I respect your honesty when it comes to such a vulnerable topic as this one. I respect that you don’t use your sobriety as a weapon, or a badge of honour, like some other writers do, occasionally. That all this is fucking miserable and shameful, and still you try to talk about it and share whatever you think and feel, even if it makes you utterly open to other people who could pick on it.

My uncle is an alcoholic, a very simple, humble, and loving man who once destroyed his family with his drinking and then, somehow, managed to rebuild it from scratch. I just find that honorable, knowing him my entire life.

Have you seen Patrick Melrose, John? I’d like to hear your thoughts on it.