Author: Indra Sena
Published: 2012 by Indra Sena
Genre: Memoir
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About the Book:
Narrated by the teenage girl who lived it, Closet Full of Coke tells the true story of how a New York suburban fifteen-year-old girl’s savvy and wit helps turn the small-time drug business of Armando, a Colombian drug dealer, into a multi-million-dollar cocaine operation that puts them on the DEA’s Wanted List.
This intimate diary gives readers a fast-paced glimpse of the couple’s speedy rise to riches, and their inevitable descent.
These wannabe drug lords of the 1980s New York-to-Florida drug scene end their story only three years later with an untimely death, betrayal, and revenge.
Here is a true account of drug dealers whose obsession with money, power, sex, and glamour drives them to a lifestyle of deceit and recklessness, ending in tragedies that destroy lives forever. (Provided by Pump Up Your Book.)
I was so excited to read this book! Does anyone remember Go Ask Alice? That’s the first thought that came into my mind when I saw the synopsis and I thought, I haven’t read a book like that in a while.
Like the synopsis says, this memoir tells the story of a 15 year old drug dealer. Indra is about to make a buy at her dealer’s house (she currently sells at her high school) and he isn’t there but Armando, her dealer’s supplier is. She goes for a car ride with Armando and soon he becomes her dealer and boyfriend (even though he’s married).
There is so much potential in this book and for it to be based on real life is crazy. It seems like something one would see on a TV special, 20/20, or a movie. It was a fast paced suspenseful read, but I just felt as if a few details could have made it amazing instead of good.
There are a few characters in the book that are frightening. If you make them mad, there is no telling what they might do. One of those people is Armando. Indra knows that he beat up his wife, she saw the bruises on her face so of course she is scared of him. We as readers know this, but my heart didn’t pump in fear in situations when it should have.
The other person was Carlos, Armando’s brother in law. This guy was a legit psycho; he got off on violence. I know Indra must have felt terrified in some of the situations with him, and I wanted to feel it with her, but I just didn’t. Maybe some situations should have just been worded differently?
My heart breaks for the author and her parental situation growing up; it just sounded plan awful. Her parents were addicts and selfish, and being a parent myself, this just broke my heart. Another thing that seriously bothered me was Indra’s non actions in getting a woman she worked with out of jail after they both got in trouble. The woman, Janet I believe, had a kid, and Indra just seems to blow it off. I know she was young, but man, it made my blood boil. (Obviously these situations were well written for me to have reactions such as these.)
Although some things bothered me, and I do feel like it could have been amazing instead of just good, I do think it’s a good book. I read it within a few days, and enjoyed it. And perhaps a teenager on the brink of a bad decision will read this and will change their mind about their future actions. Although it does not have a happy ever after, I still do recommend it.
My Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
~Pam
**I received this book free from Pump Up Your Book in exchange for an honest review.***
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About the Author:
You can visit Indra Sena’s website at www.closetfullofcoke.com. Indra is currently working on her second memoir. It covers two years in her twenties, where she joined the Rainbow Family and traveled the US and abroad.
Her latest book is the memoir, Closet Full of Coke.
Connect & Socialize with Indra
Discuss this book in our PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads by clicking HERE.
***Images, and wording for about the book & author were provided by Pump Up Your Book***
I’m glad that despite some little things you enjoyed the book. I didn’t know this one but the idea is really interesting.
It was definitely an interesting read. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂