Tag: memoirs

Is She or Isn’t She a Sociopath? My Thoughts on Patric Gagne’s ‘Memoir’

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies7 Comments

I’ve watched enough true crime to know that some people are wired to do very, VERY bad things—like torturing a small animal, then casually enjoying a happy meal. The fact that these humans exist creeps me out, and allegedly Patric Gagne is one of them. And boy is she happy to tell you all about it in her book, aptly titled “Sociopath.”

Before we get into this, I’ll warn you that we’re dealing with a highly unreliable narrator who wears her “HELLO! I’M A SOCIOPATH!” name badge with a bizarre sense of pride. This “memoir” was not what I expected, mainly because her stories just don’t add up, thus making me question whether she’s actually a sociopath. I have theories (*cough* narcissist *cough*), but I’ll leave it at that.
Here are my questions. If you have any insight, I would love to hear your thoughts!

Why is She So Proud of This Label? If I took a shot of whiskey every time she said, “I’m a sociopath,” I’d be wasted before reaching the second chapter. It baffles me how someone could easily latch onto this highly stigmatized diagnosis because it’s, well, creepy. I’m also baffled at how forthcoming she is with this information—even around her coworkers. Yikes. When she described herself as a “Wednesday Adams” breaking into houses with her pet ferret, things started to get clearer. She likes being different and edgy. Oh, don’t we all.

Does She Really Want to Go to Jail? I found it laughable when this extremely privileged girl claimed she wouldn’t mind going to jail because it would be more freeing. I sure wish she could’ve been caught just once while stealing cars so she could get a taste of that life. Little Miss Thang grew up in luxury, and she was hired at her daddy’s big-time Hollywood record label company without any experience. All this bravado about going to jail is just hilarious. Can someone please call her bluff the next time she breaks into a house?

So, Is She a Sociopath? It’s been fascinating reading the commentary by armchair psychologists in the Goodreads threads, but who am I to judge…or diagnose? However, I do question her motives, one being she’s way too eager to get that sociopath diagnosis, which eventually happens when she convinces her psychologist to administer some sort of test, which I’m sure she answered with a clear agenda. Why is this? Would another diagnosis (like..say..narcissistic personality disorder) be more mundane? Based on my honorary doctorate in forensic psychology (by way of murder podcasts), I know sociopaths just DO NOT CARE about having meaningful relationships. They also don’t give a fig about how they’re being perceived by others unless if there is something to be gained. Patic does, in fact, care. In social settings she is extremely self-conscious about not fitting in, but why? If she feels nothing for others, why does it matter? She expresses her love for her parents, her sister, and even her ferret. She’s also a mother and a wife, claiming she “feels a different type of love.” How does this make sense when you read through the classic symptoms of sociopathy in the DSM-5? Perhaps she’s right that so much is unknown about this diagnosis, but I still question her agenda.

Are These Stories Even True? I have a hard time believing that a 40-something can recant word-for-word conversations from her early childhood days. Some of these stories are so outlandish, they seem more like scenes from a bad Lifetime movie—particularly her altercations with a blackmailing schemer and a toxic coworker. Again, we’re dealing with an unreliable narrator who tells you in the opening chapter that she is manipulative AF, so all bets are off.

Are Her Credentials Legit? I’ll be honest; I haven’t done a deep dive into her academic history, but many others have. For someone who brandishes her Ph.D. title loud and proud on the cover, you’d think she’d talk a bit about her research on…oh, I don’t know…sociopathy??? Seems rather odd that she didn’t go there, but then again, she did confess that she’s a liar and a manipulator.

Overall Thoughts: This was a dark read, but not in a fun way. This felt like a waste of time because I wanted more expert knowledge about the innermost thoughts of a true sociopath. But all I got was a bunch of overindulgent drivel about the trials and tribulations of self-absorbed rich girl who wants SO BADLY to go against the mainstream. I have a hard time understanding how a sociopath can feel immense uncomfortable pressure from apathy. Is this really a thing? I can understand how sociopaths might struggle with isolation, but do they really ruminate about apathy?

Another question is why resort to bad things like stalking people, breaking into houses, and hurting precious kitty cats? Why not do adrenaline-junky stuff like jumping out of airplanes or running ultramarathons? It’s unsettling to think that some people can only get joy from doing dark things. Whether or not Patic is a true sociopath is anyone’s guess, but I am 100% convinced that she is creepy. My advice to anyone is to run far, far away when someone boasts about their dark personality disorder. Even if they’re not speaking the truth, keep running in the opposite direction!

Honey, Do You Need a Ride?: Confessions of a Fat Runner by Jennifer Graham

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn CoziesLeave a comment

13592128I’m not going to sugar coat it for you or myself. I’m fat, and I love to run. When I tell people how much—and how far—I run on a weekly basis, they look at me in disbelief. In fact, a not-so-nice douchebag uncle of mine once said: “Help me understand why you’re running so much and not losing weight.” Why a 280+ sedentary alcoholic didn’t see the irony in this statement is beyond me.

It’s true. I am a walking, talking running contradiction. I’m a size-12ish full-time runner, part-time mountain biker. My thighs cling to each other like long-lost friends reunited. My bazoombas require not one—but two—industrial strength sports bras. To steal of phrase from the author, I am a “walrus in a sea of gazelles” at a marathon expo.

So when I saw this book cover while perusing some inspirational fat-to-fit books for runners, I immediately downloaded it on my e-reader. How could I not read a book about a fellow member of my tribe? In fact, this book proved to be more inspiring than those ubiquitous “running for weight loss” titles that preach the virtues of salad greens and protein shakes.1622853_451708981624574_1813184810_n

The mark of a great memoir is feeling that you’re bonding over time with a really good friend. Jennifer Graham managed to pull this from the get-go when she described the indignities of running with “built-in arm weights” and dealing with dubious massage therapists when requesting the “runners revenge” massage. Chapter by chapter, I truly felt like I was right there beside her as she tried and failed to fight the battle of the bulge while training for races. Boy can I relate! I wanted to cheer for her from the sidelines, to hug her when her ex-husband broke her heart, to take her out for celebratory margaritas when she broke her personal record.

Bgyuw6uCEAAKXesAs with any good friend, it’s impossible to agree on everything. Shoot, my real-life BFF refuses to wear pink for Pete’s sake! So I’m not going to get down on the author too much for her strong opinions about religion and divorce. I’m not even going to hate on her for not being the monstrous ogre that she makes herself out to be in the book. We’re all going to have opposing points of view. If we didn’t, wouldn’t life be rather boring? Whether a 150ish-pound woman of average height is fat or not, who cares? She’s definitely not blessed with the prototypical ectomorph body type that we see in Runner’s World magazine, and for that which I scream: Solidarity Sista!725680-1103-0016s

I should also point out that she beautifully captures how the challenges and pitfalls of competitive running are analogous to life’s obstacles. As a runner, I know exactly how it feels to hit the dreaded “wall,” the point at mile 12 when I feel like curling up into a fetal position and admitting defeat.

To this day, I have not given in to that insatiable urge to quit. I keep running, or shall I say slogging, until I reach that blasted finish line. No matter what, I’m going to break through that wall—in running and in life. It might sound corny, or even trite, but that’s the one life lesson that running has taught me. Never give up without a fight. And if a good samaritan ever offers to give me a ride when it looks like I might pass out on the road, I’ll just dismiss them with a smile and wave. Thanks, Jennifer Graham, for reminding me of how awesome this sport is—and that I’m not the only one out there at the starting line in XL running shorts!

 

Author Q&A: Alyssa Harad on “Coming to My Senses”

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLURZMwMzto

9780670023615_ComingtoMySenses_BOM.inddIsn’t it funny how scents  instantaneously trigger memories from long ago? Just one whiff of Lauren perfume and I’m sucked back to my mother’s bedroom, where I would stealthily sneak around for makeup and Guess jeans. Just the hint of my first boyfriend’s cheap cologne takes me back to those awkward makeout sessions with the Spice Girls singing along in the background. But of all the smells I love most, it’s that musty aroma that instantly takes over my senses when I walk into a library. God I love that smell! It takes me back to my summers in Baytown when my bookworm grandmother used to take us out for our weekly collection of Babysitter’s Club and Sweet Valley High books. Ah the good old days!

So when I found out that Alyssa Harad, author of “Coming to My Senses: A Story of Perfume, Pleasure, and an Unlikely Bride” was stopping by UT for a book event, I took advantage of the opportunity and talked her into doing a little video Q&A. I came across her article in Marie Clare not too long ago and was mesmerized by her evocative descriptions of scents. Although not all of us are big into perfume, I think a lot of women could relate with her story of self-transformation.

Like a splash of White Diamonds, this is some heady, powerful stuff! What’s your favorite scent, and why?

Lindsay Frucci on Writing Strong Women Blog Talk Radio!

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies3 Comments

As I attempt to make good on my new year’s resolutions, I find myself thinking “what would Lindsay Frucci do?” After reading her memoir The Pig and Me, I finally decided to finally get crackin’ on that novel that’s been brewing inside my head for so long. Now that I’m about 20 pages into it, I feel more confident and hopeful about venturing into the world of publishing. If you, like me, need some motivation to pursue your dream, listen to her interview on Sylvia Dickey Smith’s Writing Strong Women radio show!

From Sylvia’s Blog Talk Radio: If you think The Pig and Me is an interesting title of a nonfiction book, wait until you meet the author, Lindsay, Frucci, and hear how she turned an idea into a profitable business against all odds. And if that doesn’t take a strong woman, I don’t know what does. Read her words about being a strong woman:

“I didn’t start out as a strong woman. Quite the opposite. But over time I began to feel a need to stand up for myself, to be heard. I began to believe I had worth beyond what I’d been told – and believed – I had. I began to understand that I was a Strong Woman. The transition began in my late 20’s, but lapsed frequently. When I found my voice in my mid-40’s, I held on to it with every ounce of my being and never let it go.”

For more about the book, read my review here.  Oh and did I mention that Sylvia is also a talented author? Go here for a review of her Third Eye mystery series, and go here for a review of her stand-alone novel A War of Her Own.

Thank you Sylvia for spotlighting this fabulous first-time author. Your radio show rocks!