Lit

A Memoir

By: Mary Karr

Narrated by: Mary Karr

Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Lit follows Mary Karr's descent into the inferno of alcoholism and madness - and her astonishing resurrection. Karr's longing for a solid family seems secure when her marriage to a handsome, Shakespeare-quoting poet produces a son they adore. But she can't outrun her apocalyptic past. She drinks herself into the same numbness that nearly devoured her charismatic but troubled mother, reaching the brink of suicide. A hair-raising stint in "The Mental Marriott" awakens her to the possibility of joy, and leads her to an unlikely faith.

Lit is about getting drunk and getting sober; becoming a mother by letting go of a mother; learning to write by learning to live. It is a truly electrifying story of how to grow up - as only Mary Karr can tell it.

©2009 Mary Karr (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Astonishing....One of the most dazzling and moving memoirs to come along in years." (Michiko Kakutani, New York Times)

Poet tells great story . . .

Where does Lit rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

mid-majors

Who was your favorite character and why?

her husband--she's very nice about it but he's obviously a tool

Which scene was your favorite?

first visit with the mother in law

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

sort of

I'd like to grab some coffee with Mary Karr and Jesus

I so enjoyed this memoir, and Ms. Kate's narration made it particularly powerful. The message of struggle and redemption rings genuine and true.

Punkrawkgrl

Wonderfully written. Love the narration. Good story. Well rounded. Poetry throughout. Great! Hope her other works are just as good.

Finally! One for the "Win" column

I have made some really poor choices since joining the huge club of audiophiles. I've downloaded some real stinkers and mediocre titles that made me groan with regret within the first 3 chapters - then force myself to listen to the rest either because I wanted to punish myself or I wanted to hold out hope that it would get better if I just kept going. This book goes in the "win" column - fantastic flow and descriptive enough to really take hold of the imagination without going overboard. The last 4 chapters fell out of the groove a bit - but that doesn't cancel out the enjoyment I experienced listening to the rest. The language is sharp and shocking in some sections - which I really appreciate because it's real and I'm no stranger to sarcasm, satire, and cynical rants - I guffawed glee several times. Thank you Mary Karr - you freakin' rule

great follow up memoir!

The follow up to The Liars' Club is just as brilliant and well-crafted as the original. Karr's overall life and perspective are interesting, but it is her track to sobriety that really makes the book. While she does include a few scenes of the road to the bottom and what it looks like down there, she doesn't dwell too much on the, "and then I was so drunk or wanted booze so bad that I did horrible things T, U, V, W, X, Y, & Z." The focus ends up being more on how she got sober, which is refreshing and potentially useful. Not everyone is going to be a convert, but reading this could help some people. Even if you don't have drink/sobriety issues, it's still a good read & the author is in perfect voice in this edition.

Incredible

I kept on shuddering as she described things in metaphors both obvious and without pretension, at the same time so perfect they seemed magical. She illustrates what it's like to surface from skepticism... A wobbly journey filled with every emotion, tampered from too much sweetness or platitudes with her extraordinary anger which is amusing and keeps things sharp. When earnest affection arose, it was surprising and and so true it made my knees weak.

Now I Know

why do many people have recommended this book. Her control of the Texas language and ability to describe emotions is phenomenal. I've listened to it twice already.

amazing

this book is absolutely amazing. mary karr is phenomenal both in writing and in the way she tells her story.

Beautiful Story

Absolutely beautiful story, her story and her journey are so true to life. Karr's story resonates with our deepest thoughts and emotions.

Mary’s vulnerability and courage

Thank you for sharing your story, Mary. For those struggling with alcohol or wanting inspiration on the path to sobriety, Mary’s open and honest memoir is encouraging.