The Story of Junk

If you've ever wanted an honest account of the drug underworld, this is it. Drug trafficing, selling, and using in New York City in the early 80's as seen through sarcastic eyes; I felt I was transporte and couldn't put it down. Real people, real lives, it will shock you to see bits of yourself in each character. The human conncetion is always there, making one question the public disgust for addicts and truly begin to see them as no different as ourselves.

I wasn't expecting to be impressed by the so-already-told story of a junky in the 80's, thus it struck me fully by surprise when I found myself so immersed into Yablonsky's words that life around me seemed to pause during the mere two days it took me to finish it. She succeds at getting the reader in the skin of every one of her characters.

What a wonderful novel this is. It's the spellbinding and perfectly truthful story of a particular place and a particular time, when perspective was short and drugs weren't evil. Yablonsky's got a ruthless memory and a cutting deadpan style.

I recommend this novel -- it's very interesting. I know people who are caught up in drugs and are not evil people. For some, it's not about "just say no" or "just walk away" - and the author makes that clear. This book made me realize that junkies can and want to see the light at the end of the tunnel but find it so hard to get there. Or sometimes can't get there, not yet. I was very interested to find out what was going to happen to these folks and I laughed but I also felt very sad for them. At first, drugs do make you feel good, no doubt, and the writer is honest about this. Using drugs is fun at first - a lot of fun. But then you go down, and you stay down for a long, long time (physcially, mentally, financially, etc.) This book told a story that a lot of people will find hard to understand. I thought Linda Yablonsky did a great job at telling a true story. Buy it, you won't regret it.

Linda Yablonsky brought me intoa world i have always wonderd about. I savored it page by page, and i want more. I hope there is more to this than what i have read. I thank you Linda..