Sober Stick Figure

April 18, 2016
Writer and comedian Tozer shares the story of her struggle with alcohol in this appealing memoir accompanied by quirky stick-figure illustrations. Raised in Pueblo, Colo., where there’s not much to do but “breed and drink,” Tozer is surrounded by alcoholics—she takes her first sip of beer at age seven, when her uncle offers a swig from his bottle. Though she parties with friends in her teens, she does well in high school and college, where she focuses on academics and sports. Craving adventure, she relocates to New York City in 1999. Soon, Tozer is drinking more and more; an overthinker, she loves the way alcohol makes her “not feel,” boosting her confidence and relaxation, especially when she becomes involved in stand-up comedy. But the addiction also leads to self-hatred, risky behavior, blackouts, hangovers, and unhealthy relationships, and she begins to realize that she has a serious problem. Nevertheless, when her father dies after suffering for years from alcoholism and depression, Tozer begins drinking even more. After a move to L.A. and a chance meeting with a producer who is sober, she seeks help and enters a 12-step program where she finds the support she needs to overcome the disease. Readers may be particularly drawn to Tozer’s raw and surprisingly humorous story of addiction and recovery.

May 1, 2016
A stand-up comedian reclaims her life after three decades of alcohol abuse. Though Los Angeles-based comic and animated sketch writer Tozer's wryly dramatic debut memoir is steeped with snarky one-liners, there is also angst, regret, and reflective relief lurking just behind her wisecracking wit. She writes of growing up in Pueblo, Colorado, a place with little to do but "breed and drink, so that's what everyone does." This sense of boredom was only exacerbated by the family-owned barroom business, alcoholic relatives, and a "working warrior" mother who swiftly divorced Tozer's depressive father. Cute, crudely drawn stick-figure illustrations escort readers through the author's life beyond puberty into the summer of 1989, with the edgy temptations of binge drinking and boys and a true scare after her baby sister was almost killed by a drunk driver. Even a college basketball scholarship was an insufficient distraction as Tozer began showing up drunk to night classes. An impulsive, ill-fated move to New York City, followed by dead-end jobs and more drinking and blackouts, only moved her closer to rock bottom, "like one of those steps you take right into a pile of dog shit, but you don't realize it until you get home." The author perused comedy clubs and then dove headlong into the craft with classes and live stand-up attempts, yet her relationships with family, friends, and a dysfunctional love affair continued to suffer. When her calamitous hangover stories translated into effective comedy, a Hollywood producer expressed interest, and the author moved west. Tozer's memoir becomes reflective in the closing chapters as she remarks on her hard-won recovery and how it's changed her life, career, and family relationships. Her journey reflects the seriousness of her alcoholism with both personal responsibility and a resilient spirit. The urgency and desperation of addiction told through crisp, biting sarcasm and self-deprecating humor.

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