After Perfect: A Daughter's Memoir

Words cannot express just how deeply Ms. McDowell's memoir impacted me. Prison aside, I feel as though I've read about my own life in a sense, Greek heritage included.One must give McDowell credit for stripping herself bare & bleeding all over the pages of this memoir. While at first it may give some readers a perverse pleasure to see a one-time rich girl's plunge from grace, the fact is the grief, confusion & lack of identity is palpable. Above all, I could feel her pain as she lingered... Hoping... Waiting for someone to save her.In the end, we aren't offered the secret to life or happiness or a saccharine speech about how the author saw the light and we can too. Instead, we get the sense that with as much healing and catharsis came from the pages, the author is in the same spot where so many of us struggle—living day by day & remaining in the moment rather than thinking of how things 'should' be.An excellent memoir, one of the best I've read in 2015.

I found this book interesting on two levels. One, to see how the 1% live, and how they might (not) survive if the money stream dried up, and two, to see how a young woman finds empowerment in spite of being raised by narcissistic, manipulative, toxic parents. The parents seemed loving and normal, until the money stopped. Then, author Christina McDowell had to figure out what was real and what wasn’t. In the meantime she hit a downward spiral, because she hadn’t been taught any survival skills. None.If you’re hoping to experience Schadenfreude from reading this book, you won't, mainly because you feel so badly for Christina. Secondly, because her psychopathic father is so adaptive, it seems no punishment really touches him. The ending is rewarding, and very moving, although it came on too quickly. I wanted to know how she found the woman and the business that became the path to her salvation. Overall it’s a really interesting book, but it’ll make you angry about the mindless gluttons who seem to own America.

I thought this was a difficult book to read (from an emotional standpoint) and it's hard to review. I decide to give it three stars. If you're looking for a literary masterpiece, this isn't it although it's a good and courageous first effort by Christina McDowell. On the other hand, it certainly represents a social and cultural reality in this country that should concern everyone. The fact that McDowell seems to find it difficult to let go of the idea that her childhood with a narcissistic, sociopathic, abusive, dishonest father was "perfect" because he provided her with mansions, Porsches and designer clothes reflects, in my opinion, an American value system run amok. For that reason alone, I would recommend that people read it.

Hard to review because I knew one sister and the mother but I have to admire where Christine has landed in life and her tenacity in wanting to become a "healthy" person. It appears she is on her way and I hope she continues to give of herself to help others who are struggling with "less than perfect" parents. I also hope she can find more compassion for her own family especially her mother. There is an edge of unforgiveness and over time that will be a stumbling block. A follow up book in 5 years would be interesting. I would like to know where her program is in five years as well as where she is in life.

While I can understand that it takes time and effort to process and resolve the feelings of frustration and anger the author felt in regards to her father, I would have appreciated her spending more time on her life after turning it around. After reading detailed descriptions of all her self-destructive choices and behaviors, she could have spent more time discussing her recovery and realizations.

So easy to forget about all the family members who suffer collateral damage when a person goes to prison for breaking the law. The author gives an honest portrayal of her journey of shock, unbelief, denial, anger, self-destruction, acceptance and a sort of forgiveness that brings redemption to her. She learns to allow her father to deal with his own redemption or lack thereof.

I first found Christine McDowell when she wrote an editorial on why one should not see Wolf of Wall Street. I wrote her an email expressing my solidarity with her views. I have now read her book and found her truth so compelling. Her Dad was her sugar daddy always giving his daughter and her sisters everything they wanted. He was delusional in his desire to have it all in my opinion. He was also a fraud. He never took responsibility for his actions. It is the story of life's destroyed and a family that has to come to terms with a father who conned them all.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Christina had a tough journey a head of her after her family lost everything. I liked her, it wasn't a poor little rich girl story, it was a story about losing everything and having nothing to get back on your feet with. Her and her sisters and mother did not know how to pay bills, how credit cards work, and how not to depend on a man. An amazing story of hitting rock bottom and learning about your true self.

I couldnt put this book down. I could feel her pain and when she gave up all the substance abuse I thought "My God, if she can do that I must be able to give up smoking". Awesome read.

I couldn't put this book down. A very brave writer and I wish her peace and happiness in her life in the future

Interesting story..

Enjoyed it, how the other half lives eh?

投機の世界で弁護士として活躍していた父親と社交が得意だった母親の元で何不自由なく育ってきた三姉妹が突然父親の逮捕により、今までの生活を全て奪われてしまう。母親は今までの生活とのギャップに適応できず現実から目を背け、子供達を守ろうとはしないし、父親は此の期に及んでもまだいい父親であり続けようとかっこばかりつけて優しい父親を演じる一方で、まだ傷の付いていない娘のクレジット履歴を利用して借金させようとしたりする。そんな状況の中、姉妹の中には落ちていく者もいれば、自分の力でなんとか這い上がっていく者も。この本の著者も今まで友人だと思っていた人にそっぽを向かれたりしながら、でもなんとか立ち直っていく。子供は本当に親によって生活が変わるわけで、今まで何不自由ない生活だったのが一転したというのは本当に大変であっただろう。ただ、多分まだ彼女の親との関係は続いているわけで、まだその辺りの気持ちについては踏み込んでは書けていない感じも。普通はペーパーバッグになってから買うのだが、興味深いテーマだったので待ちきれず、はじめてハードカバーの段階で買った本。予想通り一気に読んでしまった。