Coming Clean: A Memoir

This is Kim's story of always remembering where she's from and a

This is Kim's story of always remembering where she's from and always remembering to not settle.  Kimberly studies people, she want to emulate a self-assured, easy going school girl. But every day she returns to the rat infested, mildewed house reminding her of who she really is. The thing that really impressed me about this book is that Miller managed to describe the horrors of growing up with her parents and the continued frustration of her father's mental illness, while at the same time making a very convincing case that her parents were caring and loving people who did the best job they could raising her. Miller does not try to villainize her parents.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes autobiographies as well as anyone who is interested in mental illness. The other thing I love about it is that even though it's a very deep book, the topic itself isn't inherently disturbing so I feel really comfortable recommending it to people (as opposed to Etched in Sand or Another Forgotten Child, which focus on physical child abuse for example). It's a deep book, but it's also easy to read and relate to. I can't recommend it highly enough.
   

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

I couldn't put this book down. Having known a couple who couldn

I couldn't put this book down. Having known a couple who couldn't throw a thing a way and had tiny paths through their house, I was very curious about this book. It was exceptional. The author did a fantastic job of relating her thoughts and feelings. I found it to be very uplifting and traumatic at the same time. A really great read.

The author is brutally honest about growing up in a hoarder's ho

The author is brutally honest about growing up in a hoarder's home and it is very hard to read at times. But the book was so interesting I finished it in one day. What I remember is her total fear of anyone learning about her house & parents, how she got around not inviting friends over, kept herself clean and went to school. The second half about her adult life, when the memories returned was just as heartbreaking, how she tried to help her parents over and over again. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

4.5 stars I don't read a lot of memoirs, either because they ar

4.5 stars

I don't read a lot of memoirs, either because they are generally dry recitations of facts or the author seems to use her life just as fodder for comedic punchlines. By contrast, the humor in Miller's book is the gentle humor each of us experiences in our own lives, when we realize that our only options are to cry or to laugh. Having read about Miller's childhood and her ongoing battles with her parents' hoarding, I came away amazed that she not only survived but also managed to maintain a loving relationship with both parents.

What struck me most, however, was Miller's surprise that she was not the only person in the world who had to deal with hoarding. While perhaps not so extreme as to qualify as hoarders, my mother, husband, and sister-in-law's mother are (or were) extreme shoppers or lovers of paper and broken appliances which might come in handy "some day." I can assure Miller that many of us watch "Hoarders," not to laugh or "for fun," but because the program enables us to say, "There but for the grace of God go I." Reminding yourself that someone else is always worse off sometimes is the only thing that enables you to go on. I wish I could give Miller's book to every child living with a hoarding parent; I firmly believe it would help keep them from sinking into the despair which almost led Miller to commit suicide.

I highly recommend Coming Clean to anyone interested in understanding hoarding from the inside.

Thoughtful Memoir

I have so much respect for Kimberly Rae Miller; she was able to write a very thoughtful memoir without condemning her parents. While events were often harrowing and left me aghast, she allowed me to see the grace,compassion and love she has for her parents. We truly can become who we want to be inspite of difficulty in childhood. She is my new hero.

Engrossing Read

It was truly an amazing read. What stands out is the author's unfailing love and respect for her parents.

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