Having read every one of Frank Kusy's other books and followed his amazing journey from working in a care home to becoming a market trader selling goods from India, I was chomping at the bit waiting for another memoir to come out! And it did not disappoint - it's an absolute cracker of a book and with a totally unexpected storyline! This is the story of how Frank's life spiraled out of control after his mother's death. To begin with, we are given some background history into Frank's parents' life which is really interesting and allows us to link events together later in the story. When Frank turns 40, his worried mother decides it's time he should be married and contacts a dating agency in London. This is where Frank meets Madge - his wife. In the second chapter Madge begins to tell her side of the story and talks of her initial, slightly disappointing impression of Frank on their first date! Frank's mother tragically passes away on the morning of what should be the best day of his life - his wedding day, Having only been together for 9 months, their honeymoon is a disaster as Frank begins shutting down and pushing Madge away as he tries to deal with his grief alone. In a bid to distract himself from the pain of losing his mother, and much to the frustration of Madge, Frank embarks on a mission during his honeymoon to check out suppliers with a view to selling wholesale goods again. Back home, Frank has a hard time adjusting to his new life with a wife after having been a bachelor for so long and is still consumed by sadness and guilt at losing his beloved mother. He eventually spirals into deep depression - pulling Madge down with him. Alcohol was their first drug of choice to numb the pain, but soon Frank and Madge turn to a variety of drugs to help them get through their difficult days. Their first foray into drugs had been on one summer's day in 1997 - at an allotment party, where Frank and Madge tried ecstasy. The result? Frank proposed to Madge! As their new, fragile married life rolls out before them, they find themselves turning to ecstasy again to experience that initial thrill and happiness they had once had. Soon a friend of Frank's (Justin) arrives on the scene and tempts them with harder drugs. During this dark period Frank still tries to pursue his writing career, but the drugs turn him into a broken man. At first he thinks the drugs are helping him and Madge, but he soon realises that the truth is very different. Madge had collapsed a few times in clubs and Frank had suffered a massive panic attack. Throughout this time, Frank is also battling with serious insomnia and attempts to to find a cure at a sleep clinic. He also makes an effort to improve his appearance by having a hair transplant. What makes this incredible story even more unique and readable, is that Madge tells the story from her perspective in alternating chapters. This makes you want to keep turning the page to get the 'full' story! Poor Madge, a university lecturer, did not expect herself to end up on drugs with a depressed husband who shut himself away. As if things weren't hard enough at home, Madge has to have a hysterectomy. The emotional stress becomes to much for Madge to bear alone and it eventually manifests itself in the form of depression. Madge ends up on Prozac. When Frank and Madge finally go straight, they realise they are complete strangers and have to get to know one another again. They embark on a mission to get fit and steer their life back on track. Frank soon discovers that the natural endorphins produced by the body when keeping a fit are far better than those produced by drugs! On Frank's 53rd birthday, Sparky the cat arrives, inspiring Frank to write again! This is an incredible story and is a testament to just how much the human spirit can endure, and of course accomplish in the darkest of times. Frank and Madge are an amazing couple! Please do not think that this is a depressing memoir - on the contrary, it is a memoir which grabs you, shocks you, shakes you and makes you laugh out loud - as Frank once again, and very cleverly, finds humour even in the most difficult times. His writing is addictive. His stories are incredible. The Recklesss Years is a book not to be missed.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Shop this series
See full series- Kindle Price:£16.89By clicking on the above button, you agree to Amazon's Kindle Store Terms of UseSold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Shop this series
There are 8 books in this series.
Kindle Price:
£16.89
By clicking on the above button, you agree to Amazon's Kindle Store Terms of UseSold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
In this series (8 books)
Page 1 of 1Start AgainPage 1 of 1
Popular titles by this author
Page 1 of 1 Start againPage 1 of 1
About the author
Top reviews from United Kingdom
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 February 2017
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 February 2018
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 April 2017
Top reviews from other countries
- BarbaraReviewed in Germany on 28 February 2017
A book about life and love. Written with a good dose of humor.
