Official Review: Silencing the Enemy Within by Marsha Rene

[Gabrielle Sigaki]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Silencing the Enemy Within" by Marsha Rene.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Marsha Rene was young when she started using drugs. At first, she drank and smoked a little, but later she started using illicit drugs too. Her life wasn't easy. One of the reasons why she felt lost and started using drugs was the death of her father. He wasn't perfect, and sometimes he would provoke her mother to fight him. Marsha feared him, but she still loved him. Even though he wasn't a good example since he smoked a lot, he was the principal source of income and the family's sense of identity to the Jewish community. After his death, her mother started to work more to meet the needs of the three kids. However, her mother also denied that Marsha was affected by drug addiction, which also complicated her recovery.

Silencing the Enemy Within by Marsha Rene is a non-fiction book that brings the author's struggles with addiction. She states that her fight against it is constant, and it isn't over yet, even though she already stopped using drugs. Addiction is a disease that urges the person to keep consuming, and it's not a choice.

My favorite aspect of this memoir was the author's authenticity and honesty. She didn't try to cover her experiences to create a perfect story. She tells the naked truth of her life, talking about the abuses she suffered that started in her youth, the situations of overdose, how Marsha was almost arrested because she couldn't stay inside an airplane for too long without using drugs. It is a tense and emotional story that might inspire the readers who passed through addiction. My favorite quote from the book is, “As long as there is still a breath in your body you still have a chance to change and save your life because it’s not over until it’s over. The ultimate bottom is death—no more chances and no more choices.”

I didn't find anything that I disliked in this book. It seems professionally edited since I only saw few errors in it. Most of them were typos that didn't distract me.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It is a non-fiction and inspirational book that talks about the life and the struggles of people who fight addiction every day. I recommend this volume to those readers who enjoy memoirs and biographies about real determined people. Nevertheless, I don't recommend it to young readers since this book contains profanities and some references to sexual abuse that might be triggering or disturbing.

******
Silencing the Enemy Within
View: on Bookshelves

[Drianie]

This will give readers an insightful look into the life of someone struggling with drug addiction. The author experienced many difficulties and hardships in her life, and I think it's commendable that she shares her experience with others. I appreciate the detailed review. Thanks!

[Kennedy NC]

Death and tragedy normally leads us into a deep pit of depression and bad habits. Great review.

[Heidadela]

This book would be helpful to people who are fighting addictions. It takes determination and courage to admit addiction. It also takes willpower to stop sinking deeper into it. Thank you for a wonderful review.