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parenthesis_enjoyer's review
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Rape, Drug use, Incest, Body shaming, Sexism, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Pregnancy, Violence, and Eating disorder
Minor: Animal death and Death
tkelley23's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship
chovereads's review against another edition
this approach is one I have found in other memoirs -- writing about their childhood self, but staying in the perspective of that child without letting the adult they are now influence that writing. I really really like this. continue to seek it out. the use of the diary entries here was such an addition to the book, I can't imagine it without them.
one thing I got confused about was the dates of the diary entries. I'd forgotten the time period the book started in and the entries before she left the cult were dated '04. I guess I thought it was 2004 even though that didn't seem right. later when she's in public school, they randomly switch to 1980. I believe this was showing she was transitioning from the "Family's time" and that they tracked the years differently.
my favorite part was when she recounted how she taped a scale from every fish that was caught the summer she lived in MA and recorded all the details in her diary.
the book did end rather abruptly and it seemed a bit odd to not know more about what happened with the man who took her in and became her legal guardian in high school. but of course, she was writing about her escape, and with him, she was free.
very challenging and difficult subjects for some, check the content warnings!
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Religious bigotry
poisonwood's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Eating disorder
librarymouse's review against another edition
4.5
The story starting with the failure of an ascension predicted by the leader of the cult Turner was born into was such an eye catching hook to being readers in, and while it primed me for some of what to expect for some of he other Lyman family beliefs, other aspects of Turner's story were totally unexpected.
Guinevere Turner has a mastery of language and how to keep a reader invested that is tangible even in the diary excerpts.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Rape, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Moderate: Medical content, Pregnancy, Vomit, and Abortion
Minor: Death, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
chrisdennismyers's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Pregnancy, and Eating disorder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
aaraia's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Pedophilia
eaking's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Drug use, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Rape, Violence, and Pedophilia
stargirlmolly's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Blood, Eating disorder, Suicide, Stalking, Abortion, Cursing, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
limina's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Eating disorder and Injury/Injury detail