Thirst

A Memoir

By: Lisa Fierer

Narrated by: Nina Rolle

Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

On December 6, 1984, 12-year-old Lisa Fierer is called out of class to the principal’s office and told that her mother has been killed and her father arrested for the crime. Over the next 20 years, Lisa battles through school, addiction, relationships, and various forms of self-destruction. Along the way, she learns that loss, violence, and betrayal create a deep desire for something she calls the new "f-word": forgiveness. 

Thirst is about the distance between the lives we are given and the lives we choose. It’s a story about survival, hope, yoga, self-discovery, and the tremendous support of compassionate communities. It touches the part of each of us that longs for the healing power of laughter, the transformative force of forgiveness, and the bravery required to learn to love again.

©2022 Lisa Fierer (P)2022 Lisa Fierer

powerful and poetic memoir

This story of devastation, resilience, and forgiveness is told with beautiful authenticity. The richly descriptive writing had me feeling all the feels and captivated chapter after chapter. There is wisdom in here for anyone on a path of self discovery or forgiveness.

Incredible story with so many life lessons about forgiveness

Thirst is an incredible memoir of tragedy, loss, addiction, recovery, compassion and forgiveness. If this story were fiction it would be unbelievable. I absolutely could not stop listening to this story and finished it all in less than 24 hours. Thank you Lisa for sharing your incredible story with all the emotion and rawness. Your story of resilience is incredibly inspiring.

An Education in the Spirit and Art of Forgiveness

I have yet to have met someone who has not struggled with forgiveness at some point in our lives. In “Thirst” the author tackles this very difficult topic on both sides of the forgiveness coin. Meaning both forgiveness of others and forgiving ourselves. Couple forgiveness and vulnerability and we have an invitation for ultimate connectivity, compassion and kindness. All topics that most find challenging. This author takes on all of these topics by sharing her incredibly personal story. To say that her story is heartfelt would be the ultimate understatement.

Speaking as a blind person who not only listens intently, but also very sensitive to sound and tone. The narrator captures even the most sensitive aspects of this book with such warmth and kindness that at times I forgot that she was not the author.

I will conclude with saying that this book has it all with respect to coping and overcoming life’s greatest challenges. It is never easy to comment on someone’s memoir and yet I feel compelled for all of the reasons shared above. In fact, I found myself going back and re-listening.

Unputdownable Page-Turner!!! I’m buying a copy for everyone, I know!

Thirst: A Memoir by Lisa Fierer is like Tiffany Jenkins’ memoir, High Achiever, meets the gorgeous story telling art of Kristin Hannah. Fierer gives readers a breathtaking page-turner that begins in family secrets until twelve-year-old Lisa is called to the principal’s office and told that her mother has been killed ...and it's her father who is arrested for the crime. Thirst offers a riveting journey toward forgiveness, each chapter ending more shocking and compelling than the last. This unputdownable memoir travels the distance between the life we are given and the life we ultimately choose.
Furthermore, the performance in this audio edition is fantastic! I hope to see it when an Odyssey award!

Totally engrossing and edifying

I wasn’t expecting to be crying big fat tears and laughing out loud within the first chapter! Lisa Feirer is an incredibly agile wordsmith. I’ve learned so much but also been entertained by listening to this superb book. I highly recommend!

Hooked from the get go…

This memoir was beautifully written. It was difficult to read at times, but I appreciated the author’s willingness to allow us to “feel” with her in her journey. My heart would race at times in anticipation of what might happen next. And other times I found tears coming from my eyes - both sad and happy ones. Powerful message from someone who has overcome so much yet bringing light to the hard that comes from domestic violence.

Lisa is an incredible survivor.

What a freaking incredible book. Please listen, read and know…….You are not alone. This book touched my soul.

Incredible story of resilience and self discovery

Lisa’s writing is poetic and visceral. I was mesmerized by her storytelling and her incredible path to self-discovery, healing, and forgiveness. This memoir is devastating and truly beautiful. As a child of domestic violence myself, I found it activating in some areas but overall Lisa’s story was soothing, empowering, and deeply touching. Thank you Lisa for sharing your story and your beautiful gift of writing with us.

Authentic, heart breaking and still uplifting

The author does a beautiful job of telling her story from an authentic, raw and inspiring standpoint. She has been a victim of so much pain and misfortune in her life but she herself never plays the victim or wallows in self pity. Her story is a good reminder that we can all come through our pain and be stronger on the other side.

Vulnerable, Deeply Moving, Inspirational.

Lisa’s book is a powerful memoir that shines a light on the complexity of this human experience and that, with discipline, faith, courage, and community even the most unimaginable pain can be woven into a thread of healing- a sutra. Thank you. A must read.