As a person with Crohn’s Disease, I have seen my fair share of toilets, and my experiences there have been memorable. And sometimes life threatening (especially if Goliath was involved).
And while I fully expect to die on a toilet, I was not born in one.
The same cannot be said of Eleanor Tomczyk, who writes a terrific blog called How the hell did i end up here? If you don’t already know Eleanor, go on over. She always brings a smile, makes you think, makes you laugh.
The story of her life is written up in her memoir, Monsters’ Throwdown — from her disastrous beginnings being born in a toilet, through her triumphs. Eleanor always managed, somehow, to keep her head above water.
Monsters’ Throwdown will make you cry, make you laugh, make you thank your lucky stars that you didn’t have to go through what Eleanor did to just survive. But Eleanor did much more than that — she thrived. And we are all the better for it.
Available at Amazon — which, coincidentally, is where I got this image.
In today’s world, where racism has become, once again, less hidden, Monsters’ Throwdown is a book worth reading, and its lessons of survival, people helping people, love and triumph leave me very hopeful.
The book is available in paperback and on kindle through Amazon at this link.
Well, what are you waiting for???????
FiftyFourandAHalf 
Thank you for the introduction, Elyse. I’m not sure how I missed her blog and the book has been added to the Kindle list. I’m on track now. 😉
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Great, Michelle. I hope you like them both!
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Sounds like a book that is right up my alley. Thanks for showcasing it, Elyse!
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I think you’ll like it. Especially if you follow Eleanor!
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I do now (follow Eleanor, that is). Thanks for that. I have to be selective in who I actively follow. I want to be a good blogger buddy and not read/comment those I follow.
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It’s hard to keep up!
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Always good to hear about another blogger and a great book. Thanks Elyse!
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She’s a good one, Renee! Thanks for checking in.
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Thanks for introducing (some of) us to her. Read her blog from start to finish. I absolutely love it!
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Isn’t she good? I have been following her for years.
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I have it, but haven’t started … so thanks for the encouragement.
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I will check it out. Thank you, friend.
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You won’t be disappointed!
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Please …. “born in a toilet” I’m more than intrigued.
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It should be in Ripley’s!
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sounds great. you’re so supportive! 🙂
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Payback will be hell!
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ohhh intriguing…
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It might be if my book were more than a gleam in my eye …
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oh.. good things start with a little gleam… it’s in you just waiting to come out. 🙂
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I’m pretty sure that’s poop you’re seeing …
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I can’t quite believe I said that.
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hahahah!! well, never knock a good BM, my grandma always used to say. still, i’m thinking your future book will probably not be a piece of shit.
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You set the bar appropriately low ;).
It deals with Crohn’s and colitis so it will be full of, ummm, shit!
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haha! okay then, you got me there.
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Great book! I read it when it was first published, and got a copy for my daughter. Great blog, great book, yay Eleanor!
Well done, Elyse!
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I don’t know what took me so long!
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Kinda wishing I had thought of it first…..! Now I have to wait a few weeks and then do the same thing!
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It is important to space these things out properly!
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Thanks so much Moms. Your such a sweetheart! 🙂
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It sounds great! I do follow Eleanor, but thanks for reminding me about her and her book.
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I’d had it for a while, too. It took a while for me to get to, but not long at all to get through!
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thank you for the introduction to Monsters’ Throwdown, and to her blog.
and thank you for pointing me to something that made me smile today
🙂
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Sure thing, 99! You will find Eleanor sweet, funny and smart as he’ll!
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Elyse, I sat down to catch up with my favorite bloggers this morning, and you could have knocked me over with a feather when I discovered your blog was about me and my book. I screamed so loudly that WW who was cleaning gutters almost fell off the ladder. Thank you so, so much. I am deeply touched and very humbled by your review because you are such a fabulous writer.
Thank you for making my day. I really hope to meet you some day–now, more than ever. All the best!
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Eleanor, I am so glad I am not responsible for WW falling off that ladder. Getting off of it, as today has been horribly hot, I could live with!
I bought your book a while ago, but just hadn’t opened it. Once I did, the story took off! I enjoyed it thoroughly — knowing as I did from the start that you had not just survived but thrived, helped.
It would be great to get together! Why haven’t we done that yet? Wouldn’t it be great to do a DC bloggers’ lunch? Of course we would need to find someone to. Organize it (NOT ME!)
Xxxxxxxxxxx
You need to tell the other half of your story.
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I would be happy to meet you for lunch at anytime or place when I am in town. You just say when. As to the other half of the story, I am working on it now. Hope to have it published by Christmas. Once again, thank you for all your deliciously kind words.
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You had me at “born in a toilet.”
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No matter what, toilets always factor in.
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We can’t seem to escape them, can we?
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Some have more of a problem with that than others!
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Thanks for the tip, Elyse.
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Sure Cathy. I hope you enjoy it if you read it.
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I loved this book, read it when she first published and thought it was fabulous.
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Thanks for the backup! I bought it a while ago — I kind of forgot about it — I don’t use my Kindle (which is on my iPad) very often.
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Thanks Elyse.
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Sure thing, Paul.
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