Posted by:
Michelle Sutton on
July 8, 2007 at
4:44PM EST
Product Description:
The
first time Leia pulled the lever on the slot machine she hadn’t felt
much, other than maybe a twinge of guilt, knowing how much her husband
despised any kind of gambling. After all, she’d just been killing time
while nursing a busted leg at the slopes. Several months, thousands of
clicks and tens of thousands of dollars later, she’d long since
replaced the rush of adrenaline that came with a win with the roiling
realization that she’d gone too far. The last time she pulled the
lever, she hung on for dear life, knowing that without a win, a very
big win, her life as she knew it was over.
My review:
Addiction is a difficult thing, and Going for Broke is
a fabulous glimpse into the life of a decent person who develops a
compulsion to gamble until she no longer recognizes herself. Much like
cocaine or heroine, the compulsion will eventually take over and
swallow the person whole. The author does a wonderful job of accurately
portraying how someone can sink so low and go so far as to being
willing to do just about anything for their "fix." The rationalizing
thoughts, the desire to be secretive, the withdrawal from friendships
and support systems...it's all there.
Like one of the endorsers
wrote on the back of the book, this story is addicting. I stayed up
late and woke up early until I finished. The tension just kept building
and building, but not once did Leia become unlikable. Of course the
reader will want her to snap out of it, but the author takes you to the
place where you develop compassion for Leia, and that's not an easy
thing to do. I didn't get the urge to slap Leia. Not once. I had
thought about slapping her husband, though, and beating his friend
senseless, but you have to read the story to find out why.
Overall, I'd say that Going For Broke
is the best story I've read about the cravings that addicts have for
gambling or any other vice. Gambling destroys lives and dignity and
this story brings the reader right to the edge with Leia. What I liked
best about the story was the honesty. There were no quick fixes, and
while God holds people accountable for their mistakes, He will redeem
anything and will meet us where we are if we would only trust in Him
and not ourselves. I love edgy stories that illustrate how God even
uses the muck in our lives to create something beautiful that will
glorify Him. Going for Broke did that, and then some.
Going for Broke was published by River Oak and was released in May 2007.
