What can a daughter do when the mother she loves is bent on destroying herself? With lyricism and honesty, memoirist Lydia Bird chronicles the unlikely course of her mother's alcoholism—and the power and limitations of their bond. Through stories spanning four decades and three continents, Bird embarks on an unsparing quest to understand her past and find forgiveness. In the process, she paints an unforgettable portrait of addiction, betrayal, and the unexpected joy that can prevail on the far side of loss.

Lydia Bird has lived on several continents and sailed alone across oceans. Her memoir Sonnet: One Woman's Voyage from Maryland to Greece (North Point Press) evokes "the haven provided by a boat of one's own" (the New Yorker). Lydia has written for Sports Illustrated, Sailing, and Sail and recorded for NPR's Snap Judgment. Her short memoir While You Were Drinking is adapted from a longer work in progress, Ezekiel: A Memoir of Families. She works as a freelance editor and manuscript consultant. Visit her at Lydiabird.com.

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