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Everything I Never Wanted to Be: a memoir of alcoholism and addiction, faith and family, hope and humor Review

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Everything I Never Wanted to Be: a memoir of alcoholism and addiction, faith and family, hope and humor Overview

4.06 Stars, 34 reviews, 117 ratings on Goodreads

Everything I Never Wanted to Be by Dina Kucera is the true story of a family's battle with alcoholism and drug addiction. Dina's grandparents were alcoholics, her father was an alcoholic, she is an alcoholic and pill addict, and all three of her daughters struggle with alcohol and drug addiction--including her youngest daughter, who started using heroin at age fourteen.

Dina's household also includes her husband and his unemployed identical twin; a mother who has Parkinson's Disease; a grandson who has cerebral palsy; and other people who drift in and out of the household depending on their employment situation or rehab status.

On top of all that, Dina is trying to make it as a stand-up comic and author so she can quit her crummy job as a grocery store clerk. Through it all, Dina does her best to hold her family together, keep her faith, and maintain her sense of humor.

As you might imagine, a story filled with alcoholics and drug addicts includes a number of horrific events. But in the end, Everything I Never Wanted to Be is an uplifting story that contains valuable lessons for parents and teens alike, and a strong message about the need to address the epidemic of teen drug addiction in our nation. It's a book that can change behavior and save lives--and make you laugh along the way.

"A life-changing experience. It will inspire you never to give up." -- Madeline Sharples, author of Leaving the Hall Light On

"How come people who have experienced such trauma write so well? Everything I Never Wanted To Be is so raw and funny that it almost makes me want to have horrible things happen to me so my writing will improve. Until I can orchestrate that, I can enjoy reading about Dina Kucera's horrible life." -- Joel Stein, Time Magazine columnist, author of Man Made: A Stupid Quest for Masculinity

"This book will appeal to people who have suffered from a family member who is hooked on illegal drugs or to a drug-dependent person who has compassion for his family's hardships caused by his addiction. The book tells the story of the author who has been dealing with addiction along with her family members. This is an uplifting story that shows a brighter side is coming provided that an addict has the will to change." -- RehabAlert.com, "Top 50 Drug Rehab Books"

"I started reading Everything I Never Wanted to Be and couldn't put it down. It is terrific! It is a very visceral description of the lives of the author and her family, full of side-busting humor and moments of incredible drama and emotion. I don't think there is anything like it in this genre. It deserves the attention of reviewers and the media, and I can see it becoming a hilarious movie in the vein of 'The Hangover' or the original 'Death at a Funeral.'" - Mark Shelmerdine, CEO, Jeffers Press

"In this day of whiny chick lit, this book is a breath of fresh air. It is a lesson in accepting and appreciating what life throws at you." - Valorie Hart, visualvamp.blogspot.com