How to Murder Your Life: A Memoir Hardcover – January 31, 2017

Cat Marbella is a gifted, humorous storyteller who makes it entertaining to read about her tragic drug addiction. Her stories are shocking, funny and sad and oh so readable.

I apologize in advance for the rambling "review" here.I read this in an 8 hour sitting. By the time I was done I looked at my phone and it was 3:30 a.m. Chapter after chapter I also felt numb and speedy and like I needed (not wanted) to keep going.I followed Cat's writing on XOJane and Vice, and read all of the explosive and provocative things she said to reporters about body image and her writing, and her thoughts on the media in the early 2000s, as well as all the backlash following those interviews. That she was being enabled, that she was the poster girl for rich, white pretty privilege. Other people have real problems, get over her already. Reading what was actually happening in her life when she left the office and went home after the after-after parties, I felt gives a grotesque, funhouse mirror quality to those depictions that was fascinating.I felt most of the book was absolutely brilliant and beautiful and sad. She wrote about her sister and her family in such a touching yet brutal way, and her darkest moments of being pulled into her addiction and eating disorder left me feeling empty and punched in the gut. I wanted to kick and vomit all over some of the characters surrounding her and using her; they were that terrible and recognizable.What didn't work for me was some of the brand name drops as metaphors that might have been meant to sound ironic or funny, but just seemed too easy and sort of fell flat for me. "I melted like a Diptyque candle" is one example of this. I love Diptyque and know what she means. One or two I could have skimmed over, but there were a lot. I get the reason behind it. I think it was meant to drive home the rabid consumerism and superficiality of her lifestyle at the time, but I would have avoided going that route. Didn't ruin it for me, but as Tamra Judge of the Real Housewives of Orange County would say, "That's. My. OPINION!!!"Anyway, this is a fast read, especially if you were up on the burgeoning blogger Gawker style scene of the early 2000s, or if you're someone who might have felt, watching the coverage of her unfold that at one point or another, "there but for the grace of God go I."

I am an addict for memoirs.I feel this particular one gives an accurate, candid portrayal of the spiral (or headfirst nose dive) into addiction- the descent itself is overall relevant for anyone who's been within the sinkhole of addiction, as well as for the bystanders (ie: loved ones) peering down from the perimeter.However, what separates this memoir from others I've read about addiction is the delivery. Marnel frequently employs humor to convey her experience, yet not to the extent I felt she doesn't take it seriously or isn't aware of the severity of situation- certain passages definitely convey the depths of her lack of control and self love, but in padding them with humor, I personally feel it was easier to take the journey with her; she did some crazy things, and I feel if she hadn't utilized some humor, the shock of these things may have hindered my capability to truly follow and absorb the story as a whole, if that makes sense?Additionally, although addiction itself doesn't discriminate based on class (addicts all seem to possess a degree of self hatred and tendency to burn bridges, etc.), I do feel Marnel's situation differs greatly from the addicts I've known or see begging for change in my neighborhood; in terms of money, support, and resources she had far more enabling factors than the average person, and ultimately, in my opinion, this prevented her from "hitting that wall" (the "wake up, shape up" wall, if you will) sooner than someone lacking these factors would.I don't want to be a spoil sally, but I will say I was initially disappointed/perturbed that some "loose ends" weren't perfectly tied up tight by the end of the book. Yet, in retrospect I've come to kinda appreciate that- it confirms her honesty, not only with the reader, but with herself, and I think what's important is the plethora of ends she DID tie up, and the fact she seems to finally be fully aware and without denial regarding the remaining loose ones. Also, it's a memoir about addiction, not a Disney movie- I think there are always loose ends with addiction in some way, but it's a lifelong effort to ensure one doesn't untie those ends completely.

Muy buen libro

I chose to read this book, because I wanted to have an insight in addict people life. At university (Msc. Neuroscience), we learned about the all the reward system, molecular background of the addiction, basically from the scientific point. Cat showed, however, the real life with emotions, ups and downs. Furthermore, the book highlighted a lot of problems in society and the system. The book was well written, fun to read, more like a blog.. Thumbs up, Cat!

Impossível deixar o livro de lado até terminar, a autora é divertida e autêntica. Sem dúvidas, a melhor autobiografia que já li, super recomendo.

This book just seemed to be an opportunity for Cat Marnell to talk about how much of a great drug addict she was and how she managed to manipulate everyone surrounding her. Her writing style is very captivating and descriptive (which you would hope for from a writer) but it just didn't seem to actually go anywhere.

Of course this is not for everyone, but I loved it. Loved her style of writing as well as the story.