Breaking Night

A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard

By: Liz Murray

Narrated by: Liz Murray

Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Liz Murray was born to loving but drug-addicted parents in the Bronx. In school she was taunted for her dirty clothing and lice-infested hair, eventually skipping so many classes that she was put into a girls' home. At age 15, Liz found herself on the streets when her family finally unraveled. She learned to scrape by, foraging for food and riding subways all night to have a warm place to sleep.

When Liz's mother died of AIDS, she decided to take control of her own destiny and go back to high school, often completing her assignments in the hallways and subway stations where she slept. Liz squeezed four years of high school into two, while homeless; won a New York Times scholarship; and made it into the Ivy League.

Breaking Night is an unforgettable and beautifully written story of one woman's indomitable spirit to survive and prevail, against all odds.

©2010 Liz Murray (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Murray tells an engaging, powerfully motivational story." ( Publishers Weekly)

Surprising Upbeat Considering the Subject Matter

What did you love best about Breaking Night?

The author writes with beautiful insight and calm.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Breaking Night?

The raw honesty with which the author writes about the class divide and how people treat one another. As she went from one school interview to another Murray tasteful depicts the cool demeanor with which she was met.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This was a great book that I would have loved to have listen too in one sitting. Unfortunately, I was not able to take the time to listen to it all at once. The author's reading provided an ideal backdrop for returning to the story time and time again. It had the feel of meeting a good friend for coffee and conversation each time I returned to listen.

Amazing story.

This story made me rethink my own story and created more gratitude for the life I've been blessed with. One of the reviews I read, however, said this was a great family read. I definitely don't think it's for everyone. Younger children will probably find the story disturbing.

Inspiring, a beautiful story

I will never forget this story, how I laughed, cried, and what I took away at the end: compassion for others, more than before. Liz is an inspiration, and I will have my kids read or listen to her story when they are old enough to get this. I want more! Loved it.

Do not miss this one!!

I loved this book!! If you care about young people at all, you should listen to this!! Incredibly inspiring, well written and well read by the author!!

A must listen!!

I love listening to books read by the author. Liz brought to life her world making it tangible. Her honesty is refreshing while her strength and resilience is beyond measure. This book is well written and a total “page turner”. A must listen for those who want to be inspired no matter what walk of life you come from!

Inspiring. From Impossible conditions to Succes.

Liz Murray is amazing, and at times seems even a bit too perfect to be true. She was basically an adult starting at the age of 5, maybe earlier. Growing up with two parents that are drug addicts, that care for nothing but their drugs, injecting straight in front of her eyes. Starting a very young age she was the one caring for them, instead of them caring for her. She was worried sick and up all night, every night, to see that they are coming back in one piece. She had parents that did not take care of food, housing, or even showers for their little ones. Parents that take their kids with them to buy drugs, and that steal their children's money to buy some more drugs. Liz was lucky, but moreover she was brilliant, and although she didn't attend school whatsoever (and her parents didn't care for that too), when she made the decision, she got all the way to Harvard. Cheers for that.
Liz describes in details her growing up in that terrible house, with many incidents that leave the reader without words. And then growing out of that house, being homeless, but somehow manage. And with gratefulness to people that helped along the way, and you can imagine that it is not always easy to find such people.

This story is a bit different than The Glass Castle, Liz didn't have cheerful parents that were irresponsible. The Walls' parents were more functional to some extent (hard to imagine, I know). Her parents were even more busy and not present, even when they were there. The book is also not like Angela's Ashes, where the parents were even more ignorant and their environment in Ireland was worse. Liz's parents had better chance in life, and they chose not to use it. It is almost a miracle that Liz and her sisters did not become drug addicts themselves, growing up with all the open veins and aluminum foils around them. It is a bigger miracle that they succeeded to get out of these impossible conditions. Listening to the audio book, read by Liz herself, demonstrates further how sharp and eloquent she is. Salute!

Worth finishing!

This book was hard for me to listen to at times but I couldn’t stop. We don’t want to think about the kids out there who are having to deal with grown up situations. But they are there. She tells her story and I found myself sad and wanting to help her...then I was moved by her accomplishments. Wish the resources that were available to her there were available everywhere. Inspiring young woman who over fame more than most.

I couldn't put it down

What made the experience of listening to Breaking Night the most enjoyable?

Liz Murray's story is amazing. She narrates this herself and has an ability to tell her story that makes you feel as if you lived it with her. She has no anger or animosity for how she was neglected and yet through it all she finds a way to help others. Very inspirting story!

What other book might you compare Breaking Night to and why?

The Wild. While very different stories, both women seem to discover themselves and they do it for themself.

Which scene was your favorite?

Hard to pick my favorite scene as they were all so fantastic but I think when she received the scholarship was probably the most emotional one for me. I actually felt proud of her yet I never met her!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes! But it is much too long unless you are on a long trip. I listened to it a lot while in my car commuting to work or running. I found myself running further actually so I could keep listening! Thanks Liz for making my run easier and more enjoyable!

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this book for anyone. It is so inspiring and makes you understand that nothing is impossible. I didn't want it to end. I'd love it if she wrote a sequel as her life now seems to be about helping others and I'd like to hear about her continued journey.

a must read amazing hearing the voice loved it

I had to read this book for english and I am so happy I did what an amazing novel

Heartbreaking and wonderful

This memoir is now definitely a favorite. What strength and motivation and courage Liz had and continues to have. It was so incredibly difficult to try to fathom what she went through but she recreates it so well and with such honesty that not only do you have no problem imagining her story but are transported right there with her. It really was an emotional rollercoaster, as they say. And her writing! It was clear and flowing, filled with emotion, feeling. Wonderful!!