An essay(with outline)on the novel by Caroline Knapp titled Drinking: A Love Story
Thesis: Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp is a story of one woman 's struggle
with alcoholism. She discusses the possible link between heredity and alcoholism, how
she is effected by alcohol and how her life becomes uncontrollable as a result.
I. Introduction to drinking
A. Her family
B. How it makes her feel
1. Social reasons
2. Avoidance of self-awareness
3. Physical Symptoms
II. What is an alcoholic?
A. "Skid row bum"
B. "High functioning alcoholic"
III. Is heredity a factor?
A. Her father
B. Other families
IV. Discomfort + drink = no discomfort
A. Social situations
V. Public vs. private drinking
A. No holds barred drinking
B. Maintaining the façade
VI. Denial
A. The rules
B. Young, professional, female
C. The double life
1. Alcoholic drama
2. Two men
a. Julian "the big improvement"
b. Michael
VII. The Pregnancy
A. Michael vs. Julian
VIII. Hitting bottom
A. The death of her parents
IX. Realization
A. Her father 's alcoholism
B. Playing with children
X. Rehab and after
Drinking: A Love Story
Drinking: A Love Story is the description of the author 's ordeal with alcoholism and
her decision to quit drinking. She reflects on the familial pattern of this disease and the
maddening, uncontrollable situations alcoholism puts her in. Her book offers a
thorough look into the alcoholic disease process. After reading this book, you may look
at drinking and people who drink, in a different light.
She began the book asking herself how she became an alcoholic. Was it a result of
upbringing? She looked back on her early years, "Hometown: Cambridge,
Massachusetts, backyard of Harvard University. Education: Brown University, class of
'81, magna cum laude. Parents: esteemed psychoanalyst (dad) and artist (mom), both
devoted and insightful and keenly intelligent." (Knapp, 7-8)
The author may not have been able to tell us why she was an alcoholic, but she could
tell the reader how the drinking made her feel: socially adept and
with alcoholism. She discusses the possible link between heredity and alcoholism, how
she is effected by alcohol and how her life becomes uncontrollable as a result.
I. Introduction to drinking
A. Her family
B. How it makes her feel
1. Social reasons
2. Avoidance of self-awareness
3. Physical Symptoms
II. What is an alcoholic?
A. "Skid row bum"
B. "High functioning alcoholic"
III. Is heredity a factor?
A. Her father
B. Other families
IV. Discomfort + drink = no discomfort
A. Social situations
V. Public vs. private drinking
A. No holds barred drinking
B. Maintaining the façade
VI. Denial
A. The rules
B. Young, professional, female
C. The double life
1. Alcoholic drama
2. Two men
a. Julian "the big improvement"
b. Michael
VII. The Pregnancy
A. Michael vs. Julian
VIII. Hitting bottom
A. The death of her parents
IX. Realization
A. Her father 's alcoholism
B. Playing with children
X. Rehab and after
Drinking: A Love Story
Drinking: A Love Story is the description of the author 's ordeal with alcoholism and
her decision to quit drinking. She reflects on the familial pattern of this disease and the
maddening, uncontrollable situations alcoholism puts her in. Her book offers a
thorough look into the alcoholic disease process. After reading this book, you may look
at drinking and people who drink, in a different light.
She began the book asking herself how she became an alcoholic. Was it a result of
upbringing? She looked back on her early years, "Hometown: Cambridge,
Massachusetts, backyard of Harvard University. Education: Brown University, class of
'81, magna cum laude. Parents: esteemed psychoanalyst (dad) and artist (mom), both
devoted and insightful and keenly intelligent." (Knapp, 7-8)
The author may not have been able to tell us why she was an alcoholic, but she could
tell the reader how the drinking made her feel: socially adept and
Cited: Knapp, Caroline. Drinking: A Love Story. New York: Dell, 1997. 7