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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
What a gripping real life story of somthing so horrible. Alice Sebold writes with so much feeling.This pain is all too real. She is a survivor and a strong person for going through with everything she did. I cannnot even write anymore because of how shake I am from this book. My heart aches.
Not sure how one can write an autobiographical account of being raped without being either intensely angry or mawkish in the retelling, but Alice Sebold does. It's a lovely book about a horrible event -- rather like The Lovely Bones in that way, but more meaningful because you're constantly aware (at least, I was) that these things actually happened.
I thought Alice's story was inspiring because it was written with such honesty. She really lets the reader in, which makes this a very compelling read. Was an education getting such insight into what a rape victim goes through...the actual rape was only the beginning of the brutality, the strength required from Alice to pursue a conviction was unbelievable. I can see why so many rape victims don't have the will to take on their attacker (and the system) - so much self-belief is needed, and at a time when most women would just want to disappear into themselves. I'd like to think that the 'system' provides more support and protection for rape victims now than it did then (early 1980's) - and I wonder how the treatment of rape victims in New Zealand compares with that in the US - a very thought-provoking story.
Lucky is Sebold's memoir of her rape (freshman year of college) and its effects on her family, friends, relationships, and - of course - herself. The author holds nothing back, and the details are raw and powerful. The chapters that retell her trial are particularly riveting, as I was struck by her strength, rage, and fear.
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
I'm so sorry for what happened to Alice Sebold. I was in pain for her from the first page. It's something she'll need to live with forever, and the fact that she got a successful prosecution is probably only marginally comforting. It's something that should never have happened in the first place.
Her performance in court was astounding to me. I don't think I could've kept my composure. She's incredible, especially when considering how young and life-inexperienced she was at the time. I don't know I would've been smart enough to walk away from the rape with my wits intact or rather, I'm not sure I would've survived it.
I'm glad she's found her way back to herself and that telling her story was part of it. I think it's an incredible gift to the world because in sharing her pain, she made it ok for so many of the rest of us to do the same.
By the way, it is NEVER ok to announce, gossip about, point to, publicly shame, or otherwise out to anyone that so-and-so was raped. NEVER. Only the person who was raped has the right to decide who should know about it (them and anyone involved legally, and even then, it should only be limited to legal proceedings!).
I thank my Goodreads friend Autumn for telling me about this book in response to my review of Roxane Gay's Not That Bad.
Her performance in court was astounding to me. I don't think I could've kept my composure. She's incredible, especially when considering how young and life-inexperienced she was at the time. I don't know I would've been smart enough to walk away from the rape with my wits intact or rather, I'm not sure I would've survived it.
I'm glad she's found her way back to herself and that telling her story was part of it. I think it's an incredible gift to the world because in sharing her pain, she made it ok for so many of the rest of us to do the same.
By the way, it is NEVER ok to announce, gossip about, point to, publicly shame, or otherwise out to anyone that so-and-so was raped. NEVER. Only the person who was raped has the right to decide who should know about it (them and anyone involved legally, and even then, it should only be limited to legal proceedings!).
I thank my Goodreads friend Autumn for telling me about this book in response to my review of Roxane Gay's Not That Bad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Wow, this lady has some gruesome books. I guess it was a good book, but definitely depressing and dark. I also found the ending bizarre and abrupt.
This book was not it. That’s all I have to say. Giving it 2 stars instead of 1 because of the power of her own rape story. That’s literally all this book has going for it.
I picked this book up at the airport and it hooked me in from the first few pages (which by the way are very hard to read and heart-wrenching). This book grabs you from page 1 and doesn't let go. I read The Lovely Bones and remember what a good (however disturbing) book it was even years after I read it. I will never forget this book and I hope Alice Sebold keeps flexing her literary muscles for years to come.