Driving in the Rain


Non-Fiction - Memoir
108 Pages
Reviewed on 12/31/2020
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Biography


Author Nadia Bruce-Rawlings uses grains of her once gritty life to infuse her stories with cathartic realism. She grew up traveling the world and living in various countries before settling in Los Angeles. There she briefly worked at a vitamin factory and then began a long career in the film industry. In recovery since 1998 from drugs, alcohol and an abusive but privileged upbringing, she and her husband have now settled into the Nashville area, where she writes by the lake when she can escape their five kids and dog.
Her stories “Fire” and “Scars” were both finalists in Glimmer Train’s writing contests. Her anthology SCARS was published in 2014 by Punk Hostage Press, followed in 2020 with her anthology DRIVING IN THE RAIN. Her story “Peace Accord” was featured in the Spring 2018 edition of Bluestem Magazine. In addition, she and fellow author Lois Berg co-wrote a song featured in a theatrical event they created and starred in, called “Battered But Not Broken,” which was a Critic’s Pick in the Nashville Scene. The show debuted at The Darkhorse Theatre as a fundraiser for battered women.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

The remarkable memoir, Driving In The Rain, penned by Nadia Bruce-Rawlings, is an inspirational story. This is a quick-read book with short depictions of a challenging life, interspersed with free form poetry. Nadia grew up living in many countries, due to her father’s employment in the oil industry. This is the same man, however, who was unpredictable, alcoholic, and oftentimes violent. Her mother provided love, joy, and some stability to Nadia although she dealt with her own depression. Nadia lived in the unstable world of addiction, including the most dangerous drugs, for many years. Although she had a wonderful career in the film industry in Los Angeles, her addictions led to life in crack houses and other sordid consequences.

The writing in this book is simply outstanding. When the reader is able to picture a scene or capture emotion through a few lines of poetry or prose, the impact is memorable. Nadia takes the reader from the streets in a Middle Eastern city to the hellish facets of an addictive life in a few lines. Each emotion expressed will touch the hearts of all readers. Author Nadia Bruce-Rawlings has written a book of hope in Driving In The Rain. This book will enable other addicts to know there is always the possibility of recovery and it will give a depth of new understanding to those who know and love an addict. It is a poignant rendition of what is possible for those who want to heal a broken life.

Jessica Barbosa

Nadia Bruce-Rawlings’ Driving in the Rain starts with a narration of the character Nadia’s past. She grew up as an oil brat and moved all over the world, living a life of luxury and leisure. Life wasn’t easy even in the lap of luxury; she attempted suicide in Philly and her dad abused her mom. She spiraled downwards from there, cocaine, champagne, coke, and a few pills here and there. Her mom died and she started to hate sleeping and the nightmares it brought her. Soon she found herself at ninety-five pounds and unable to keep a job, but despite all the things she is going through, Nadia keeps living her life fearlessly. Join Nadia as she braves the difficult trials life throws at her, instilling hope that even through the darkest journeys, there can still be light at the end of the tunnel.

There is something compelling about Nadia Bruce-Rawlings’ Driving in the Rain. Every sentence draws my attention and I can’t seem to look away as she narrates the complications and trials of Nadia and other people’s lives. The entire story flows like water, smooth and consistent. I find it somewhat cathartic to read the book with its raw emotions and straight-to-the-point style. With every page I find myself looking forward to the next scenario, the next story, the next narrative. The characters are distinctive, realistic in their thoughts and words. It is easy to relate to them, to imagine yourself in their shoes, to think, ‘if it were me, I would have done this too’. In this memoir, life is complicated, the only thing constant is change. There are regrets, it is unavoidable but life goes on, and sometimes all we can do is keep going and hoping and fighting. Driving in the Rain by Nadia Bruce-Rawlings is a truly mesmerizing memoir I didn’t know I needed.