Kirjahaku

This work describes an existence most people can barely imagine. A first hand account of one man's struggle with homelessness and alcoholism, this diary records a world of physical degradation and despair that is not without unpredictable moments of striking beauty. Timothy Donohue's diary chronicles four years of homeless existence from February of 1990 to December of 1994. Frequenting public libraries and renting typewriters, Donohue begins writing a journal in an effort to control his addiction. His days are marked by visits to missions and labour offices, his nights by the dilemma of finding a place to sleep.

"In the Open" describes an existence most people can barely imagine. A first-hand account of one man's struggle with homelessness and alcoholism, this diary records a world full of physical degradation and despair that is not without unpredictable moments of striking beauty. Donohue's experiences are brutal, but his perceptions are poetic. This account of an intelligent and sensitive man in the grip of alcoholism and homelessness challenges our perceptions of those on the margins of American contemporary life. Donohue recorded this often-moving account during a four-year period of homelessness caused by his alcoholism. There are many observations here on a range of topics, including human nature, technology, and capitalism. Donohue's life on the fringe also provides an inside look at the homeless system of overnight shelters, labour offices, and food-stamp providers.