written in a way that I believe makes it worth the read. As a result, I give it a rating of 3 out of 4 stars.
******
Chasing A Flawed Sun
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Intense Reality of Eternity by John Carpenter
