Some Are Sicker Than Others [Kindle Edition]

Andrew Seaward (Author)

Book Description

"Seaward not only weaves an exceptionally well-constructed story with wholly credible characters, he offers deeper insights and relates more factual information about the disease of addiction than any other writer to date." 

-Grady Harp, Top 10 Amazon Reviewer 

"Monty Miller's journey reminds us of the difficult road of acceptance, forgiveness and redemption that we all must take at some point in our lives." 

-Cyrus Webb, Top 500 Amazon Reviewer  

"This is a very dark, harsh, unmerciful look at addiction with unrelenting exposure of its consequences." 

-Dr. Patricia Laster, Psychologist and Author of "Breaking Free" 

ADDICTION: CUNNING, BAFFLING, & POWERFUL  

In this gripping debut novel by Andrew Seaward, the lives of three addicts converge following an accidental and horrific death. 

Monty Miller, a self-destructive, codependent alcoholic, is wracked by an obsession to drink himself to death as punishment for a fatal car accident he didn't cause.  

Dave Bell, a former all-American track star turned washed-up high school volleyball coach, routinely chauffeurs his bus full of teens on a belly full of liquor and head full of crack. 

Angie Mallard, a recently divorced housewife with three estranged children, will go to any lengths to restore the family she lost to crystal meth. 

All three are court-mandated to a secluded drug rehab high in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. There, they learn the universal truth among alcoholics and addicts:

Though they may all be sick...SOME ARE SICKER THAN OTHERS.  

Based on the author's own personal experience with substance abuse and twelve-step programs, Some Are Sicker Than Others, transcends the clichés of the typical recovery story by exploring the insidiousness of addiction and the harrowing effect it has on not just the afflicted, but everyone it touches. 

With the harsh realism of Brett Easton Ellis and the dark, confrontational humor of Chuck Palahniuk, Mr. Seaward takes the reader deep inside the psyche of the addict and portrays, in very explicit details, the psychological and physiological effects of withdrawal and the various stages of recovery.

As Top 10 Amazon Reviewer, Grady Harp, put it: "What sets Andrew's novel apart from other recovery stories is his deep understanding of the physiochemical aspects of substance abuse and addiction. Seaward not only understands the socioeconomic, psychological and, yes, criminal impact these people create, he also displays such a profound understanding of the physiological/medical aspects of addiction that we are left to wonder if he hasn't been down the path of his characters himself."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"THIS BOOK NAILS IT...down to the gritty core. Not only are the characters rich and compelling, they are honest, truthful, and written from a place of utter compassion. The author has done something that not many writers before him were able to do. He has presented the topic of addiction & recovery as it truly is; maddening, ambivalent and utterly relentless."

-Alexander Ruzumican
 
"Reservation Road meets A Million Little Pieces in this harrowing story of loss, grief, atonement, and redemption." 

-Scott Lorenz, West Wind Book Marketing
 
"Dark, gritty, compelling...a harrowingly emotional experience that rings true to the very last word." 

-Doug Kurtz, acclaimed author of Mosquito
 
"Honest, direct, and confrontational. This book will lead you on a serious rollercoaster ride of emotions. Mr. Seaward discusses in very explicit details the mental, psychological and physical effects of withdrawal and the various stages of recovery." 

-Ashley LaMar, Closed the Cover Book Reviews
 
"The thoroughly cultivated iced-over setting provides the perfect backdrop for the story. One can easily concoct in one's mind the snowy, mountainous landscape Seaward paints with his words."

-Aimee Jodoin, Author of Portrait of an Artist as a Young Woman

From the Author

"Name a hospital in Pennsylvania, I've been there. A rehab in Texas, I've stayed there. I've been strapped down to hospital beds, thrown into drunk tanks, and locked in padded rooms no bigger than a broom closet. I've woken up on railroad tracks, passed out on park benches, I even drank a bottle of cologne once because I couldn't make it to the liquor store before closing time. And for what? A moment of numbness, a flicker of tranquility? No. I realize now, that the reason I drank was because I was too afraid to admit who I really was. I'm an artist. A storyteller. A writer. An author. It took me a long time to finally admit this, and now that I have, I won't stop."

"Based on my own personal adventures in addiction and recovery, my debut novel, Some Are Sicker Than Others, takes you on a hellish journey inside the diseased mind of the addict. From a codependent alcoholic wracked by an obsession to drink himself to death...to a delusional high school volleyball coach with a dependency on crack...the characters in my novel are not just fiction, they are amalgamations of the people I met on my journey. Tragically flawed yet desperately hopeful, this cast of unlikely heroes will challenge your preconceived notions of what it means to be an addict. Some of you will laugh, some of you will cry, others may see themselves in the characters' lives. Either way, I think you're going to enjoy the story, because, if there's one thing an addict isn't...it's boring."  -From Andrew's Interview at the American Chronicle 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 552 KB
• Print Length: 390 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1478278021
• Publisher: Flophouse Books (November 5, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007B7GJGE
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,630 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #43 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Recovery > Substance Abuse

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Journey Through Addiction, Acceptance, Treatment, and Recovery or Relapse March 6, 2012

By Randello1

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Everyone probably has endured some of the frustrations and pain dealing with addiction or a loved one's struggles with the debilitating disease of addiction. The media is often filled with celebrities and professional athletes journies dealing with addiction. Too often the antics of a chemically dependent celebrity is not treated like a tragedy until their eventual death. TMZ and other tabloids sometimes make light of the truly destructive nature surrounding addicts of their families, friends, health,careers, and finances.
"Some Are Sicker Than Others" details the struggles and destructive nature in an exceptionally well written and informative look on the inside of the addiction journey. Mr. Seaward's colorful characters development is superb and you will truly believe you know, have known ,or will know some of these people in the future. The accurate inclusion of codependency and a vivid look into the recovery and rehab efforts is educational and informative. The suspense of what will happen next makes this a true page turner hard to set aside once you begin.
I will look forward to future offerings from this talented author.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Psychologist appreciates brilliant, true story by talented writer! September 13, 2012

By Patricia Laster

Format:Kindle Edition

Wow, this is brutal, honest, brave, depressing, and extremely well written. Andrew, you are a very talented young man and you have written a brilliant novel which totally strips every mask off of what addiction involves and shows the horrible disease for the monster that it is. But this is not just a 'tell-it-all', this is an excellent novel written by a gifted author.

Your imagery is so vivid and your dialogue is as authentic as your story itself. The undisguised, frank portrayal of your characters is awesome: Monty, in an AA program that he doesn't really believe in but wants to make Vicky happy, the co-dependency between them, and Monty's guilt over his treatment of his parents and his denial of his own reality as he rushes off, driving through the snow with Vicky by his side. Coach Dave, the total crack addict, dissatisfied with his job, his marriage, his obese wife, Cheryl, and his chidren, Megan, Mary, and his son,Larry with Klinefelter's syndrome.

Monty doesn't face the reality of where he is headed and neither does Dave. Monty's problem results in a car wreck killing Vicky and Dave's denial and indulgence in obscene sexual fantasies as well as grandiose behavior leads to the death (I think?) of his own son, Larry, after the police stop Dave's bus and mistakenly think Larry is attacking them.

Your final uploaded chapter takes us back to Monty who is now attempting to drink himself to death - literally.
This is a very dark, harsh, unmerciful look at addiction with unrelenting exposure of its consequences. It is a story that should be told and if I were not retired, this would be required reading for my students in the course I taught on addiction. You have written the story brilliantly, Andrew. Don't ever doubt your ability as a writer....

All of us who have written any type of manuscript have received tons of rejections and those accepted by traditional publishers are usually celebrities or well-known people. I'm telling you this because I don't want you to become discouraged as you seek publication. It may be that you will have to go some route other than traditional publishers, but whatever you do, please get this published or publish it yourself. You certainly have my best wishes for the success of your work regardless of how it's published.

Sincerely, Patricia Laster
"Breaking Free" Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Life November 13, 2012

By Koky1205

Format:Kindle Edition

Reading this book I could really relate a lot to it,and although I didn't go through traumatic experiences like Monty did with the loss of his girlfriend or from the Dave's personal view of everything I too had a rough experience in my life which shaped me in what I am now. Reading their experiences and life choices they made, it really hits you how easily it is fall from the right path and wonder into the abyss of destruction. During the whole book you will encounter mostly the negative and awful experiences, so on some parts you will feel like there is nothing more to it than feeling sorry for them ( I mean on Monty and Dave), but there is more to it. Try putting yourself into their shoes. Try to feel how it would be if you loose your spouse, family members, or even a pet, try to image how you would react, who would you call, what would you do. Or even better, with all the recent catastrophic which are happening in the world try imagining what would you do if you loose everything you worked for, would you crumble or would you be able to fight it off???!!! And this is what this is book all about, helping you to realize how anyone, even the strongest of us can stumble, either willingly or not, and when (not if) this happens it is important to have your loved ones,friends or anyone who can help you to be beside you. Magnificent read, a great insight in addicts behavior, choices they made, how they reacted, and most of all a good shake up for everyone on how fragile is the life we live.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Some Are Sicker Than Others February 27, 2012

By Rob Wallace

Format:Kindle Edition

This novel is a powerful, honest read. It definitely took a lot of heart and soul to write and forces you to keep turning the pages. It gets into the minds of people battling some of the hardest trials a human can go through: looking at yourself in the mirror and deciding if you are going to be honest with yourself and the ones you love.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 star read November 30, 2012

By K. Branfield

Format:Kindle Edition

Some Are Sicker Than Others is a raw and gritty but incredibly powerful novel about addiction and recovery. Andrew Seaward provides readers with an unvarnished account of the downward spiral of Monty Miller and Dave Bell as they struggle with substance abuse and the long road to recovery.

Although sometimes difficult to read, Some Are Sicker Than Others is a compelling and informative novel. The details are meticulous and necessary for the reader to gain a complete understanding of addiction, withdrawal and the terrible consequences this disease has on not only the addict, but friends and family. The actions and thought processes of the main characters are sometimes incomprehensible yet they provide fascinating insight their motivations and justifications for their behavior.

In some ways, Monty and Dave are polar opposites. Monty is an alcoholic who is intelligent, seemingly self-aware and more than willing to take responsibility for his actions. But he cannot shed his guilt over the impact his drinking has had on his family and he cannot forgive himself for the mistakes he has made. As the story progresses, I quickly came to understand that Monty will use any excuse to rationalize his stubborn resistance to overcome his addiction to alcohol.

Dave is in complete denial that he is addicted to crack. He accepts no responsibility for how his behavior affects him and blames everyone around him for his mistakes. He has the typical addict's attitude that he can quit using whenever he wants. While in recovery, he is quite manipulative of one of the other patients, and he completely disregards how detrimental he is in terms of her recovery....

With so much anguish and heartache, it would seem like Some Are Sicker Than Others would be a depressing novel but that is simply not the case. I was utterly captivated by the drama unfolding and no matter how despicable some of the characters were on occasion, I could not help but hope they would find redemption and conquer their addictions. I gained a deeper understanding of the anatomy of addiction and how much courage and strength an addict needs to find and maintain their sobriety.

Some Are Sicker Than Others is realistic and harsh but a completely worthwhile read. Monty and Dave are well-developed characters that are easy to love and to hate as they attempt to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. If you think you know how their story is going to end, you are probably wrong. I know that I certainly was. I hope that Andrew Seaward has plans to revisit Monty and Dave in the future. I would love to see what comes next for these two broken men.

I received a complimentary copy for review. Read more ›

More About the Author

Andrew Seaward is an award-winning author, actor, and screenwriter. He has written and acted in several independent productions including the critically-acclaimed short film, "Drowning", which earned the prestigious Award of Merit at the 2010 Indie Fest.

Though a chemical engineer by trade, Andrew's true passion in life is helping other addicts and alcoholics on their individual paths of recovery. A recovering addict himself, Andrew understands the viciousness of addiction and the harrowing effect it has on not just the afflicted, but everyone it touches. As a result, he has dedicated his life to removing the unfair stigma associated with addiction by encouraging addicts to embrace their recovery, rather than hiding from it. His brand new blog, Portraits of Addiction, has been creating a lot of buzz within blogging community and was even featured on Word Press' Top 10 Daily Picks.

Andrew currently resides in Denver, CO, where he is busy at work on his next novel. For more information about Andrew and his projects please visit www.andrewseaward.com