Saturday Read: Tweak by Nic Sheff

A couple months ago, I read the book “Beautiful Boy” by David Sheff, which chronicles the author’s experiences as a father of a drug addict. Because his son, Nic, was known for his writing (even publishing a piece in Newsweek while still in high school!), his father’s publishers were interested in him writing about his own journey. In “Tweak,” Nic chronicles his experience from his point of view.

Having read “Beautiful Boy,” I can say that “Tweak” not only complements “Beautiful Boy,” but also provides an alternative route to the same ending. “Tweak” is aimed at a younger generation. And even though it is basically an addict discussing his horrible experiences with drugs, Sheff never preaches or seems pretentious. He remembers who his audience is; young, hip and liable to experiment.

Nic has wild adventures, rivaling hardcore experiences in books like “A Million Little Pieces” (only, you know, they are real).  From running with gang members in San Francisco, to shacking up with an old classmate in his parents’ summer estate, he’s not kidding around. He doesn’t shy away from the gritty reality of drug abuse, even though he has relapsed several times and doesn’t believe he’s completely over his addiction. It’s interesting because even though he realizes how horrible his addiction is, he admits that he can often not stop. This book portrays the reality and helplessness of addiction wonderfully and really paints addiction as a disease.

All in all, this book was enthralling and one of the best I’ve read in awhile. I have a penchant for drug/rehab books, especially during the summertime. I have no clue what induces this combination in me, but needless to say, “Tweak” fit perfectly. If you’re looking for an uncomplicated look at drug culture, abuse and rehabilitation by an author who is down to earth and so real, then pick up this read! And if you just want a real page-turner to bring you back to the world of reading for pleasure, this is it.