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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
To go from the absolute fluff that was Hooked by Sutton Foster, to this book by Alice Sebold, was not only a 180 as far as content, but also writing quality. Despite the horrific detail recounted of her rape, Alice was still able to sound as prolific as ever. Dare I say poetic, which makes sense considering her background in such writing.
But what do I even say about a book like this other than it was well written? Of course it was heartbreaking; of course I couldn’t imagine going through something like this, especially in a time before allegations were taken more seriously. All of the intricacies of the law are ridiculously specific and can be used in evil ways (like defendants being able to call on someone that looks identical to them to throw victims off during a lineup). You can’t help but cheer that her rapist was convicted in the end, yet it’s devastating when you remember that so many people do not speak up about their trauma, do not pursue conviction, or don’t receive the same outcome.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
An explosive introduction finally gives way to a sad story. It's really as simple as that.
This was Alice Sebold's memoir of being raped in her freshman year at Syracuse University. It was a very well-written account of her horrifying experience, the trial, and the aftermath.
What a powerful memoir. Only after reading this book and googling did I find out that Alice's falsely accused rapist was exonerated of his crime after spending 16 years in prison.
I've let this book sit on the shelf for years because I wasn't quite up to reading it, but when I finally picked it up yesterday I ended up reading the whole book in about 6 hours.
Alice Sebold is an incredibly compelling writer. I can't really say I *enjoyed* reaching a book about rape, violence, and its aftermath, but this is definitely a page-turner (much like THE LOVELY BONES, only this story is her own).
I really appreciated some of the insights she made in here. I've certainly never experienced the things she has, but I have known sudden tragedy and overwhelming grief. A lot of what she relates about feeling like you are suddenly in new category of people, and about feeling a loss of privacy as the story of your life becomes gossip, really rang true.
This is a tough book, but I'm glad that I finally read it.
Alice Sebold is an incredibly compelling writer. I can't really say I *enjoyed* reaching a book about rape, violence, and its aftermath, but this is definitely a page-turner (much like THE LOVELY BONES, only this story is her own).
I really appreciated some of the insights she made in here. I've certainly never experienced the things she has, but I have known sudden tragedy and overwhelming grief. A lot of what she relates about feeling like you are suddenly in new category of people, and about feeling a loss of privacy as the story of your life becomes gossip, really rang true.
This is a tough book, but I'm glad that I finally read it.
After reading it the first time, I don't think I can pick up this novel again. It was brutal and heartbreaking.
Read this for my book club. I definitely wouldn't have picked it up otherwise; it's not a topic I'd want to read about for pleasure. In any case, this is a very well-told and disturbing memoir. I am glad that I finished it, and I'm looking forward to discussing it with the rest of the group.