Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    A Piece of Cake: A Memoir
    Unavailable
    A Piece of Cake: A Memoir
    Unavailable
    A Piece of Cake: A Memoir
    Audiobook (abridged)5 hours

    A Piece of Cake: A Memoir

    Written by Cupcake Brown

    Narrated by Cupcake Brown

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Eleven-year-old Cupcake Brown woke up on the bicentennial and found her mother still in bed. She struggled to wake her up, pushing and pulling until she managed to tug her mother's lifeless corpse onto her own small body, crushing her beneath its dead weight. After squeezing out from under her mother, Cupcake calmly walked over to the phone and called her aunt Lori. "Lori, my momma's dead."

    Here is the threshold of a hell for young Cupcake. Rather than being allowed to live with the man she believed to be her father--who turns out to have been her stepfather--she is forced into a foster home where the kids were terrorized, the refrigerator padlocked, and Cupcake sexually abused. She eventually fled the house, only to find herself wandering from misadventure to misadventure in the "system," while also developing a massive appetite for drugs and alcohol, an appetite she paid for by turning tricks. She settled down in Los Angeles and found a home in the Crips, where she was taken in and befriended by gangsters like the legendary "Monster" Kody Scott. For the first time she found a family, but when Cupcake was blasted in the back with a 12-gauge shotgun, she was once more taken in by the system.

    At 16, her stepfather reeneters her life and engineers an "emancipation," in which the courts declare her an adult and free her, finally, from the child welfare system. Cup takes advantage of her new freedom to start a drug-dealing operation with her stepfather, who also manages a stable of colorful prostitutes. Soon she meets a man, falls in love, and gets married. He convinces her to get a real job and learn to speak proper English--but he also abuses her and introduces her to crack cocaine. Cupcake flits from job to job, miraculously, given that she never fails to show up without some cocktail of narcotics floating in her system.

    She hits rock bottom when, in desperation, she steals crack from her drug dealer. He beats her nearly to death, rapes her, and then leaves her body behind a dumpster. Cupcake wakes up days later, not sure of how she ended up in this state and from that moment begins to turn her life around. She was adopted by a lawyer who ran the law firm where she "worked," and slowly he assisted her in kicking the habit--with the help of an eccentric group of fellow addicts who became, at last, a family to her--and catching up on her education. With the support of her new family, she eventurally goes all the way to law school (although not without a few additional misadventures along the way) and joins one of the top law firms in the country.

    Cupcake's story is an inspiring, at times hilarious, often distrubing, and deeply moving account of a singular woman who took on the worst of contemporary urban life and survived it with wit and a ferocious will. It updates classic memoirs like I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Makes Me Wanna Holler, and gives a bold and gritty spin to contemporary memoirs like Finding Fish. At the center of it, Cupcake is a charming and inspiring narrator through the inferno of her life.


    From the Compact Disc edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateFeb 28, 2006
    ISBN9780739325025
    Unavailable
    A Piece of Cake: A Memoir

    Related to A Piece of Cake

    Related audiobooks

    Cultural, Ethnic & Regional Biographies For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Book Club

      May 25, 2022

      Book Club
      5 min read

    • Article

      On The Shelf

      Nov 18, 2019

      Set during the US depression, Alice moves from the UK to Kentucky with her new American husband to escape her stifing old life. However, she soon realises her fresh start comes with its own challenges as well as an obnoxious father-in-law. To avoid h

      2 min read

    • Article

      Summer Reading

      Jan 29, 2020

      Actor, playwright and author Leah Purcell grew up reading Henry Lawson’s famous 1892 short story The Drover’s Wife carrying around her own battered copy of the book and annotating it with her childish sketches. The tale of the pregnant woman isolated

      7 min read

    • Article

      Summer Reading

      Jan 29, 2020

      Actor, playwright and author Leah Purcell grew up reading Henry Lawson’s famous 1892 short story The Drover’s Wife, carrying around her own battered copy of the book and annotating it with her childish sketches. The tale of the pregnant woman isolate

      7 min read

    • Article

      Gripping Reads

      Oct 21, 2022

      Charlie Reade looks like your regular high-school kid but he carries a heavy load – after his mom died in a road accident, grief drove his father to drink. Eventually, at his wits’ end, Charlie makes a promise to God: he will do good if his father st

      2 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Apr 16, 2021

      Books
      4 min read

    • Article

      March’s BOOK CLUB

      Feb 3, 2022

      Nothing in life is black or white, as this timely novel shows. When polar opposite best friends Elizabeth and Bryony have children, they know they may bring them up differently, but not how divided they’ll be when it comes to vaccination – and how on

      2 min read

    • Article

      Reviews

      Apr 16, 2021

      By HELENA KRIEL Melinda Ferguson Books After leaving her husband, Helena Kriel – a screenwriter based in Los Angeles – hits a low point. She returns home to Joburg and ends up volunteering at a sanctuary for orphaned baby rhinos. While helping a trau

      1 min read

    • Article

      Bearing Witness

      May 30, 2021

      Lauren Hough is unicorn-level rare: someone who strode on to Twitter cracking witty and street-wise, a sharp-tongued yet strikingly kind presence. She wrote a cracking essay that went, well, pandemic-level viral, was snapped up for a book deal, and h

      4 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      Jun 12, 2019

      Book Club
      5 min read

    • Article

      Great Read

      May 18, 2022

      Great Read
      5 min read

    • Article

      For Their Pains

      Feb 28, 2021

      In Fracture, Matthew Parris catalogues “five horsemen of the childhood apocalypse” – events or circumstances that create a visceral experience of trauma. Unsurprisingly, the loss or desertion of parents is a very common one, but the presence of bad p

      4 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      Sep 15, 2021

      Of the 1000-plus books that have landed on my desk since the debut of this feature, not one has been as astonishing as this one. Brooks is Scientia Professor of Evolution at UNSW Sydney, where he founded and directs the Evolution and Ecology Research

      5 min read

    • Article

      Hot Right Now!

      Sep 3, 2020

      Alysia Vasey’s earliest memories are of walking alongside her grandfather as they explored the West Yorkshire moors they called home. As an adult, this love of wild things stayed with her. Now, Alysia has evolved into one of the UK’s most successful

      2 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Manguso, Blake, Lavery, and More

      Feb 8, 2022

      Sarah Blake's latest post-apocalyptic novel, Mellors' satirical debut about a couple's impulsive marriage, and Lavery's speculative memoir are new this week The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Manguso, Blake, Lavery, and More appeared first on

      5 min read

    • Article

      SUMMER Reading SPECIAL

      Dec 28, 2022

      In last year’s Booker Prize shortlisted Oh William! we found narrator Lucy Barton reconnecting with her first husband, William, following the death of her second husband. In this sequel COVID has hit New York and William takes control. As a scientist

      10 min read

    • Article

      My Dad Went to Prison When I Was 5. Now I Write About Families Like Mine

      Jun 19, 2020

      Growing up with a father who was incarcerated didn’t define me. But it certainly taught me to challenge stereotypes and ask better questions.

      4 min read

    • Article

      To Hell And Back

      Jun 4, 2021

      To Hell And Back
      11 min read

    • Article

      Mammy Dearest

      Mar 20, 2022

      Noelle McCarthy, the broadcaster, podcaster and journalist, has two obsessions: her mother and Dracula. She has written a memoir, Grand: Becoming my mother’s daughter, in which both characters flounce across the pages, one with fangs wearing a cape,

      8 min read

    • Article

      Father Figure

      Apr 3, 2022

      Father Figure
      2 min read

    • Article

      Winter Warmers

      Jun 23, 2023

      BY BETH O’LEARY QUERCUS Reading a Beth O’Leary book is like connecting with an old friend. One of those friends with whom you sit on your couch in your comfiest clothes and get a story worth listening to that will make you laugh and feel sad and eve

      3 min read

    • Article

      Coming In From The Cold

      Mar 22, 2022

      Coming In From The Cold
      5 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Apr 22, 2022

      Books
      4 min read

    • Article

      FAMILY Secrets

      Mar 28, 2024

      FAMILY Secrets
      6 min read

    • Article

      In 'Afterland,' A World (Mostly) Without Men: Questions For Lauren Beukes

      Aug 5, 2020

      Lauren Beukes' new novel is set in a near future where a virus has killed off most of the men on Earth, and one woman is racing to free her young, immune son from the government and get him to safety.

      6 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Feb 17, 2023

      Books
      4 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Nov 18, 2019

      Books
      4 min read

    • Article

      It’s Showtime!

      May 10, 2020

      It’s Showtime!
      2 min read

    Reviews for A Piece of Cake

    4/5

    333 ratings30 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      Really great story. I think it offers a lot of hope to people feel like there is nothing left and it's very entertaining, but the writing drags it down a lot.
    • 3/5
      I am very picky about first person narrative, especially in biographies. However Cupcake's writing style is very simple and clear, so it is the type of book that is very easy to read and therefore for me a quick read. I liked the way we are able to see Cupcake's transition to an innocent child to well...something far worse. The sheer amount of horrific events and circumstances of Cupcake's life make this book almost unbelievable. Ever since "A Million Tiny Pieces" I have been skeptical and almost wary of these types of hardcore memoirs. But I would not disagree that this book is a "real life story with frankness and intense honesty". I would recommend a looksee, if not a read.
    • 5/5
      its my fav book
    • 3/5
      Finished this afternoon. I did enjoy the end of the book but I must say that this book was sometimes a choir to read. People say this is a fast read, guess not for me.
      In the middle of reading I got a bit sick of all the stories on dope and her aggressive behaviour. I do think it is an interesting read though and not only she manged to get clean but which is even harder she managed to change her personality. I applaud her for that. 7.5
    • 3/5
      This book was really good. Devastating at times, but uplifting at the end. The author is so vivid as she describes the terror of drugs in her life. Very good book.
    • 5/5
      Brown writes a very reavealing book on how people get addicted to drugs. She starts when she is eleven, starts prostituting to get money for the drugs, when she realizes that she needs help and who informs her where to receive the help that she desperately needs.This is a great book about redemption,friendship and forgiving yourself.
    • 3/5
      Riveting memoir of growing up unsupervised and abused in greater LA. Cupcake Brown's life falls apart when her mother dies suddenly. She is thrown into the foster care system and subject to a physically, emotionally, and sexually abusive foster family. She runs away, is introduced to sex and drugs and is then returned to the same situation. Her family isn't much better... while living with a distant Aunt, she gets into gang banging and is an active member of The Crips where she steals, kills -- most of the time high. She is shot by a rival gang and while recovering decides to get out of the gang. More drug abuse, bad relationships (incl. an abusive marriage) and scamming, she finally enters a drug rehab center. Once clean and sober, Cupcake begins to rebuild her life and becomes a successful lawyer.The story is gripping and salacious and kept this reader hooked (no pun intended) ... much like rubber-necking at a bad car accident. Does all of the badness (told with a wee bit too much enthusiasm, methinks) make her redemption that much sweeter? The jury's out.
    • 5/5
      I don't always love memoirs, but A Piece of Cake is one of the best I've ever read. It's raw and honest, funny and sad, and best of all: inspiring. I lent this book to someone that was going through a personal struggle, and she found some of what she was looking for in Cupcake Brown's words. For someone to have gone through all she experienced and to be brave enough to put it all down on paper for the world to see...just amazing.
    • 4/5
      Memoir focuses on Brown's days as an alcoholic & drug addict. She's got a singular voice, and a fascinating story. I wanted more about her life as a sober lawyer. Perhaps she'll flesh out that part of her life in a new book. Recommended.
    • 5/5
      Indomitable spirit.
    • 5/5
      Recommended to me by a co-worker, I picked this up at the library. In gritty "street" prose, Cupcake Brown relays the true story of her life, beginning with her mother's death at age 11. Custody was given to her father whom she had never met, unfortunately he only wanted the social security checks, so he sent her to foster care. In her first home, she was badly beaten by her foster mother and raped by the nephew. When she ran away (still 11), she met a prostitute who introduced her to marijuana, alcohol, and turning tricks. The story goes on....L.A. gang life, a near-deadly shooting, hard-core drug use, alcoholism, hustling, a miscarriage, abortions, STD's, and homelessness. Brown describes in biting detail her descent to the lowest of lows, before ascending to the highest of highs - a lawyer in a top law firm and motivational speaker. Her story is extremely intense and inspiring. Most of the story takes place in San Diego, from her druggie days near Imperial, to her attendance at SDSU (she was a there when I was).
    • 5/5
      (180)Cupcake Brown's electrifying memoir is a detailed autobiography of her adolescent life, how she fell into a horrible pit of drugs, sex, foster parents, and gang-banging. It started out with the death of her mother, then as she started to grow older she was sent to many foster homes, running away to turn tricks, join a gang, do drugs, and eventually get addicted to smoking crack. As she turned 18, she started a series of jobs where almost 100% of the time she was at the job she was high off of something. When she realized that she finally needed some help, it was a long road through withdrawal and sobriety. She went through some abusive relationships, and pursued her dream of becoming a lawyer, the one thing she "understood".I wouldn't reccomend this book to the faint-hearted person, or anyone under the age of 16. It's a really good book though and it's really well-told, except Cupcake probably doesn't remember half of that part of her life, therefore there's probably more parts to the story than she told.
    • 4/5
      This is one of those books about appalling childhoods that I usually avoid because they trouble me so much. The details of drug abuse are fascinating for someone from a sheltered background, and I was enthralled by her description of addiction - always able to excuse her behaviour. I longed for her to turn the corner, and of course she does eventually.
    • 5/5
      It took a while to finish this book because it was disturbing and I had to get away from it for a while. But, I kept returning and it was well worth the time. It made me question myself, my values, society and the moral compass of society.
    • 3/5
      An interesting memoir. The things that this woman went through were terrible and unfortunate. It's a real testament to her character that she survived and was able to become such a sucessful person. That being said, she talks about having insights in situations that are hard to believe considering the mental state she was in when they occurred. I believe she was able to function in some capacity while under copious amounts of drugs she was on, however I doubt the lucidity of her decisions.
    • 5/5
      This was an extremely compelling look in to the life of a woman who as see and done it all. Want to know how to obtain and smoke crack? Read this bookWant to know how to join a gang in the drop of a hat? Read this bookWant to learn about every kind of illegal drug there is out there? Read this bookWhat to learn how to rip of furniture rental stores? Read this bookWhat to learn how easy it is for an 11 year old to become a prostitute? Read this bookWant to learn about how easy it is for an 11 year old orphan to fall through the cracks in the system? Read this book?Want to learn how fake a resume and how NOT to keep a job? Read this book. There were a few things I grappled with in this book. The biggest; if in fact "Cup", (as she is affectionately called through out the book) was in fact drunk, high and stoned for all most 15 years straight how on earth was she able to remember her life events so vividly? Enough so, to write over 300 pages about this time period in her life remembering names of people, places, streets, drugs with such detail that it seemed to be happening now? It was really quite odd. I would assume that anyone who spent that much time in another world or blacked out wouldn't remember anything. Although, there is rarely a mention of any actual dates in the book. I found this book on one note completely and utterly disturbing. A portrait of how such a young girl struck by tragedy could feel through the cracks in a system that is supposedly there to help children and so quickly at that. How is it possible that this happened? How could no one believe the abuse? Is this system we have in place really that horrible? I also found this book very hopeful. If one person really wants to take charge of their life and stays determined they can change their life around. I found my self cheering for Cup in the end. It left me with a warm feeling inside. After everything she had been through, she was able to pull herself out of it and live a productive life. There are so many people in the world who either choose a way in life Cup didn't or, who are unable to get out. This book shows it doesn't have to be that way.
    • 4/5
      There are very few books that have ever truly moved me. A Piece of Cake written by Cupcake Brown inspired me to never lose sight of my dreams. The story begins with Cupcake experiencing something no one should ever have to go through- holding her mother's lifeless body in her arms. The death of her mother turns Cupcake's life into a downward spiral of destruction. Her mistrust in the "system" is justified as she is torn from the only family she has known ;her uncle Jr. and her "Pops". Her biological father or "sperm donor" as she calls him decides to claim his children because of benefits he thought he would be collecting. He quickly learns that this is not the case and throws Cupcake and her brother Larry into a foster home. Cupcake describes the horrors she faced at the foster home being raped, repeatedly beaten and made to clean the house to the foster mother's standards. Cupcake gets involved in drugs, "business arrangements" and gang activity all before the age of 16. There is a light at the end of the tunnel in this story. At the age of 25 after selling everything she has just to get high and leaving an abusive marriage Cupcake goes to her employer Ken and asks for help. During recovery Cupcake recaptures the dreams she once had as a little girl to be a lawyer. She goes back to school and with dedication and lots of hard work and help from her real "family" Cupcake cries as she discovers that she has passed the bar exam and her dreams of becoming a lawyer come true. A truly inspiring book that will have you rooting for Cupcake success!! This book sends a strong message that anything is possible!!
    • 4/5
      A Piece of Cake was very, very well written. It is a book that really contains a character experiencing a "slippery slope." The scary part is that it is a true story, but the happy part is that in the ending Mrs. Brown makes it out. When the reader thinks that things could not possibly get worse, they do. Mrs. Brown experiences drugs and bad relationships. She battles addiction multiple times and it is a very intense story. It is definitely not a quick read. It is emotionally draining and if you are looking for a by the pool book, this is definitely not the right choice. The book is very, very well written and the story itself is touching. Cupcake Brown really proves that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I would definitely recommend reading this book, just get ready for a tear jerker.
    • 5/5
      This memoir is disturbing, but irresistible. Cupcake Brown takes her readers into her world of substance abuse, LA gang life and painful family situations with an incredible honesty that makes this book hard to put down. She is a great example to many.
    • 5/5
      Pretty good, its surprising she came out of her situation in one piece.
    • 5/5
      I laughed I cried.....this book was great !!!!!!!!! This book proves no matter what, you can accomplish anything and over come anything !
    • 5/5
      This is a awesome book, I really enjoyed reading it...I love it
    • 3/5
      A Piece of Cake definitely showed the shady underbelly of the foster system. While I felt the writing wasn't the best, Cupcake Brown did a great job in telling her story in her own way. I wouldn't read/listen to this again, but it's worth going through at least once.
    • 4/5
      I read this years ago and suddenly just thought of it today.

      Cupcake Brown's story is a powerful one and a very honest one. She talks candidly about her involvement with drugs, alcohol and prostitution. I think where the story fell short for me is her recording her drug use. It became almost monotonous (as drug use can be!) with highs, scores and lows. Withdrawals, scores, highs, it was all terribly cyclical and nearly drove me up the wall.

      But I enjoyed her writing style and found it a readable book, even though I read it in a time before I really started to enjoy memoirs. I think her story is a testament to the strength and resilience on the human spirit and hard evidence that even people who've been using substances from a young age can get clean.

      An exceptional story, to match an exceptional woman.

      (tw: drug use, rape, sexual assault, racism, sexism, suicidal ideation and others that I can't remember, sorry!)
    • 5/5
      amazing. inspirational. I didn't want it to end
    • 5/5
      I loved this book. A true story of a woman who grew up with every disadvantage & had every strike against her, yet she overcame her past and not only survived, but excelled. An honest account of her strength and character that inspires the reader and proves that we are all capable of overcoming even the worst life can throw at us.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This is by far one of the best books I have red in a VERY long time!!! Most definitely at the top of my list of favorite books about recovery!!! This was a very inspirational book about over coining a tragic childhood, truly recovering from it, not letting it define oneself, and doing the footwork required towards rediscovery of dreams. She is one FINE example of someone walking in the grace of a higher power and recovery! Although this story caries a strong message about what/where drug addiction can take someone it's also about so much more! I could not put this book down! It's a very sad but happy book and all too often I found myself lol at the comic relief taking place or just at how I could relate to so much of her story. I think her for being so open and honest about everything!
    • 5/5
      I had no expectations when I picked this book up for $1 at my local Goodwill, other than the premise sounded interesting. I’ll be honest, the image and the name intrigued me, because I do actually judge a book by its cover. Especially at thrift stores. But what a genuinely great read this turned out to be.This book starts out through the gate at a full sprint, and it takes a while for it to come down. It’s a memoir of Brown’s life, from the beginning of her journey at 11 when she stumbled upon her mother’s prone body, to her current success as a highly respected lawyer and motivational speaker. Actually, it doesn’t talk largely about who she is now, but how she got to that point in her life. She goes through A HELLUVA LOT. And for a huge majority of the book, it’s incredibly dark. As I was getting to the halfway through point, I had to ask myself when it would get better for her. But it did, of course. This book is highly inspirational, very humbling, and exceptionally moving. It talks about quite a few things that people don’t like to think about, and it is very no holds barred about the situations she gets in and the adversity she faces.But to me, it really opened my eyes to what some people have to go through and how seriously addiction can mess you up. Actually reading through someone’s first-hand experience of situations that include the following: blowing guys that picked her up as a hitchhiker, being raped, and joining a gang because of a lack of family figures… Well, it’s downright upsetting, and it should be, because these are real experiences that countless people go through every day. So expect every conceivable bad thing you can imagine happening to her, because it did. And she does not shy away from the details. You’ve been warned. Frankly, it just compounds the fact that I live such a charmed life.An interesting theme that is used throughout the book is the idea that you aren’t that messed up if you have a job. You don’t need help; you’re not even an actual junkie. And this is a belief that not only Brown had, but her drug-addled companions. To them, simply working through the cravings, and often high, still meant that they weren’t “that bad.” This book has several themes throughout: rags to riches, religious redemption, and it’s a highly moralistic, empowering tale. Brown is clearly trying to prove a point with it, but I don’t think that’s such a bad thing. My one actual criticism would be that it is entirely too preachy at the end. According to Brown and her sponsor, you basically can’t find redemption from drugs and addiction unless you believe in God or a higher power. You, as a person, are basically incapable of getting your head above water without divine intervention. That’s cute and all, but I tend to have more of a belief in humanity itself than a higher power.I think this book is definitely worth a read for anyone seeking motivations to seek help from their drug addiction, and definitely for anyone who has always wondered what it's like to experience it all, and somehow come out on top. It's more of a 4.5/5 star book, but rounded up since you can't do half stars on Amazon.
    • 5/5
      A Piece of Cake blew me away! I don’t remember reading a memoir that I actually wanted to read. Cup’ has lived through hell, a hell in which we can only imagine. Cup’s story started out of her at the age of 11; an insecure young girl who just wanted to be something and look pretty. Instead, she found her mother dead. Everything fell apart. Her hitchhiking and running away introduced her to drugs and alcohol, gangs, and theft. Experiencing every drug under the sun along with drinking, only made those ‘bad’ memories disappear, which was exactly what Cupcake wanted. Her move from job to job convinced her she was not an addict because “addicts don’t have jobs”. Before she knew it, she was hitting rock bottom, and hard.It is up to her on whether she should listen to the voice she has been ignoring all along and make things right, or keep doing what keeps her from her own reality.
    • 3/5
      I love memoirs and after hearing about this one I was desperate to get my hands on it. When I finally did get a chance to read it I was a little disappointed. I loved the beginning since it was fast paced and I didn’t know what was going to happen next. However, as the book progressed I got bored a lot. It was just endless pages of the same storyline; parties, drugs, etc. I wanted more. More emotion, more excitement, and maybe a condensed version of all the party replays. Overall I did like the book and I loved Cupcake’s ultimate triumph