Happy: A Memoir

Written by Alex Lemon

Narrated by Nick Landrum

Critically acclaimed poet Alex "Happy" Lemon takes listeners on a journey of addiction, tragedy, and survival in this memoir. With an aneurysm in his brain, Lemon becomes trapped within the wreckage of his 19-year-old, stroke-ravaged body. But as he plunges into depression and longs for death, his mom's life-affirming determination urges him to talk and walk and live again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 19, 2010
• ISBN: 9781440779893

Reviews for Happy

[mhaley_2 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Disappointing memoir. My expectations were a bit high and the delivery was weak for me. Memoir's in general seem to be completely unrealistic. For example, you have Lemon here who is a critically acclaimed poet and a decent storyteller, yet in his memoir he's a typical drug-taking, girl chasing, one-of-boys, where every conversation is so shallow between his friends. It's a miracle where he acquire his skills as a writer. Every other word in this memoir is a 4 letter curse word, completely shallow dialogue, and this same "scene" over and over. It just didn't work for me at all. Shades of "Tiny Little Pieces" here. The idea that Lemon can't remember much because of his physical malformation in his brain stem and all the drug and alcohol he's consuming, but he has no problem recalling detailed information about intimate conversations throughout his ordeal. It just doesn't wash, and memoirs can't have it both ways. To say you don't remember much, but then remember detailed conversation always has me on guard. Just call it fiction, based on my experiences. That's just me, I could be wrong. One strong part of the work was Alex's mother. She an unconventional mom with a love for her son with is undeniable. Was the brain malformation a cause or effect of his continued drug and alcohol abuse? Lemon's hedonistic behavior continues after the defect in his brain is detected, which doesn't really add to any empathy for Lemon, but that's addiction right? Lemon must have some God given talent for writing, because he certainly didn't learn it a College according to the memoir.