In My Skin

A Memoir of Addiction

By: Kate Holden

Narrated by: Christy Lynn

Called "Quite simply in a class of its own... the work of a stunningly talented writer who both graces and surpasses her material" (Guardian), this is the frank, harrowing, and true story of one young woman's descent into heroin addiction and prostitution and the long, arduous struggle to redeem her life that made her stronger. A shy, bookish college graduate from a solid middle-class home, Kate Holden was uncertain of her way in life. When she decided to try her first hit of heroin as a one-time adventure with friends, she did not anticipate that the drug would take over. She lost her job and apartment and stole from her family. Desperation drove her first to offer her body on the streets and then in high-class brothels, where she discovered hidden strengths as well as parts of herself that frightened her. With the acceptance and unyielding love of a family that never abandoned her, Kate Holden ultimately defeated the drug and left her netherworld behind.

©2013 Kate Holden (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Unexpected

I expected this book to be more about Kate's addiction but about half way through it focused almost entirely on prostitution. I was still interested to listen because I know so little about the industry, but it just wasn't what I expected.

Kate has a completely unapologetic way of describing her journey through addiction and prostitution. I actually found it quite refreshing - she makes no excuses for herself or her actions (in contrast to other memoirs I've read about addiction). She just owns it.

Lessons of hope from a frist handers perspective a

This book is 100% real life and a wonderful bio of her life. Hopefully this book makes it to currently struggling addicts as inspiration and hope for themselves. Theres no doubt this book is totally relatable to so many people who are still fighting this demon.... This book can and will tuely save lives in my opinion thank you for sharing your story of hope and success! ; ) congrats on your sobriety

Beautifully Raw

Could not stop this one! So honest. So real. Such truth in every word! If you have experienced and part of addiction you will be transported back to the depths and loneliness! Thank you for your truth Kate!

Hard Memoir to Listen To

This was a difficult memoir to listen to. The depths that the author had ended up going through is mind boggling. However, compared to others, she seemed to have more sense and family support. It's a story of struggle, lots of drama (pretty much all of it), but eventually surprising triumph .

Powerful story of a drug addicted sex worker

From most summaries it sounds like a tired premise, indeed... an overused trope that DARE would have dreamt up back in the 90s. But this book doesn't villainize the POV character and somehow keeps her a relatable protagonist even in the midst of her many questionable life choices and poor coping methods. It doesn't preach at readers or even set her up as some helpless damsel enslaved to an evil substance, or suggest that falling in love or embracing God will be the magical cure to help her see the light, as if some external source of love and support were the only prerequisites required for someone to successfully recover from an addiction to hard drugs.

It also doesn't paint her shamefully for the fact that she is supporting herself throughout most of the book as a sex worker in various brothels. Prostitution is legal in Australia, though highly regulated with policies in place like regular mandatory government-funded health check ups and STI testing to protect the safety of the girls as well as their clients. One doesn't get the impression that her chosen line of work is to blame for her addiction, or that she would give up her line of work even if heroin had never entered the picture. The telling of this woman's journey is so morally neutral and objective that's it's refreshing. There is no clear moral at the end of this story, just a vivid and well crafted glimpse into the reckless, rollicking path taken by a woman who made all the "wrong choices" according to most parents and American society in general. It made her life into a somewhat rocky ride, to say the least, but it doesn't inevitably destroy her.

Sex workers who read this memoire will most likely be thrilled and grateful to see such a fair and accurately portrayed description of someone who sells their body willing without the trope of spiraling into some form of terrible and inevitable destruction. Not a typical story at all, and I'm very glad to have read it.