Strip: A Memoir

by Hannah Sward

Born in the bohemian seventies, Hannah Sward was abandoned by her mother, and lived with her poet father on an island with no stores or cars.  Kidnapped and molested by a stranger at age six, she grew up to be a stripper and a prostitute with a taste for crystal meth—which seemed to be a sure-fire way to lose weight —with stops along the way for silent gurus, sugar daddies, and drinking in the CVS bathroom before therapy sessions. Painstakingly honest, often humorous, Strip is a heartfelt memoir revealing a woman’s journey from innocence to a dark existence, and beyond it to a world of empowerment.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Sexuality, Labor, Biography Memoir, Addiction

292 pages, Paperback

Published September 6, 2022

About the author

Hannah Sward is the awarding-winning author of the critically acclaimed book, Strip: A MEMOIR.

Born in Canada, Hannah Sward is the daughter of the late poet, Robert Sward. Her work has appeared in literary journals in the US, Canada, and the UK. Her most recent work can be read in the LA Times and HuffPost.

A two time IAN book award winner and an International Book Award Finalist , STRIP has garnered attention from Nobel Prize in Literature, J.M. Coetzee, NYT Bestselling author Caroline Leavitt and Bestselling author, Christina McDowell.

“Elegant prose, stripped of all sensationalism and demands for pity...a fresh, literary addition to the courageous and resonant addiction-memoir genre.” —BOOKLIST

"Arresting, weighty, and visceral as hell, Hannah Sward's Strip is a crushing tale of physical, emotional and spiritual survival.” —MELISSA BRODER, award-winning author of Milk Fed

“Hannah Sward’s memoir of how she blundered into the sex industry is touchingly honest, and written with a light touch.” —JM COETZEE, Nobel Prize in Literature winner, author of Disgrace

Reviews

[Stephanie ~~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah's writing is superb. This memoir was one of the most moving and prosaic memoirs to have hit the stands last year. Rarely does a memoir check all the boxes: succinct and filled with sensory imagery, poetic, raw, authentic, courageous, and honest.

This novel captures one woman's history with addiction, yes. Yet it's much more complex and multilayered than one surmises. We get a glimpse into familial bonds, friendships, the humanistic angle of sex work. We fall in love with this artistic soul, crying out to rise from the ashes of what remains and begin again.

Touching and compulsively engaging, this is a memoir that voracious readers of all genres will be grateful to pick up and devour in one sitting.

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strip: A Memoir by Hannah Sward

What a propulsive memoir about growing up with parents searching for themselves and leaving little Hannah vulnerable and alone. As the book unspools, we continue to witness how she deals with abandonment and abuse later in her life. I know that sounds like kind of a harrowing reading experience, but for me, it wasn't. I spent most of the book rooting for Hannah and being sure that she was going to make it. She does.

I often balk when considering reading books about addiction. I appreciate learning more about the disease but growing up around it was difficult and sometimes reading stories about it is just too much. Sward keeps her book moving and also does an incredible job of reflecting back to her young self, wondering if she'd be different and make different choices if she'd been protected as a child. (That resonates, big time).

And the book is about many things, not just addiction. Sward is a sister, a student, a writer and a sex worker. She battles with addiction and body dysmorphia and most importantly finding her way forward in life where she can support and care for herself. A struggle I think most of us can relate to.

Really impressive book.

[Eldonna Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

You might expect to pick up this book thinking it's about a stripper, which it is, but it is so much more than that. Strip is a very personal memoir written by a talented writer who shares tumultuous life events without using titillating narrative in order to sensationalize her downward spiral into sex work, drug addiction, and a constant struggle with deep-seated abandonment issues. Sward's prose is stunningly simple, drawing you into the story in short spurts of memory and confession. I loved the present-tense opening from the child-self who loves her bohemian father and longs for connection with the mother who left. The remaining chapters are narrated as an adult reflecting on her gradual arrival at the intersection of trauma and forgiveness, both of herself and others. As a memoirist myself, I'm drawn to stories about real people in real situations that are relatable to all of us. Strip is a great story written by a damn good writer.

[kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I always wanted to be a woman like her. The kind of woman who goes to the farmer’s market and buys yellow gerberas or peonies for herself and puts organic basil in her salad… I wondered what kind of woman I would be like if my mom hadn’t left. Maybe I would have chosen basil over meth.”

Strip is a deeply personal account of a life marked by extraordinary challenges and resilience. Sward courageously shares her story about the traumatic experiences of her youth, her descent in to addiction and her time as a sex worker. Readers are taken on a journey as they witness Sward’s transformation from a young, confused child to a strong, capable woman.

In Part One, we get a peek in to Sward’s childhood and her approach to it was interesting—written from the viewpoint of herself as a child, rather than a reflection as an adult. I quite enjoyed it. The chapters are short but they are jam packed with beautiful, poetic prose (a talent she must have acquired from her poet father whom she adores) and it is searingly honest.

Equally heart-wrenching and empowering. I would strongly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a short, thought-provoking non-fiction read with raw, authentic storytelling.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Sward’s writing is exquisite. She masterfully paints her journey from trauma to prostitution and addiction, and out - to reclamation, passion, and her true calling, writing. The prose is lyric yet spare and the plot unfolds in vignettes that carry the reader with care - the writing deft and vivid. Long after the turning of the last page, this story will remain with the reader - like the fragrance of redwoods and the warmth of a hand.

[Casey Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Strip, Hannah Sward guides readers through her tumultuous childhood as the daughter of an irresponsible father who is also brilliant poet and a mother who moves halfway across the country to form a new family. She leaves Hannah behind, setting off many years of longing for a life and half sister Rilke she cannot always reach. Through her clear, unsentimental voice, we understand Hannah's struggles to find her place in the world, and her connection with her beloved Rilke, which both saves and challenges her. Though many years of sex work, stripping, and addiction ensue, there somehow remains a light within Hannah that reassures us she will ultimately find her way out. Strip provides a window into the humanity of those who do the jobs and live the lives we'd prefer to pretend don't exist. This is its gift to all of us.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My mom left when I was two. While I was in her belly and my dad was standing on his head to find a poem, she’d met a sculptor, Paul.”

Strip offers us a look into the hurdles Hannah navigated; growing up impoverished in Canada with her poet father who rattled through lovers, damp summers spent in Florida with her estranged mother, the carefree move to LA to pursue higher dreams, and the inevitable fall into addiction and the sex industry.

Hannah’s prose is succinct and digestible and her intelligence and hope shines through, even when she’s doing meth in a CVS bathroom stall. Seriously. If you like a well written memoir that doesn’t shy away from the gritty and the real, you’ll enjoy this.

[Kony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strip is gorgeous in its bare-bones prose and artfully rendered details. It's an unsentimental self-portrait of a bright little girl born into lostness and parental neglect, who cannot shake her lostness and emotional hunger as she grows up. The opening chapters are narrated in a child's innocent voice, and as time moves on, the voice evolves into that of a young woman, equal parts fierce and soft, finding her way in a world where her dreams seem always out of reach, her body becomes a monetary resource, and yet there are moments of beauty and tenderness. There is precious little navel-gazing and yet the growth of her character is vivid and tangible from beginning to end.

[Suki Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Strip” by Hannah Sward, is vulnerable and honest, raw and poetic; detailing the events of her childhood and recounting her life as a sex worker and an addict. Sward’s writing is both succinct in its imagery and lyrical in momentum. I found myself slowing down to read, and then reread page after page. I didn’t want to miss anything and wanted to fully appreciate every nuance. It is unbelievably poignant. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!!

[Kyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible memoir. I love Hannah's writing. An incredible story of hope and resilience. Highly recommended.

Merged review:

An incredible memoir. I love Hannah's writing. An incredible story of hope and resilience. Highly recommended.

[Betty Pascal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seldom even read books but this one is so good I didn't want it to end. Loved it! ❤

[Brian Mccarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved Jesus’s Son, read this. I can’t praise this book enough. I just couldn’t put it down, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

[Sholeh Wolpé · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing an honest memoir is like ripping off your own heart and re-routing the veins so you can pump out the story. This is what Hannah Sward has done in Strip. This is a book I highly recommend.

[Kim Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in two sittings - couldn't put it down! The author's relationship with her mom really hit me hard -- I could relate. Thanks for the courage to share your beautifully written memoir.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking, bravely-told story portrayed in "stripped down" language that nevertheless does not skimp on brutal details.

[Padma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah Sward's "Strip: a memoir" is sensitive without being sentimental, tragic but not indulgent, unblinkingly honest and even cinematic. It is the hero's journey Joseph Campbell told us about, being lost in the wilderness and finding a way home. It is a journey into the Underworld—in this case transactional sex and substance abuse—that is clearly stated, even simple to read, but at the same time erudite and gripping. This is a real life, as really lived, and so dignified in its frightening honesty that the reader must wonder whether its recounting was itself traumatizing, or cleansing. Probably both. It is a humbling read in that we admire her, while at the same time not romanticizing her. Although marketed as a journey of recovery, I think it's really a journey about finding herself as a writer. Shocking, but beautiful.

[Marilyn Bousquin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath the surface story of addiction and sex work and abandonment in Hannah Sward’s gorgeous memoir Strip runs a pulse, a voice, that is as honest as it is raw, as tender as it is fierce. Told chronologically in spare, gripping vignettes, Strip offers a portrait of what it means to lose yourself to your pain only to finally—and fully—find yourself in your courage and in your dreams. I LOVE this book. If you want to learn how to set down your pretenses and be truer to yourself and to others, read this memoir. It will grow you into the human you are here to be, and it will make you more present to the beauty that exists in being true to yourself. I could not put it down.

[Lauren Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Sward's book is captivating, weaving a compelling narrative that immerses you in the author's unique experiences. The storytelling is engaging, making it hard to put down as the author shares her journey with authenticity and depth.

Definitely recommend!

[Courtney Kocak · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a pleasure to read Strip. For starters, I love sex work memoirs as a genre. Sward's was unique in its simple yet poignant prose—the innocence and immediacy of the language is perfection. I'm a big fan of short memoir chapters, which made for a fast, breezy read.

[Courtney Elizabeth Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this entire book in one sitting. So many parts I related to SO MUCH as a woman… I cannot thank Hannah enough for her strength in recovery and for surviving so many things someone should never have to. And — omg. I want to see the photo of Hannah and the horse that she loves looking at! 🥹🥹🥹

[Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprise and delight to find this book! It fits so well in the growing genre of smart, feminist, literary nonfiction about sex workers and unconventional lives, yet lacks the common pitfalls of this niche. For example, there's no whinging/moralizing/self-pity. Sward is so blunt and effective with her language, there is no fat around the words. The subject matter is hard at times, but it's also incredibly straightforward and honest. I completely trust the narration, unlike other books that would be catalogued alongside it. Of course, it isn't ONLY about quitting drugs and sex work, it is also such a fascinating glimpse into the bohemian upbringing of Sward, from Santa Cruz to Toronto to Florida. It is so completely relatable, and I think this is true for readers who grew up in the opposite manner. This is achieved through the skilled way language is implemented, a true writer can tap into those places and make it seem effortless. I really hope this book goes far, because it is special.

[Rochelle Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Sward’s life-affirming, heart-expanding memoir Strip is a must-read for anyone who wants to lose themselves in a world from which some never return – but in the hands of a narrator who will take you there and back with loving truth. Sward illuminates the power of hope and the human spirit – the value of connection and resilience. She helps us celebrate the strength of surrender – a seeming contradiction. She is asked to abandon behaviors with no expectations of abundance – and yet, that is what’s on the other side. To strip is to reveal, to excavate, to stand bare in one’s power. I found Strip a compelling, inspiring memoir. The story was both a page-turner, filled with “what happens next?” tension. Will she or won’t she? But at the same time, it’s the kind of reflective experience that made me want to slow down and spend time on the images and the situations – that made me want to spend time with the characters and the iconic Los Angeles locations. It also made me laugh, with recognition, and with surprise. Sward’s sprawling journey unfolded in bite-size chapters. Her language is matter of fact and radically honest, while also being lyrical and poetic in completely accessible ways. It reads like a series of story-songs that paint pictures of everyday imagery and remind us how intensely rich everyday can be – and when I say rich, I mean rich in all manner of experiences - some joyous, some not. Sward is able to use humility and humor to bring an immediacy and vibrancy to mind-numbing, body-numbing realities – acting as a bridge between the dark and light. This is an extremely satisfying memoir, the kind that transcends the writer’s personal experience and speaks to universal themes in the most intimate ways – stripped of pretense and judgement – wrapped in respect.

[ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is as real as it gets. No sugar coating or watering down the events that happened. The author does a superb job at bringing the reader to see life through her eyes. Very well written

[Darryl A. Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I consider a memoir of this nature, I wonder how a person like Hannah Sward could offer up her often unflattering truth to the public. It wasn’t until well into this piece I recognized her story doesn’t define who she is today. Her story shows me how far her courage and determination has taken her. I don’t feel alone in this world knowing there are other people like Hannah who have clawed their way back from the cards they were dealt as a child.
There is hope.

[Sophia Goodwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! Hannah has such an interesting story I loved reading about her life. It is very well written too. You should read this book!!!

[Jad Nickola · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read Ben Stein’s blurb about Sward’s “Jaw-dropping talent” – I had to buy Strip. Written in bite sized chapters I was immediately taken in. Poetic yet not word. What a colorful life filled with so many challenges yet, as I’ve read in so many reviews, the author never feels sorry for herself. This is a story of triumph over incredible odds. I highly recommend this astonishing memoir.

[Stephen Sacco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Sward tells her story with frankness and poetry and immerses you in the sights, sounds and sensations of whatever she is writing about. Pick up this book, you will not regret it!

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sobering, sad memoir. Hannah had a difficult childhood. She bounced back and forth between her parents’ homes and their changing partners. She worked as a sex worker and other various jobs to pay the bills, while trying to kick her drug habit.
The ending was a bit incomplete. I was left wondering several questions.
It was interesting reading about her life, but extraordinary sad too.
Thanks to Edwlweiss and Tortoise books for the early read.

[Lea Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brava, to Hannah Sward! In Strip she has done an amazing job telling this painful part of her story. It was a page turner for me, and increasingly so as it progressed. It's all in the details, so beautifully done. After finishing it, memories / feelings of my own 'dirty years' were vividly present....a testament to the writing. And I felt appreciation for those years which have so informed the person I am grateful to be today.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Sward uses spare, elegant prose to weave fragmented events—painful ones, good ones, and everywhere in between—into an understated yet powerful portrait of a woman whose talent, perseverance, and yearning to create define her exceptional life. This is a memoir that will stay with me, a book I will revisit and reread for inspiration about writing and life.