3 out of 4 stars
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Writing your memoir can be cathartic, but that doesn't always mean it's enjoyable for others to read. You Taste Like Whiskey and Sunshine is a non-fiction book that is as fun to read as it is emotionally restorative for the author to write. At only around 150 pages, it is also a quick and easy read good for a rainy afternoon or short weekend.
Kimberly Love did not have the easiest childhood. Her mother escaped from her biological father when she was only 6 months old; he was physically abusive. A relative of Ms. Love was verbally abusive to her, most likely due to the fact that this relative abhorred her father. Unfortunately, there wasn't much way for Ms. Love to escape this situation, so she had to find ways to deal with it.
She really did not think much of this abuse at the time, but only realized how much it affected her after her divorce. This was when she decided several things. First, was that she should delve into her past and perhaps write a memoir. The second was that she wasn't going to let anyone hold her back from her dreams from here on out.
The stories Ms. Love tells in this book range from downright hilarious to inspirational. I had a hard time choosing just one story that was my favorite to share in my review. In the end, I decided to go with one of the funny stories. The author shares that one night she had a little bit too much to drink. As she was waiting for a bus to come pick her up, a cat just jumped in her arms. Around that time, some friends come by offering to give her a ride home which she accepts. Once home, she climbs from the car and tries to figure out how to sneak past her mother while drunk (and yes, still with the cat.) Unfortunately, she is stopped on the way in the house. Fortunately, her mother is more focused on where this mysterious cat came from than the fact that her daughter is drunk. Ms. Love tries to tell her mother that this poor, lost cat just jumped into her arms, but her mother points out the nice collar with the owner's address. She forces her daughter to call the owner to come pick up her cat that she apparently took from way across town. In the end, the owner is so thankful to get her "wandering" cat back that she gives Ms. Love a $10 reward. I think she got off pretty easy for stealing a cat.
I really enjoyed the fact that there is a little bit for everyone in this memoir. If you like stories that are more humorous in nature, you're covered. If you are looking for inspiration, you'll definitely find it in this book. Even teenagers have something to relate to as the author tells of her dating experiences as well as some interesting moments from high school.
There were a few downfalls, though. First, the author makes some blanket statements toward the beginning of the book that I didn't necessarily agree with. She states that everyone has someone in their lives that tries to tear them down. While that might be true for most people, I think there are people that are surrounded by love and encouragement. However, there's only a couple such statements, and it didn't distract from my enjoyment of the book.
The other problem was the need for another round of editing. There were several instances of missing words as well as changes in tenses in the same paragraph. These, also, were not egregious in any way, but they were noticeable. It would make this book even better if a few changes were made in this area.
Likewise, I feel it necessary to point out that this is more of a collection of stories from the author's life than a sequential telling of the events from childhood to adulthood. Each chapter is one such story, so there is a sense of organization to the novel. However, those that want to know every single detail of the author's life will be disappointed in this memoir.
All in all, I enjoyed these snippets from the author's life. It helped me to get to know her even while not knowing everything about her. Therefore, I rate You Taste Like Whiskey and Sunshine 3 out of 4 stars. Due to the editing issues, I couldn't give it a full rating. However, I would greatly recommend this to those who are looking for the inspiration and humor found in another's life.
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You Taste Like Whiskey and Sunshine
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