A Piece of Cake: A Memoir

First of all, this book is an undeniably gripping and gritty read. It brought tears to my eyes several times, and I'm always in awe of books that can do that.

If ever a book demonstrates the perils facing the underclass, this book does . . .starting with the risk of single parenthood, the ridiculous family court decisions, the abuses in the foster care system, followed by the dangers faced by runaways. Prostitution, gangs, drugs, spousal abuse, homelessness. The author's life careens out of control after the horrific trauma of her childhood.

I felt like the best parts of the book were really how Cupcake shows the reader how drug addicts think, act, and feel . . .but incredibly, it seemed like an awful lot of work (and a surprising amount show more of initiative) to be one.

The ending is very uplifting in good measure because of the people who were able to see beyond the drugs to the human being. Honestly, there must have been something special about Cupcake that wasn't quite conveyed because people helped her repeatedly, sometimes when it was hard to see why she deserved it (from the reader perspective) given how much she lied.

The writing is not particularly literary, but I think if it was, it really wouldn't read as true. It's an incredible story, and honestly, it doesn't need a lot of embellishment in the language department. show less

I had no expectations when I picked this book up for $1 at my local Goodwill, other than the premise sounded interesting. I’ll be honest, the image and the name intrigued me, because I do actually judge a book by its cover. Especially at thrift stores. But what a genuinely great read this turned out to be.

This book starts out through the gate at a full sprint, and it takes a while for it to come down. It’s a memoir of Brown’s life, from the beginning of her journey at 11 when she stumbled upon her mother’s prone body, to her current success as a highly respected lawyer and motivational speaker. Actually, it doesn’t talk largely about who she is now, but how she got to that point in her life. She goes through A HELLUVA LOT. And show more for a huge majority of the book, it’s incredibly dark. As I was getting to the halfway through point, I had to ask myself when it would get better for her. But it did, of course. This book is highly inspirational, very humbling, and exceptionally moving. It talks about quite a few things that people don’t like to think about, and it is very no holds barred about the situations she gets in and the adversity she faces.

But to me, it really opened my eyes to what some people have to go through and how seriously addiction can mess you up. Actually reading through someone’s first-hand experience of situations that include the following: blowing guys that picked her up as a hitchhiker, being raped, and joining a gang because of a lack of family figures… Well, it’s downright upsetting, and it should be, because these are real experiences that countless people go through every day. So expect every conceivable bad thing you can imagine happening to her, because it did. And she does not shy away from the details. You’ve been warned. Frankly, it just compounds the fact that I live such a charmed life.

An interesting theme that is used throughout the book is the idea that you aren’t that messed up if you have a job. You don’t need help; you’re not even an actual junkie. And this is a belief that not only Brown had, but her drug-addled companions. To them, simply working through the cravings, and often high, still meant that they weren’t “that bad.” This book has several themes throughout: rags to riches, religious redemption, and it’s a highly moralistic, empowering tale. Brown is clearly trying to prove a point with it, but I don’t think that’s such a bad thing. My one actual criticism would be that it is entirely too preachy at the end. According to Brown and her sponsor, you basically can’t find redemption from drugs and addiction unless you believe in God or a higher power. You, as a person, are basically incapable of getting your head above water without divine intervention. That’s cute and all, but I tend to have more of a belief in humanity itself than a higher power.

I think this book is definitely worth a read for anyone seeking motivations to seek help from their drug addiction, and definitely for anyone who has always wondered what it's like to experience it all, and somehow come out on top. show less

This book is an ugly memoir. I say ugly because what this woman goes through is heartbreaking, shocking and disgusting.

The story reaches far beyond drug and alcohol abuse. Family problems, job failure, school dropouts, impotent foster care systems, abortions, prostitution, gangbanging, rape, stealing, domestic violence ... it’s all in there.

“Friends are like buses,” I uncaringly replied as I took a hit off the joint, “If you miss one, sooner or later, another will come. The names of the routes change, but the

A Piece of Cake blew me away! I don’t remember reading a memoir that I actually wanted to read. Cup’ has lived through hell, a hell in which we can only imagine. Cup’s story started out of her at the age of 11; an insecure young girl who just wanted to be something and look pretty. Instead, she found her mother dead. Everything fell apart. Her hitchhiking and running away introduced her to drugs and alcohol, gangs, and theft. Experiencing every drug under the sun along with drinking, only made those ‘bad’ memories disappear, which was exactly what Cupcake wanted. Her move from job to job convinced her she was not an addict because “addicts don’t have jobs”. Before she knew it, she was hitting rock bottom, and hard.
It is show more up to her on whether she should listen to the voice she has been ignoring all along and make things right, or keep doing what keeps her from her own reality. show less

Riveting memoir of growing up unsupervised and abused in greater LA. Cupcake Brown's life falls apart when her mother dies suddenly. She is thrown into the foster care system and subject to a physically, emotionally, and sexually abusive foster family. She runs away, is introduced to sex and drugs and is then returned to the same situation. Her family isn't much better... while living with a distant Aunt, she gets into gang banging and is an active member of The Crips where she steals, kills -- most of the time high. She is shot by a rival gang and while recovering decides to get out of the gang. More drug abuse, bad relationships (incl. an abusive marriage) and scamming, she finally enters a drug rehab center. Once clean and sober, show more Cupcake begins to rebuild her life and becomes a successful lawyer.

The story is gripping and salacious and kept this reader hooked (no pun intended) ... much like rubber-necking at a bad car accident. Does all of the badness (told with a wee bit too much enthusiasm, methinks) make her redemption that much sweeter? The jury's out. show less

Life altering read, and honestly not suitable for everyone as many passages are really hard to read, It took me quite a long time to finish it, not because it was bad but because it was really intense. It’s a story of resilience and a testimony that although life can get atrocious, there is always brighter days. Cupcake is an incredible woman and I am grateful for this book and its impact

"You can't say it's impossible, if you haven't tried."

Sometimes, the simplicity of truth is earth shattering. These words appear on the intro to www.cupcakebrown.com. "Anything is possible," Cup reminds us. "Here's my story."

Cupcake's story is that of a girl stripped of childhood, after finding her mother dead. Though, she had never seen death before, she knew death's face when she saw it. And from that moment, her life was never the same. Cupcake's memoir travels through experiences of losing parents, dealing with child custody laws, living and running away foster homes, sibling rivalry, rape, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, gangbanging, prostitution, miscariges, abortions and yes, a lot more. I'll just let you read the rest for show more yourself.

While reading Cupcake Brown, I was reminded of two quotes.

Frank McCourt opens his venerable memoir with the claim, "When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I managed to survive at all. It was, of course a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while." I thought of this quote because I am not quite sure how Cupcake survived it all, even as she so thoroughly relayed the events. And, while we may believe it is the struggles we endure which make us strong, I am certain that some struggles, some misery are unnecessary and should be avoided and prevented at all costs.

Secondly, I was reminded of one of my favorite poems by Nikki Giovanni. The end of the poem states:

And though you're poor it isn't poverty that concerns you
And though they fought a lot
It isn't your father's drinking that makes
any difference
but only that everybody is together and
you
and your sister have happy birthdays
and very good christmasses
And I really hope no white person
ever has cause
to write about me
because they never understand
that Black love is Black wealth and they'll
probably talk about my hard childhood
and never understand that
all the while I was quite happy
(Nikki Giovanni, "Nikki Rosa")

And while I'm not quite sure how Cupcake Brown would respond to either of these quotes, my experience reading her memoir, A Piece of Cake, leads me to believe that her sentiments ricochet between the two. As a reader, you will experience the pain of her childhood as well as the adventurous joy. And, perhaps you will be torn, even heartbroken by the tension between the two.

If you ever need inspiration, allow Cupcake to be yours. If you ever think you have a tribulation too large to handle, read Cupcake Brown. If you ever believe that you have travelled too far down a path to turn around, read "Piece of Cake". I have promised myself, upon reading this memoir, not to claim anything in my dreams impossible nor any barrier in my path insurmountable.

Love,
Lhea J
http://blackbookshelf.blogspot.com/2006/04/dont-tell-me-its-impossible.html show less