Down the Drain
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 2,827 ratings
Price: 17.05
Last update: 12-18-2024
About this item
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
The hotly anticipated book from “one of the all-time pop-culture greats” (New York magazine) that chronicles her shocking life and unyielding determination to not only survive but achieve her dreams.
Julia Fox is famous for many things: her captivating acting, such as her breakout role in the film Uncut Gems; her trendsetting style, including bleached eyebrows, exaggerated eyeshadow, and cutout dresses; her mastery of social media, where she entertains and educates her millions of followers. But all these share the trait for which she is most famous: unabashedly and unapologetically being herself.
This commitment to authenticity has never been more on display than in Down the Drain. With writing that is both eloquent and accessible, Fox recounts her turbulent path to cultural supremacy: her parents’ volatile relationship that divided her childhood between Italy and New York City and left her largely raising herself; a possessive and abusive drug-dealing boyfriend whose torment continued even from within Rikers Island; her own trips to jail as well as to a psychiatric hospital; her work as a dominatrix that led to a complicated entanglement with a sugar daddy; a heroin habit that led to New Orleans trap houses and that she would kick only after the fatal overdose of her best friend; her own near-lethal overdoses and the deaths of still more friends from drugs and suicide; an emotionally explosive, tabloid-dominating romance with a figure she dubs “The Artist”; a whirlwind, short-lived marriage and her trials as a single parent striving to support her young son. Yet as extraordinary as her story is, its universality is what makes it so powerful. Fox doesn’t just capture her improbable evolution from grade-school outcast to fashion-world icon, she captures her transition from girlhood to womanhood to motherhood. Family and friendship, sex and death, violence and love, money and power, innocence and experience—it’s all here, in raw, remarkable, and riveting detail.
More than a year before the book’s publication, Fox’s description of it as “a masterpiece” in a red carpet interview went viral. As always, she was just being honest. Down the Drain is a true literary achievement, as one-of-a-kind as its author.
Top reviews from the United States
5.0 out of 5 stars Raw, Powerful Story
5.0 out of 5 stars Julia Fox is the Frida Kahlo of our time and deserves to be recognized for more than her looks
She is a great storyteller and allegedly wrote this book independently without a ghostwriter. She describes her life and experiences in a vivid, funny, scary, sexy, and SAD way that hooks you into reading the book and easily finds that you can't put it down.
As someone who strives to have a life of character and integrity, I struggle with "supporting" Julia. Like Kanye, I find myself doing my best to separate the artist from the art.
Before reading this book, I took umbrage with Julia and the way she acts. After reading this book, I have a much better understanding of WHY she would make the life choices she has or said/says the horrible things she says.
****Spoilers from here on ******
She comes from a VERY dysfunctional childhood, her parents did not do a remotely good job at being parents and did not provide for her a life of structure, stability, love and safety. She states several times in the book that she shouldn't be alive after the few times she almost died and that is very much true. Her relationship with men is VERY convoluted due to her beauty. Another thing she cites and recognizes. That if she didn't look like the absolutely gorgeous woman she is on the outside, most of the men in her life that have provided for her and she would not have gotten away with so much. Its sad and insight on how "pretty ppl have problems too" AND she can never be sure that men like her for her.
I DEF recommend this book and devoured it in about 2 days (I'm ADHD and read rather slow). Im hoping she will write another soon
4.0 out of 5 stars She Holds Nothing Back
5.0 out of 5 stars Honest & very good , couldn't put it down.
Starting off with her childhood and the things she experienced at a young age going back & forth from Europe to the US & the feeling of uncertainty & not feeling grounded to a true "home" set the tone for a lot of things to come later on in her life.
I appreciated her speaking so candidly about so much, especially her issues with both of her parents, she had to grow up too fast, like so many of us. It is a very "loud" book , in that she says what she wants (I mean it's her book after all!) - she was a Dominatrix, and I really liked how she explained the job, some of her clients, and how she learned some interesting things from some of them. Also, Expect some unique workplace issues, and (sometimes comical) situations also..there are some serious lessons about fake friends, drug abuse, abusive partners, & there are many heartwrenching moments.
There is so much stuffed into this book, I truly enjoyed it.
*People who haven't read the book who say she's just trying to use a certain artist to get "famous" is ridiculous- she was writing books, acting, doing all kinds of exhibits, etc before that very small part of her life & she definitely didn't need anyone's help ..(I had to add that due to the amount of people online trashing her for using certain celebrities to be famous..I challenge those ppl to read the book.
The book was, in my opinion, very good. I'll read it again in a few months as I always miss things the 1st time, thanks to my ADHD ????
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunningly honest, beautifully told
I sought this book out because I was voyeuristically curious about my childhood friend turned overnight celebrity. I did not expect it to move me so deeply. Its a story of perseverance, determination, and renewal. It’s layers are as manifold as the city where it takes place.
If you read this, please know—I am so proud of you, Julia. Back then there was so much I didn’t understand. I’m grateful to be able to revisit those years and beyond through your eyes. Much love from San Francisco.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Condition
3.0 out of 5 stars appalling & superficial
The writing is choppy, & lacking in any depth or insight.