The End of the Rainbow

I read this book when I was about 13 (I'm now in my early-50s), when it arrived as a selection in my parent's Book of the Month Club. I recall it being a great help to me at that young age. Though the book is about pill addiction specifically, and it is a candid, honest memoir. Back then it was quite a stigma to be an addict, so having an account of a successful and "functioning" person share their struggle was very eye-opening. At that young age I began realizing that one of my parents was an alcoholic and both my parents were in denial over it. It was a first step in what became a very long and bumpy personal road to recovery for co-dependency and my own tendency to self-medicate. A very informative and honest account of struggling and overcoming addiction. If you are interested in accounts of addiction recovery, this is a highly recommended book.

Since Mary Ann is my sister, I may be at least _SLIGHTLY_ prejudiced. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel that it's by far her best. Her other books give you information, and lots of it, but you don't get to see much of the person giving it. In "Rainbow," Mary Ann has the considerable courage to let you see inside her world, with all the ugly as well as beautiful things that are inside all of our lives. It took great courage to write this book. Nice going, Sis.

I would like to e-mail the author - I read the book in 1981 and have started a PA (pills anonymous) meeting in the Chicago area. I would like her to know how she was a positive influence in my life. I would also like to thank her for her honesty and gripping tale.

For anyone who has been an alcholic or drug addict or those who are friends and relatives of people with this disease, this book is a wonderful source of wisdom from a recovering addict.The book is divided into two parts: The first part discusses Mary Ann's disease and how innocently it began, masking pain with pills and then masking the side effects of the pills with even more pills. As the reader, you keep wondering why she doesn't just stop taking them. In the second part you learn about how the disease of alcohol and drug addiction eliminates any rational thinking skills she or any other addict may have had before taking drugs and how friends and well-meaning people can actually enable the disease.As the friend and relative of addicts, I found the book soothing and a valuable instrument I could share with recovering addicts and those that haven't yet admitted they have a problem. It's a delightful story of one woman's courage not only to fight her disease but also to share her pearls of wisdom with others heading down the same path.A must read for parents, clergy, teenagers, atheletes, and those who deal with a lot of stress daily.Thanks Mary Ann!