Confessions of a Bi-Polar Mardi Gras Queen

Marie Etienne
Alluvium Brooks (2009)
ISBN 9780974847412
Reviewed by Danelle Drake for Reader Views (11/08)

Marie Etienne writes: “Until I began writing, my life often felt like a communal toilet overflowing with shit.”  No shit, Marie Etienne’s book, “Confessions of a Bi-Polar Mardi Gras Queen” is one of the most complex soul-bearing books you will ever read, yet bust-a-gut funny!  Each compelling story gives you a glimpse into her sometimes violent, sometimes tragic, sometimes zany life.

Getting our glimpse into the window of a prosperous Louisiana family shows that regardless of the setting, no life is a fairy-tale.  Families can love and laugh for all to see but what goes on behind the big, fancy front door makes us into what we grow up to be.  Even the most tragic of incidents can be a learning experience and Marie has spent her life learning, now is the time for living.  Writing is Marie’s way of climbing out of the hole and living her life for her, realizing family is what you are served up, love them but you don’t have to be like them.  Love is more what isn’t than what is, and so she wakes up each day, sees the hand being dealt and just hangs on.

There’s a bit of each of us in Marie’s stories.  Many of her mom excerpts were as if I was looking in a mirror.  During our own stressful periods we need to heed this email sent to Marie from a friend:   

“Some days (when I think I’ve lost my marbles for doing what I am) I read this.  Thought it might speak to you, too.”

“Alice Hoffman to Adelphi University’s 106th commencement in 2002: ‘You have to take a chance.  What may appear to be the safe choice may be anything but.  What appears to be the risk – the impractical decision – may be your destiny.  If you are true to yourself, there’s no way you can lose.’ Love, Melissa.”

“Confessions of a Bi-Polar Mardi Gras Queen” by Marie Etienne is one of those great works that will, as you read the final page and close the book, make you realize a bit of it will stay with you forever.  A must-read book for everyone – especially those that realize that some days life just sucks, things seldom go the exact way you want.  It’s okay, really it is, regardless everything, LIFE IS SO WORTH LIVING!

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