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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
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
dustghosts's review
4.25
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexism, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Suicidal thoughts