Alcohol played a large role in my extended family’s levity and drama for generations. See Irish family. Addictive personality traits abound in Irish families. I loved beer and all the confidence it seemed to provide. A natural introvert who realized extroversion through the spirit of malted alcohol. Interesting that intrinsically depressed individuals find comfort in a natural depressant.

I pity those who had to be around me during my most obnoxious beer-infused dipsomania-joke reflex could be less than kind. I no longer have a taste for or drink beer. Avoid all alcohol. An allergic response to gluten/wheat made it easier to let go. Do I miss the confidence it provided? No, as confidence comes from a genuine place today. Trying to encourage Neurogenesis and avoid the intake of Neurotoxins like alcohol.**

What I am addicted to and have been since early childhood are serial narrative and strong character development; see literature.

The first book I read as a child that I truly recall was Rudyard Kipling’s Kim in Miss Axelrod’s accelerated reading section, first-grade class. Great story a strong protagonist, and a definitive hero’s journey (see hooked). “Only in the Indian subcontinent could such a protagonist be found; of Irish descent, who is identified as English, speaks Urdu like a Muslim, is ministered to by Hindus, and finally leaves everything in search of salvation with a Buddhist monk. It is as if Kim is a mirror upon which India’s historical and cultural heritage will be reflected. Kipling is certainly not racist or condescending in his Kim. He is in some of his poetry, but certainly not here. He loves Kim and India much too much, or at least that is the impression one is left with at the end of this book. “And Mother Earth was as faithful as the Sahiba. She breathed through him to restore the poise he had lost lying so long on a cot cut off from her good currents. His head lay powerless upon her breast, and his opened hands surrendered to her strength”. Only someone who understands India and Indians can write something like this.

The “Great Game” is mere that a diversion and a game; it is not the plot. It is only relevant in its pursuit of Kim and Tesho Lama’s travel up and down the Himalayas, thus adding to Kim’s experiences and personal encounters in the subcontinent. Regarding the language, I can understand what Kipling is trying to accomplish; Urdu/Hindi has two sets of pronouns, the upper/formal and the lower/familiar. The distinction between the two and their use makes every difference in communication. This complexity/subtlety does not exist in the English language. This is a story of growing up, of maturing, much like those of Jean Louise Finch/Jem or even Alice, and probably that is why it is so endearing.”1

What an adventure, a book like “Kim” could arouse in a young boy’s imagination. The reading switch was turned on-no, the kill switch! Many books to follow (in and out of school). I was reading as a diversion, occupation, or compulsion. To my face, a book as a vestigial organ was not an uncommon sight. I devoured books, drinking in the prose like succulent ambrosia. The mad magazine, followed by a weekly subscription to New Yorker, commenced at age 12.

Another strong recommendation for serial narrative lovers like me is Canadian author Robertson Davies’s Deptford Trilogy.

The prescriptive in a Post Trump world is meditation and joining a book club for therapy.

The ingredients are a compelling narrative, a strong protagonist, and a coherent hero’s journey. Today we have excellent stories on HBO and Netflix. I have canceled both as the acknowledged addiction is too strong to resist. Salve for almost any wound. A great example, with a unique protagonist and interesting narrative, is “The River,” starring Stellan Skarsgard.

Only six episodes long, one is hooked by the first scene, the first episode featuring DI River and his colleague, Detective Sergeant Jackie ‘Stevie’ Stevenson, played by Nicola Walker. The best stories have brooding misanthropes at the heart of the story. This series is no exception, yet we begin to understand the source of DI River’s ennui as we delve further into this compelling story. I highly recommend this serial drama to anyone who has missed it on the first go (DVD available below).

Serial narrative addiction doesn’t appear as a recognized mental health disorder in the DSM-IV. Life is a series of installment stories we hold as true experiences. Characters come and go, and the same 3-5 archetypes (personality types) appear in almost every stage of our life.

I have convinced myself this is a healthy addiction compared to alcohol or other controlled substances. I know it represents a time killer, but who can resist when it captivates?

In literature, a serial is a printed format by which a single larger work, often a work of narrative fiction, is published in sequential installments. The installments are also known as numbers, parts, or fascicles and are either issued as separate publications or within sequential issues of the same periodical publication.

1. Raveesh Varma’s review of Kim on Amazon.

** Neurogenesis is the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain. Neurogenesis is crucial when an embryo is developing but also continues in certain brain regions after birth and throughout our lifespan.

Common examples of neurotoxins include lead, ethanol (drinking alcohol), glutamate, nitric oxide, botulinum toxin (e.g., Botox), tetanus toxin, and tetrodotoxin.

Kim [Full Audiobook Part 1] by Rudyard Kipling

Kim [free full audiobook online listen] by Rudyard Kipling

Author Rudyard Kipling
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Genre Spy & Picaresque novel,
Publication date October 1901

Kim is a novel by Nobel Prize-winning English author Rudyard Kipling. It was first published serially in McClure’s Magazine from December 1900 to October 1901 as well as in Cassell’s Magazine from January to November 1901, and first published in book form by Macmillan & Co. Ltd in October 1901. The story unfolds against the backdrop of The Great Game, the political conflict between Russia and Britain in Central Asia. The novel made the term “Great Game” popular and introduced the theme of great power rivalry and intrigue.

It is set after the Second Afghan War which ended in 1881, but before the Third, probably in the period 1893 to 1898. The novel is notable for its detailed portrait of the people, culture, and varied religions of India. “The book presents a vivid picture of India, its teeming populations, religions, and superstitions, and the life of the bazaars and the road.”

In 1998, the Modern Library ranked Kim No. 78 on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. In 2003 the book was listed on the BBC’s The Big Read poll of the UK’s “best-loved novel.”

Chapter 1- 0:22
Chapter 2- 1:11:40
Chapter 3- 1:50:53
Chapter4- 2:39:24
Chapter 5- 3:29:05
Chapter 6- 4:18:33
Chapter 7- 5:02:35
Chapter 8- 5:44:03

Kim by Rudyard Kipling