The Story of Junk

By Lina Yablonsky

Easily one of the best non-fiction novels I have read! 
The way she tells the story addiction compels the read to think beyond the stereo-type.


Her honesty and straightforwardness of her tale places the reader right in the thick of the events. For me personally, it made me want to try drugs to see if that was what they are truly like and then again, it repelled me even more from the thought of attempting to poison my body.


Excerpt:





PART ONEKNOCK KNOCK
New York City March 1986

KNOCK KNOCK

There's a simple knock on the door, nothing special.
"Who's there?"
"Mailman," comes the answer. "Special delivery."
I open the door. Why did I open the door?
I see a mailman, six-foot, barrel chest, receding blond, blue eyes. No mail.
"Is your name Laura?"
"No, you must have the wrong apartment." I start to close the door. It's afternoon but I'm in my pajamas, rags I sleep in. I like to sleep in rags.
"Just a moment." He pushes hack the door. "Your name's not Laura?"
"No," I say. "It isn't."
He takes a folded letter from a trouser pocket, opens it. I'm staring at his shoes, scuffed, pointy-toed, buff-colored western boots. Do mailmen wear western boots?
"Is this--?" He gives the address, the apartment number.
"Yes, but there must be some mistake."
"This is the right address but you're not Laura?"
"That's right. I'm not."
"Is this your apartment?"
"Yes."
"Well, who are you then?" Before I can make a reply, he pushes the door open wide. "Never mind. Federal agents, D.E.A. Step back, please. We're coming in."

As great of a perspective and honest that Yablonsky provides, I can't help but think that the story of drugs and addiction in the 80s has no relevance to what it might be like in 2010. However, in the 80s was when drugs use really became a common thing and HIV/AIDS was just being recognized. So today, people know of the dangers and perhaps users take precautions that those from the 80s did not.

I truly appreciate Yablonsky for sharing her story. That was all she did, she didn't try to talk her readers into never trying drugs, she allows the reader to make their own conclusions from her words.