Double Helix

A Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, and Jazz in Two Voices

Non-Fiction - Memoir
360 Pages
Reviewed on 08/02/2022
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    Book Review

Reviewed by ALEX NDIRANGU for Readers' Favorite

What a life-changing and inspiring journey. When I finished Double Helix, this was the feeling that stuck with me the most. The co-memoir of Ed and Diane Reed spans 50 years of a volatile interracial love story tested by addiction, loss of trust, failure, eyes that don't want them to be together, and even divorce. Ed and Diane reflect on their experiences as they advance from detrimental co-dependence to personal anguish to a resolute commitment to save their enduring love in this soul-searching journey. They also talk about how they got sober as they got older to help them deal with life's harsh realities. The book is not only informative but also genuinely honest and emotional.

Most people would make an effort to conceal their unpleasant background. But Ed and Diane Reed are an exception to this rule. It is clearly admirable that they both worked together to share their unpleasant past, which will undoubtedly alter the perceptions of many people. I found that reading their memoir helped me see myself differently. I enjoyed how the narrative measurably developed without ever having a dull moment. I experienced a rollercoaster of excitement, enchantment, and passion as I turned each page in the hope that Ed and Diane's horrors would end and their victory would not fall apart. This was my primary motivation for reading the book. I found nothing in the book to be disappointing. Double Helix, in my opinion, will be a helpful read for anyone battling addiction, interested in motivational memoirs, and curious about how racism influences social lives.