Barefoot to Avalon

By Payne, David

Subjects: Alcoholics, biography, Alcoholics, Biography, Mentally ill, Family, Family relationships

Description: After witnessing his younger brother's tragic death in an auto accident in 2000, the author found that his life was spiraling out of control. From a cocktail hour indulgence, his drinking became a full-blown addiction. His career entered a standstill. His marriage disintegrated. He was haunted not only by the accident, but also by the family history of mental illness, alcoholism and suicide. The only way out, he found, was to write about his brother. The result is an exceptional memoir of brotherhood, of sibling rivalries and sibling love, and of the torments a family can hold silent and carry across generations.