The Rocky Road: a Memoir
Engaging, Insightful, Gripping, Raw, and True!
★★★★★
The Rocky Road stands for its unflinching honesty, delivered with a distinctively raw, sardonic wit. The writing has a conversational flow, but it's not casual in a throwaway sense-it's precise in it's emotional undercurrent, using humour as both a shield and a scalpel. The tone is often confessional, yet there's no plea for sympathy- just a clear-eyed confrontation with truth.
At its heart, it's a prison memoir, but that undersells its richness. It's a story about addiction, masculinity, and the long, slow war between self-destruction and self awareness. What makes it powerful is that Richard doesn't pretend to be a hero- or even particularly likable at times- and that's precisely why you trust him.
It's not preachy, and it doesn't try to tidy up the narrative in to a redemption arc. Instead, it lets the mess speak, trusting the reader to draw meaning from chaos. The moments of dark humour land with the weight of experience, not performance, which they resonate more deeply.
This book will speak most to readers who appreciate gritty memoirs, prison literature, addiction narratives, or unpolished truths told with style. It could easily appeal to fans of , David Keenan, Damian Barr, Hunter S Thompson or people who loved trainspotting but wanted to know what happened ten years later, for real.
It's also ripe for adaption , especially in the hands of someone like Guy Ritchie- not just for the crime elements , but for the character depth and twisted tenderness that underlie the gruff exterior.
This site is dedicated to the work of Richard (Dicky) East and his book(s).
This memoir is the first in a series of books by the author.
The Rocky Road
The Rocky Road is published under the 'Rocky Road Publishing House.' The book is printed in either hardback or paperback, available from shopify, see link above, or from The Great British Bookshop, that link is below, It will be available from retail outlets in the near future. The digital version is available everywhere, but not yet on amazon, The audio version is on it's way, it's taking a little longer than anticipated because I'm narrating it myself, wish me luck!
https://www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/products/the-rocky-road?_pos=1&_sid=edd2f1c72&_ss=r
Best book i have read literally couldn't put it down, what an amazing crazy and scary life. I can't wait for part two, highly recommend.
Gemma
What a brilliant book, couldn't put it down, had to get out of bed and make some tea and toast at 4 am to carry on reading it,without hunger pains, so funny. Will have you howling with laughter, you will not be disappointed. Can't wait for the next book.
Kavita
★★★★★
★★★★★
A very well written and honest account of the authors early adult life. Drugs, illegal activity and prison life are all included in this journey, but told in an unapologetic and reflective prose.I was hooked from the first page and completed it in one sitting. Shocking at times, lessons learned and laced with humour, a wonderful read, which i would thoroughly recommend. I'm looking forward to the next installment.