Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget

Sarah Hepola

Jun 2015 · Sold by Grand Central Publishing

About this ebook

A memoir of unblinking honesty and poignant, laugh-out-loud humor, Blackout is the story of a woman stumbling into a new kind of adventure -- the sober life she never wanted.
For Sarah Hepola, alcohol was "the gasoline of all adventure." She spent her evenings at cocktail parties and dark bars where she proudly stayed till last call. Drinking felt like freedom, part of her birthright as a strong, enlightened twenty-first-century woman.

But there was a price. She often blacked out, waking up with a blank space where four hours should be. Mornings became detective work on her own life. What did I say last night? How did I meet that guy? She apologized for things she couldn't remember doing, as though she were cleaning up after an evil twin. Publicly, she covered her shame with self-deprecating jokes, and her career flourished, but as the blackouts accumulated, she could no longer avoid a sinking truth. The fuel she thought she needed was draining her spirit instead.

A memoir of unblinking honesty and poignant, laugh-out-loud humor, Blackout is the story of a woman stumbling into a new kind of adventure -- the sober life she never wanted. Shining a light into her blackouts, she discovers the person she buried, as well as the confidence, intimacy, and creativity she once believed came only from a bottle. Her tale will resonate with anyone who has been forced to reinvent or struggled in the face of necessary change. It's about giving up the thing you cherish most -- but getting yourself back in return.

Ratings and reviews

I think overall this memoir had some great voice and was easy to follow. She brings a lot of her experiences into honest light. I understand this is a memoir, but I couldn't help but feel like the book ended on a really weak, back door bragging note. It felt like the ending was almost rushed to the point that I turned the last page not knowing that was the end. She should be very proud considering everything she overcame, but I wished she emphasized and appreciated her support systems and resources more.

Interesting read I could never figure out those that would drink to the point of blacking out which is why I read this book. In part too to understand some who have passed through my own life who were heavy drinkers. Where it fell short for me was explaining the depths for the author to make her want to change her life around. I know any addiction is hard to overcome I would have liked to have read how she managed to succeed as you know it could not have been easy yet she does not go into much detail on that part of her story in overcoming her addiction.

Deeply rooted in honesty and self reflection. It helped me understand alcoholism from a female perspective. It taught me so I could better understand yet was entertaining and intriguing.

About the author

Sarah Hepola's writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, New Republic, Glamour, Slate, Guardian, and Salon, where she was a longtime editor. She has worked as a music critic, travel writer, film reviewer, sex blogger, beauty columnist, and high school English teacher. She lives in Dallas.