How To Murder Your Life

Description

At the age of 15, Cat Marnell unknowingly set out to murder her life. After a privileged yet emotionally-starved childhood in Washington, she became hooked on ADHD medication provided by her psychiatrist father. This led to a dependence on Xanax and other prescription drugs at boarding school, and she experimented with cocaine, ecstasy...whatever came her way. By 26 she was a talented 'doctor shopper' who manipulated Upper East Side psychiatrists into giving her never-ending prescriptions; her life had become a twisted merry-go-round of parties and pills at night, and trying to hold down a high profile job at Conde Naste during the day. With a complete lack of self-pity and an honesty that is almost painful, Cat describes the crazed euphoria, terrifying comedowns and the horrendous guilt she feels lying to those who try to help her. Writing in a voice that is utterly magnetic - prompting comparisons to Brett Easton Ellis and Charles Bukowski - she captures something essential both about her generation and our times. Profoundly divisive and controversial, How to Murder Your Life is a unforgettable, charged account of a young female addict, so close to throwing her entire life away.

Reviews

"Marnell recounts parties and drugs and sex in writing that mirrors the experience of being on drugs - sometimes fizzing ... and, just as often, cold and blunt and brutal" Guardian "Challenging ... captivating and controversial" The Atlantic Wire "Marnell is arguably the Internet's most divisive writer ... reading about a drug addict's life while she's an active addict, especially in real time, is fascinating and a little bit scary" The Daily Beast "A gifted memoirist ... [She displays] a willingness to tell unflattering truths about herself that reminded me of Elizabeth Wurtzel, author of Prozac Nation" New York Times Magazine "With her divisive mix of ego, honesty, sordidness and humor, Ms. Marnell is becoming the latest online lightning rod" Wall Street Journal

Author description

Cat Marnell is a Conde Nast drop-out and former beauty editor at Lucky and xoJane.com. She wrote the 'Amphetamine Logic' column for Vice. How to Murder Your Life is her first book.