This memoir of a young gay man's struggle with multiple addictions kept me intrigued to the end. It's a psychological self-study of the downward spiral he faced, while keeping readers both entertained and heart-broken with his decisions in life. Mama Jean was a larger-than-life mother figure who loved Jamie to the end but may have done unintentional harm with her undying devotion. I really enjoyed this book and wish Jamie much success in his future endeavors. ( )

I am a fan of memoirs, and I have been a fan for a long time now. Oh, I know that readers are not supposed to trust memoirs and believe that they actually contain nothing but the truth, etc. Common sense, after all, and knowledge that our own memories of the distant past are clouded at best, tell us that what we are reading is simply an author's understanding of what happened to him, what shaped him into a person now willing to share a version of that truth with the rest of us. Memoirs are written for a variety of reasons - some memoirists want to boast about their achievements, some are hoping to extend their unexpected 15-minutes of fame, some seem surprised that they are still here to tell us about their lives, and the best ones are so honest with the reader that, for the time it takes to read their story, we become part of the world that shaped them.

Jamie Brickhouse's Dangerous When Wet falls into that last category. More than a decade before Jamie did, I grew up within minutes of the author's Beaumont neighborhood, but the world he lived and grew up in is one I barely recognize. My Jefferson County was a world of rednecks, beer drinking, Friday night football, and hoping one day to escape the place for good. Jamie's world was the other side of that coin, the side that, at the time, I barely suspected might even exist. But Dangerous When Wet is so well written, and so frankly written, that for a few days I found myself living in Jamie's world - and it was a powerful experience.

About midway through the memoir, Jamie Brickhouse describes himself this way:

"I have red hair. I'm a sodomite. I like to drink. Okay, I love to drink. That's who I am: a redheaded, gay, functioning alcoholic. As long as the word functioning is in front of alcoholic, I'm okay. I saw this as a healthy form of self-acceptance."

Unfortunately for Jamie and those closest to him, the word "functioning" would not remain in front of "alcoholic" forever and its disappearance almost cost him his life.

Even as a child, Jamie Brickhouse knew that he was living in Beaumont (and eventually studying at a San Antonio university) only in preparation for his eventual move to New York City. He had big dreams and goals and New York City was the place he needed to be. Even his mother (dubbed by Jamie's friends "Mama Jean") recognized Jamie's move to the city as inevitable - and she loved the city so much herself that she knew it was the best thing for her son.

Jamie made it to New York and he achieved many of his dreams despite the often reckless decisions fueled by his alcoholism. He worked his way into important publishing house positions only to throw it all away for booze and drugs. Through it all, though, his friends, his partner, and his parents were there for him when he needed them most. And it is, I think, the quality and the degree of loyalty of a man's friends and family that reveal who that man is. Judging from the actions of his friends and family, Jamie Brickhouse must be quite a guy.

Dangerous When Wet is as outrageously frank and honest as a memoir gets. It is funny (Mama Jean almost steals the show sometimes), poignant, and gut wrenching - often at the same time. But, above all, this is the story of one man's fight to beat the addictions that almost killed him: drugs, booze, and reckless sex. (And I can't but help wonder how Mama Jean would have told the story; that would have been a hoot, I suspect.) ( )

Jamie was the apple of his mother's eye. Over the years the author realized that he is gay and acquires an overwhelming taste for alcohol. Though the book chronicles both his adventures and misadventures due to alcohol abuse and his relationships with otherst the central focal point of the book is Mama Jean (his mother) and her profound effect on his life. I am reading another book in which the states "Everythings relatives" rather than everything is relative and that is certainly true for this author. Well written and interesting from a voyeuristic point of view. ( )

This awesomely gritty memoir serves a dual purpose: an unflinching confession of a reformed alcoholic and the story of his relationship with his larger-than-life mother. Jamie Brickhouse knew he was gay ever since he was little. And wasn't afraid or ashamed of it. In fact, he relished in a free-wheeling free sex lifestyle starting with his young teenage years. And he's not afraid to share every sordid, juicy detail of his sex life and relationships with his family, close friends, friends-for-the-night, and nearly-lifelong partner. It's actually really refreshing to read a story about such dark subjects, including rampant drug use, and the author not being apologetic or making excuses for it. Kudos to Jamie for owning his flaws and to his partner for being so accepting and forgiving. And Jamie's family story, starring his mother Mama Jean, and her huge personality and generosity are exactly what he needed growing up and beyond. Supportive yet at times oppressive, their relationship obviously heavily affected Jamie long into his adult life, and her death finally freed him to achieve his (and her) ultimate dream of becoming a successful writer. This was a fun read from a man whom I suspect has many stories left to tell. Thank you LibraryThing for the copy of this book. ( )

Reading Dangerous When Wet, a memoir by Jamie Brickhouse, is a memorable reading experience. He was born in Beaumont, Texas, the son of a woman known as Mama Jean. In the Author's Note he writes "This book is the story of my relationship with her told through the lens of my love affair with alcohol, the other dominant relationship in my life." Mama Jean was glamorous, outspoken and generous. She was his biggest fan and even though she would have liked him to stay close to her, she knew he belonged in New York City. She accepted the fact that he was gay and she wanted him to write. Jamie wanted glamour and sophistication, but the route he took to achieve this was perilous. He is candid in his telling of the frightening situations he found himself in as a result of drinking and drug use. The narrative in this book is conversational. It's as though the reader is in the same room with the author. He is open and forthright about his struggles with alcoholism and his attempts at sobriety. All the while, Mama Jean remained a powerful force in his life. Mr. Brickhouse presents his story with wit and candor and in my opinion, that is what makes this one of the best memoirs I have read. Mama Jean was right. Mr. Brickhouse should write as he is very good at it. Highly recommended.

I received this book free of charge through LibraryThing and I give this review of my own free will. ( )