Synopsis (taken from Amazon)
Dive into the explosive, raw, and vulnerable story of a man’s search for sanity amid his increasing dependence on DXM (dextromethorphan), the active ingredient in Robitussin and other cough suppressant medications. In Volume One, you’ll enter the underbelly of York, PA, as the narrator navigates the streets and his new normal.
In 2007, Ryan Gray was on and off the streets-living the last days of his existence as an active addict. He stayed in several halfway houses, had friends who were kind enough to let him sleep in their homes, and sometimes stayed at a nearby shelter.
Volume One of his autobiographical narrative chronicles the events leading through the ‘twilight’ of his addiction, from meeting a native of York who became like a brother, to when Ryan began to inwardly sense his own futility, to making the choice to leave behind the middle-class life he knew.
Twilight in York: Volume One is written in the style of Jack Kerouac, with a stream of consciousness effect as well as grammatical alterations. Heavy with explicit drug use, this read is best suited for adults.
Though heavy and dark, Twilight in York, Volume One has a simple, easy-to-follow plot that appeals to the masses. Drug addicts, family and friends of addicts, homeless (and formerly homeless) people, and the mentally ill will resonate with Ryan’s down-to-earth voice and relatable stories.
Review
Those who know me know that I am an advocate of mental illness, and drug addiction is a mental illness. Drug addiction is rampant throughout our society, and I lost my brother to it, so this book hits home on a personally deep level. The further into the book, the more I wanted to scream for the author to seek help, knowing what drug use can lead to.
Ryan Gray does an excellent job of describing the need for drugs. The compulsion not to change and continue to get high even when he knows that they are making him ill. The other mental illness discussed is schizophrenia, one that society deems as scary and potentially violent. Ryan describes it as scary (not violent), though he does it eloquently, placing the reader in his mindset. Giving us a sense of fear in our minds that we couldn’t otherwise understand.
This is more than an autobiography. This is a reality that many face when mental illness is pushed to the edges of society. Too many think, ‘I want to help but not in my backyard,’ that those suffering are forced onto the streets and forgotten about instead of receiving the help that they need. Luckily, Ryan Gray is still here to share his story and help bring a voice to those who are still struggling.
Everyone who is of the age that they may be thinking about trying drugs should read this book. There is explicit content, but that adds to the importance of this message.
Get your copy here (affiliate link – thank you for your support).
