An addiction memoir with a lightness to it – and the author talks with me about The Woefield Poultry Collective.
Nice Recovery
by Susan Juby
Viking
ISBN: 978 0 670 06917 0
Audience: Teens and adults
YA author Susan Juby came out with something a little different this year – aimed at teens and adults alike, she has written about her addiction and recovery as a very young woman. It seems like harder material than her usual lighter, funnier fare – but her writing is extremely readable, and her comic voice shines through in moments of laugh-out-loud funny, even as she talks about some painful moments.
It turns out that being painfully socially awkward, Juby found as a young teen that joining the “bad news” clique and earning a reputation as a crazy drinker got her through a lot, or at least insulated her for short times from her not-so-social self. The problems came when she got a little older and discovered that her coping mechanism was in fact way out of her control. From there on in, she starts talking about the road to recovery, with its fits and starts, and a frank discussion of what was hard and what kept her going, the things that helped, and the relapses that didn’t. The book finishes with some very good advice about the merits and drawbacks of different programmes and forms of rehab, as well as some things to consider.
The book is fascinating for someone who has not been part of that world – I was honestly considering going to an AA meeting just to find out more about what it was all about, as she suggests, because she draws you in. her deft comic touch lightens the material in places, and it is clear that although this was not an easy road, she does not take herself seriously, even though she is serious about maintaining sobriety and helping others who might need to follow the same path to recovery. It’s a nice balance that she strikes there, providing strong encouragement, advice, and support, without ever being preachy or judgmental. Instead, she opens up her experience and motivations and talks honestly about it in the light, offhand way of someone who has been able to move onward. While I’ve never really been drawn to a so-called ‘addiction memoir” before, I really recommend this to teens and adults alike as a good read that brings with it a whole new perspective.
Also available in ebook.
And now… I get to revisit Woefield Farm, this time with Ms. Juby in tow, virtually, at least!
Here’s what she told me about writing it:
Can you tell me about the inspiration for this novel and its multiple perspectives?
Woefield,
like most of my books, was inspired by my own unfulfilled desires. In
this case, my desire to become a self-sustaining farmer-type. I became
swept up in the grow your own food movement (just in case end times
come/peak oil arrives/Rapture happens etc.) Unfortunately, I am not good
at gardening and particularly unskilled at growing food. I’ve decided
that in the event of a societal meltdown, my husband and I will have to
become bandits or just leech off more competent people. We are
practicing both skills sets right now. In the meantime, I thought it
would be fun to write a book about a young woman who inherits a farm and
tries to make a go of it even though she has no skills and no money. I
gave her much more energy and positivity than I have ever possessed in
order to give her a fighting chance.
As for the multiple first person perspectives, I love creating new voices and I was inspired by Nick Hornby‘s handling of four first person voices in A Long Way Down. I also loved Abbi Bardi’s The Book of Fred, which is another book with excellent multiple first person narration.
The tone, the sense of humour, the format – this reminded me of a mockumentary like Christopher Guest
might make. After bringing “Alice, I Think” to life on TV, would you
see turning this into a movie? (I would totally see that, for the
record.)
Ah, thank you! From your blog to a producer’s ear! I agree this would
make a very fun ensemble piece. There are lots of fabulous roles here.
The characters here are so distinctive and their different viewpoints
ring so true. (Earl reminds me of my great-grandfather, who also worked a
farm and never wasted a word.) How did you go about finding the right
voice for each of them?
Prudence was inspired by Flora Post from Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons.
Flora is the single least neurotic lead character I’ve ever
encountered. She’s astoundingly practical and efficient and she wastes
no time in whipping everyone and everything into shape. I wondered what
she’d look like in our contemporary world. The result is Prudence, who
is less competent and more flawed, but equally indomitable.
Earl
was inspired by a biography I read about Bill Munroe, the founder of
modern bluegrass. Bill Munroe had a less successful brother and
imagining what that looked like gave me Earl. I’ve also known a few
taciturn older men and enjoyed the few things they did say mightily.
Seth
is a composite of many bloggers that I’ve read, particularly those that
are able to make subjects and people that are not that interesting to
me, fascinating through a combination of enthusiasm and writing style.
Was writing for adults any different from writing for teens? Are you
aware of your intended audience, or is telling a good story just telling
a good story, no matter who will read it?
My agent was quite involved in the developmental process for this book.
She read it many times and pushed me to get the voices right. The main
difference is that the pov characters are not teens: they are adults and
one child. I had to tinker to get their voices to sound authentic.
You seem to be exploring some new territory, with your memoir and then
an adult novel. Are there any other new audiences or genres you want to
try your hand at?
I love crime and mystery novels and would love to write one of those. I’m also at work on a sci-fi story. God help us all.
I loved your interview, Alice! Good stuff!!