Stray: Memoir of a Runaway

I have mixed feelings while writing this review. After finishing the book, I went back to reread the book descriptions to see what I might have missed when choosing this book. I felt a bit betrayed, as the description didnt exactly fit the story I read.

Stray is author Tanya Marquardts sharing of her teenage history, told from the vantage point of twenty years later and viewed with older and wiser eyes. Yes, the rebellious spirit of a young teenage girl shines through, one that emerges from a broken home and two parents using their children to hurt a former marriage partner. Ms. Marquardt leaves the home of her mother while remaining in the same town and living with friends, eventually winding up in the same city she started at and living with her father.

The main part of the story tells of the authors years away from her parents, detailing endless parties and clubbing. We are privy to her thoughts, running the gamut of what she enjoys about drinking as well as her intimate nervousness concerning young men and sex.

I kept waiting for an epiphany, something that happened that caused her to change direction and head toward a life with more promise. After all, Ms. Marquardt has authored a book and, truth be told, she demonstrates a writing skill that flows well and is engaging.

I never felt the epiphany came, or at least, it wasnt revealed in any detail. Ms. Marquardts senior year flew by in a matter of a few pages and the path to her eventual future is laid out in a few paragraphs. Details of her partying accompanied by teenage angst thus encompasses the majority of the book. These, according to the author, were sourced from my memories, diaries, letters, and recollections.

I am not sure if the authors intentions were to leave readers with a feeling of dissatisfaction, but that was my take by the end of the book. Though well-written, I found the tone to be more teenage reflections than what the book description referred to as gritty. If you are seeking a book about someone trying to escape her earlier life while drinking herself into self-proclaimed blackout states, this might be a book for you. The authors talented writing kept me reading all the way to the end, which unfortunately didnt contain the closure I was looking for. Three-and-a-half stars.

Feeling very conflicted about how to review a memoir, you are basically reviewing someone else’s life experience. I was uncomfortable reading because her life was uncomfortable. Complete dysfunction inside her home that leads to dysfunctional and destructive behavior.

The book details alcoholic benders and blackouts, teenage coming of age while adrift. The whole book is just dark and depressing with no happily ever after ending. Memories of watching 40 year old men hit on teenage girls while plying them with alcohol and drugs is not easy reading. Cigarette smoke wafts from page one through the entire book.

Griity is not really a word to describe the book, more along the lines of depressing, pathetic and sad. The scene where her mother limps off to the hospital after dad has destroyed the kitchen (and minorly injures his hand) and Tanya is left to clean up the broken glass and right the refrigerator on her own. It’s sad.

THE TAKEAWAY:
Graphic details of teenage sexual exploration filtered through a boozy cigarette haze.

It is rough reading with not so much as a redeeming social quality in sight. If you want to read about the failure of a mother to protect her children and just the overall failure of any adult to step in and help then this is it.

This was my pick for the month of August with Amazon First Reads. Stray comes out officially on September 1, 2018.

Raw. Powerful. Emotional. Heart wrenching. These are all the feelings I felt reading Stray. In this memoir Tanya Marquardt takes us on her journey when she was a teenager finishing up high school. She decided to run away from home when she was 16 because the police in Canada could not do anything about it.

Her childhood left me so sad. Marquardt has overcome a lot in her life. She survived through abuse, a rough relationship with her divorced parents, and poverty only to relive it by writing about it. This book reads a lot like a general non-fiction novel and I had to remind myself that this was in fact a true story. My heart kept breaking with every turn of the page.

The ending is anti-climactic but again, it is a memoir. I would have liked more closure at the end of the book, but, that is my opinion. Overall this book was a powerful, insightful read. I really commend Marquardt for staying focused on her education throughout her rough spot in her life. Any more details about this book and it would be giving it all away.

I am giving this book 3 stars. This book was well written and kept my interest. It saddened me to think that there are children, innocent children, out there that live this life. The ending just lacked and I would have appreciated to know the outcome of her transition from high school to college. Obviously, she became successful as she wrote a book but the book just ends with her at an interview for college. I felt like I went on this journey with her for a better life and she left me hanging. It was a bit of a letdown after such a tremendous, powerful read.

The author does an excellent job of portraying how parents use their children as weapons in a failed relationship, and the difficulties of moving into adulthood without the life skills a young person needs and deserves.

She has some life saving mentors who teach her to value herself and her abilities, which strengthens her resolve to succeed.

It was well written considering this is her first novel, and her background is as poet and playwright. There are few errors and the storyline flows extremely well, making this an easy read that I was eager to return to. I would encourage Tanya to continue her storytelling using the varied experiences of her youth.

While Tanya was my favourite character, Lana came a close second as she provided help and encouragement to the struggling teen on a difficult journey.

I would recommend Stray to people who enjoy coming of age, relationship drama and biographies.

I chose this book from my monthly top reads, and to be honest I’m quite disappointed. Her difficult childhood and relationship with her mother and siblings is obviously troubling and could make for a good story… But it isn’t. It’s just desperately depressing and boring. Her teenage life (apart from her fathers abuse) is somewhat typical for any teenager, and in my opinion doesn’t make a good or interesting memoir.
However, others have loved this book, so I suppose it all depends what you’re into.

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