🍷 A NOVEL THAT LAYS BARE THE DEVASTATION OF ALCOHOLISM.2022 Literary Titan Gold Award WinnerA realistic drama about the deep, consuming, relentless and compulsive passion between an alcoholic couple struggling with their own demons.It's multi-award-winning author Ken Fry like you've never read him before. Reminiscent of Days of Wine and Roses -- a poignant story of a doomed triangle between a man, a woman, and alcohol.★★★★★ "Drunks by Ken Fry is a tale that’s deeply personal and dramatic and is an ultimately inspirational story that is told with an infusion of romance. It’s an entertaining read that gives the reader an in-depth look at how codependency impacts people, even when they appear to be self-sufficient and content." ~ LITERARY TITAN REVIEW★★★★★ "Fry did an excellent job of characterizing the common, yet unique ways that alcoholism affects different people. There is no one description that fits all, and this is why I found this story so compelling and painfully real. I know this story will stay with me for a long time."★★★★★ "While the plot of the story is gripping, it is further backed up by a group of dynamic, realistic and believable characters. They are shown at their best and at their worst. Each one of them could be any one of us, and that is what makes their portrayal so powerful."★★★★★ "Brilliantly written! I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with the use of alcohol, and all who love someone who is under its clutches."★★★★★ "Kudos to the author for a superb job of tackling a tough subject matter with unapologetic honesty."My name is Alan Markham, and this all happened a while ago, but the memories don’t go away. Looking back, I can see that our lives had been carried along like a rudderless ship in a storm. The life we had is gone. It sank beneath the ocean waves and I was powerless to prevent that.I’m controlling my problem, but I’m under no illusions. I could come apart at the seams any time... should I pick up a drink.My memories of what it was like for my wife Chrissy and I have become a blurred recollection. They hurt. But I need that pain to remind me of what I was and how I got to my present state.I owe her that, at least.Are you in control of that glass or bottle you're holding?That's what Chrissy and I thought so too...Read our story.GET YOUR COPY!📚 BOOKS by KEN FRYBESTSELLING NOVELSThe Blood Red Robe (Lady Aveline with the Knights Templar)The Magdalene MissionThe Keeper’s CupThe Patmos Quest of the Wandering JewThe Lazarus SuccessionTHE LAZARUS MYSTERIES (Duology)The Lazarus SuccessionThe Lazarus ContinuumThe Lazarus Omnibus CollectionLa Sucesión LazaroTHE LADY CRUSADER SERIES (Complete Trilogy)The Chronicles of AwakeningThe Chronicles of Love and BloodThe Chronicles of The Final SacrificeSUSPENSE THRILLERS (Standalone Novels)Shaky
Ken Fry is a multi-award-winning British author known for his captivating storytelling and vivid imagination. With over a dozen published books under his belt, Fry has established himself as a prominent figure in the literary world. His attention to detail and extensive research ensure that readers are fully immersed in the world he has created.
He is now retired and devotes his full time to writing. He lives in the UK and shares his home with 'Dickens' his Shetland Sheepdog.
It can be said that our world exists in a state of virtual juxtaposition. On one hand, it is a place of infinite beauty. New wonders and magnificent scenes taking place right before our very eyes with each passing moment. At the same time, life can be riddled with danger and temptations. These perils can obscure our vision and thus obliterate any chance of appreciating what lies right in front of us. Sitting there- just out of reach. Addiction is one such peril which is accompanied by a ponderous cloud. In his novel, Drunks, Love Through a Shattered Glass, author Ken Fry depicts just such a battle. A brutally raw portrayal of living with an implacable addiction and the ruinous consequences which it will bring.
Essentially, the story follows the lives of the main characters, Al Markham and his wife Chrissy. They definitely do not have what anyone would call a “typical” marriage. Al is the publisher at an elite publishing house, and his job can only be described as demanding and intense. While that may be, it does manage to pay very good money and give his wife Chrissy the life of freedom and disregard she craves. The pair exist in a dysfunctional marriage and really only have one thing in common… an overpowering addiction to alcohol. Make no mistake, this is no mild dependence. Indeed, it is a full- blown obsession which controls every aspect of their lives. Predictably, this love for alcohol starts to negatively and dramatically impact Al’s performance at work. This soon leads to a prompt and heartless pink slip for him. Without their major source of income, the hapless couple find everything start to crumble around them. Will they be able to recover and shake off the demon drink and its many pitfalls? Or are their lives about to take a serious turn for the worst. Seeing not only an end to their already broken union… but to virtually everything else they hold dear as well!
This novel is undoubtedly a twisted romance. It explores various relationships in depth and exposes the devastating impact that alcohol has on them. A comparison of Al’s relationship with Chrissy as opposed to Julie pretty much solidifies this point. One is mired in alcoholic abuse, misery and pain, while the other symbolizes the love and freedom which comes with breaking free from the chains of addiction. Impressively, none of this comes across as “preachy” or didactic. Rather, it is put together with brilliantly flowing writing which will have the reader dying to get to the next page and find out what happens next. The tension that Fry creates in his story is palpable!
While the plot of the story is gripping, it is further backed up by a group of dynamic, realistic and believable characters. They are shown at their best and at their worst. Each one of them could be any one of us- and that is what makes their portrayal so powerful. The rapid fall from grace of Al and Chrissy in particular is something which many of us fear. What happens if we suddenly lose our job and means of supporting ourselves? We all secretly fear this, and it resonates deeply.
By now I am sure it is quite obvious that I loved this novel. Beautiful writing which presents a gripping and inspirational story. However, what stands out the most for me is the way in which the author is able to enter the mind of the alcoholic. This is a battle I personally have and will continue to wage the rest of my life. It never goes away and it comes with secret thoughts and impulses with the passing of each day. As I was reading the novel, I was frequently amazed that the author seemed to be reading my mind. The thoughts of Al and Chrissy are not over the top. They are real, and many people live with them daily. As Ken Fry describes in his Prologue, he is not himself an alcoholic. That fact alone makes it abundantly clear that he must have put an extensive amount of research into the writing of this book! I found it to be a very inspirational piece.
‘Drunks: Love Through a Shattered Glass’ is a very powerful account of what it means to be an alcoholic. It’s the first of Ken Fry’s books that I’ve read and I was highly impressed by his insight and the way in which he has tackled a difficult subject. It gave me a far greater understanding of the alcoholic’s mindset and the ongoing battle that is relentless in its intensity.
This is a harrowing tale of Al Markham and his wife, Chrissy, co-dependent in their slavish addiction to the bottle with neither willing to acknowledge they have a problem – until Al’s light-bulb moment. I won’t give away any spoilers.
Chrissy is unwilling/unable to accept what is happening as we follow the pair in the inevitable collapse of their marriage. Though the story is harrowing, it is not without hope, spurring the reader on in anticipation of a more uplifting outcome.
It is easy to see why so many people turn to drink as a quick fix to escape the problems in their lives, but less understandable when they continue on a path of destruction, despite all the warning signs. It is precisely this point that Ken Fry gets across so compellingly as he delves deeply into the psyche of his protagonists. Their rationale is brought into sharp clarity and can be related to all addictions, be they substance abuse or nicotine. The book is both insightful and thought-provoking. It doesn’t make for light reading, but is nevertheless engaging from start to finish. The author’s easy-flowing style and realistic character portrayal elicits a gamut of emotions as the story progresses.
Pick up a copy. I promise you won’t be disappointed. A well deserved 5* for an amazing piece of work.
It can be said that our world exists in a state of virtual juxtaposition. On the one hand, it is a place of infinite beauty: new wonders and magnificent scenes taking place right before our very eyes with each passing moment. At the same time, life can be riddled with danger and temptations. These perils can obscure our vision and thus obliterate any chance of appreciating what lies right before us. Sitting there- just out of reach.
Addiction is one such peril which is accompanied by a ponderous cloud. In his novel, Drunks, Love Through a Shattered Glass, author Ken Fry depicts just such a battle. A brutally raw portrayal of living with an implacable addiction and the ruinous consequences that it will bring.
Essentially, the story follows the lives of the main characters, Al Markham and his wife Chrissy. They definitely do not have what anyone would call a “typical” marriage.
Al is the publisher at an elite publishing house, and his job can only be described as demanding and intense. While that may be, it does manage to pay very good money and give his wife Chrissy the life of freedom and disregard she craves. The pair exist in a dysfunctional marriage and really only have one thing in common… an overpowering addiction to alcohol.
Make no mistake, this is no mild dependence. Indeed, it is a full-blown obsession that controls every aspect of their lives. Predictably, this love for alcohol starts to negatively and dramatically impact Al’s performance at work. This soon leads to a prompt and heartless pink slip for him. Without their major source of income, the hapless couple finds everything starting to crumble around them.
Will they be able to recover and shake off the demon drink and its many pitfalls? Or are their lives about to take a serious turn for the worse? Seeing not only an end to their already broken union… but to virtually everything else they hold dear as well!
This novel is undoubtedly a twisted romance. It explores various relationships in depth and exposes the devastating impact that alcohol has on them. A comparison of Al’s relationship with Chrissy as opposed to Julie pretty much solidifies this point. One is mired in alcoholic abuse, misery and pain, while the other symbolizes the love and freedom that comes with breaking free from the chains of addiction.
Impressively, none of this comes across as “preachy” or didactic. Rather, it is put together with brilliantly flowing writing which will have the reader dying to get to the next page and find out what happens next. The tension that Fry creates in his story is palpable!
While the plot of the story is gripping, it is further backed up by a group of dynamic, realistic and believable characters. They are shown at their best and their worst. Each one of them could be any one of us- and that is what makes their portrayal so powerful. The rapid fall from grace of Al and Chrissy in particular is something which many of us fear. What happens if we suddenly lose our job and means of supporting ourselves? We all secretly fear this, and it resonates deeply.
By now I am sure it is quite obvious that I loved this novel. Beautiful writing that presents a gripping and inspirational story. However, what stands out the most for me is the way in which the author is able to enter the mind of the alcoholic. This is a battle I personally have and will continue to wage the rest of my life. It never goes away and it comes with secret thoughts and impulses with the passing of each day.
As I was reading the novel, I was frequently amazed that the author seemed to be reading my mind. The thoughts of Al and Chrissy are not over the top. They are real, and many people live with them daily.
As Ken Fry describes in his Prologue, he is not himself an alcoholic. That fact alone makes it abundantly clear that he must have put an extensive amount of research into the writing of this book! I found it to be a very inspirational piece.
Drunks by Ken Fry is a tale that’s deeply personal and dramatic and is an ultimately inspirational story that is told with an infusion of romance. This story is narrated by Alan Markham, the main character, and his journey and experiences with alcoholism, marriage, and learning to conquer and control addiction. Alan and his wife, Chrissy, appear to have the life everyone wants – Alan has a successful career, and Chrissy lives a free, luxurious, and enjoyable life. Still, just below the surface, there’s trouble in their marriage.
As both Alan and Chrissy struggle with their marriage and lives together, they share a common addiction, alcohol. While the couple attempts to keep an illusion of normalcy in their lives, they quickly descend into severe alcoholism, which impacts every level of their lives, from Alan’s career, their marriage, and financial stability. The author does an exceptional job of highlighting the compound impact of an alcoholic couple and how dangerous their health and lives become within a short time.
I enjoyed Ken Fry’s narration as Alan Markham and the gritty and realistic story that unfolds. It’s both sobering and inspirational. It does a fantastic job of stripping away the glamourous façade of sipping martinis and cocktails in upscale lounges and reveals the dark and tragic lives of alcoholics and their various struggles.
The author gives his characters interesting layers and shows how they appear successful and prestigious in their upper-class lifestyle while suffering from their addiction and dysfunction. Maintaining the appearance of perfection and success takes a toll on the couple, who eventually must face their inner struggles, and this dueling lifestyle makes for a compelling drama but a tragic life.
Ken Fry’s Drunks is a poignant yet inspirational story that focuses on the reality of what many couples face and how financial success can mask alcoholism. It’s an entertaining read that gives the reader an in-depth look at how codependency impacts people, even when they appear to be self-sufficient and content.
I’m not quite sure why I felt compelled to read this book. I suppose it was because I have personally known so many alcoholics, from the famous, to friends, to acquaintances, to strangers, and to the homeless. Having seen how alcohol has devastated so many lives … and understanding how deeply alcoholics affect those in their midst, I was curious to see how the author would tell this story. I can answer that in one word: brilliantly.
Writing the synopsis of a plot in a review isn’t very important to me. I only need to say that this novel was about an alcoholic couple, Al and Chrissy Markham, and how drink affected their marriage, their subsequent relationships, and every nuance of the world around them. Fry did an excellent job of characterizing the common, yet unique ways that alcoholism affects different people. There is no one description that fits all, and this is why I found this story so compelling and painfully real. I know this story will stay with me for a long time.
There is so much that factors into how an alcoholic fares in life, and the odds for sobriety are definitely not with most. Aside from the author painting his characters with an incredibly authentic brush, the plot was well structured, twisting and turning in places I wasn’t expecting. But never, for a moment, did anything feel contrived or overblown. The story was excellent. And yes, in many ways, it was triggering to read. I don’t know anyone who could read this and not be haunted in some way by events past or present. And that is precisely why it’s a superb novel.
There is nothing worst than having a couple drink together. "Love makes the world go around, so we think when you have a partner that drinks, they will enable you to drink, and vise versa.
Alcoholism is a disease a study in 2020 (19 million children or 28.6 percent of children 0-7 years is exposed at some time before age 18 to families alcohol dependences (alcoholism), and some grow up to be additive.
I could relate to the story. A wild roller coaster of drinking, lies, blame, cheating, and maybe the person's life cut short. If you want to read a reality of life story, don't look any further.
I was born in a home of alcoholics, and the talented Ken Fry did not hold back with his fantastic raw writing; they are always consequences in one's action. It's bittersweet. I highly recommend this intriguing book.
"Drunks" by Ken Fry is a novel that takes a hard look at the lives of functioning alcoholics who are on the brink of losing their grip. It may not be a comfortable read for many people, but it gives a daring, stark account of how alcohol dependency can destroy lives in increments that can seem tolerable for years. Main characters Al and Chrissy, both alcoholics, live what appears to be a totally acceptable upper middle class life as long as they don't look too closely at it. But as the edges start to unravel from their constant drinking, it becomes apparent that something is very wrong....a fact which seems to escape both of them until they are caught in a downward spiral that won't let go. Kudos to the author for a superb job of tackling tough subject matter with unapologetic honesty.
This book!! I couldn’t stop reading the book as soon as I started it. When I first saw the cover, I knew from the beginning it’s a must read! From the bitter truth of Alcoholism and the way Alcohol changes a person and their health it’s all there in this book. The plot revolves around the characters Alan-Chrissy, their lives and how being two alcoholics changes everything for them. The book is a must read serious drama. I would definitely recommend it to all readers to actually get to know how much Alcohol can affect someone if one is addicted to it. How it totally changes everything. And the hardest part is the process of coming out of the addiction, not everyone can handle that. It’s a reality.
I first read Ken Fry 's first draft of Drunks 30 years ago and felt then that it was a powerful story that needed to be told. I've been nagging Ken annually since then to get this story out into the world and I'm so pleased that this has finally happened. His handling of the complex relationships involved, the prime one being with alcohol, is masterly and he creates real tension throughout. A difficult subject skillfully handled.