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frasedogga's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
tiffanyg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Absolutely devastating. Soul crushing. Painful to read in that you feel for both the young boy and the adult remembering.
cosmicoats's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
5.0
fateleanor's review against another edition
3.25
His autobiography and, although he had a difficult childhood, the book seemed a little self-pitying and I felt the book was therapy for him rather than an interesting read.
watermelleon's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Challenging, emotional, dark, incredible.
Warning: this is not an easy read. There were times I had to pause, and take a breath, or contemplate what was being said. It is very triggering for many reasons, quite graphic in detail, and for this reason I imagine is very difficult for a lot of readers.
One thing I did not expect from this read was how nuanced it would be written. This is not a sob story where someone is feeling forced to sell their journey as trauma porn for others to feel something over. This is a delicate, intelligent, and well thought out commentary on the society we live in, toxic masculinity, the fickle nature of sexuality, the social and physical effects of childhood trauma, the attraction of dangerous volunteers to risky roles, the court system, the police, feminism, and generational trauma (to name just a few!)
At one point, Alan touched upon a particularly sore spot for me that I was not expecting to appear at all. But his conversational voice and facts presented reminded me the reader that survivors of trauma exist everywhere in so many forms and we all have learned lessons that have value when we are ready to reach out and discuss it with others.
I'm so glad to have picked the audio book version, which added another level of expertly guided feelings by Alan. He is a fantastic voice, and had me crying on many many bus journeys and walks.
An incredible last line that will stick with me for a long time as well. I wish for many of my friends and family members to read this.
Warning: this is not an easy read. There were times I had to pause, and take a breath, or contemplate what was being said. It is very triggering for many reasons, quite graphic in detail, and for this reason I imagine is very difficult for a lot of readers.
One thing I did not expect from this read was how nuanced it would be written. This is not a sob story where someone is feeling forced to sell their journey as trauma porn for others to feel something over. This is a delicate, intelligent, and well thought out commentary on the society we live in, toxic masculinity, the fickle nature of sexuality, the social and physical effects of childhood trauma, the attraction of dangerous volunteers to risky roles, the court system, the police, feminism, and generational trauma (to name just a few!)
At one point, Alan touched upon a particularly sore spot for me that I was not expecting to appear at all. But his conversational voice and facts presented reminded me the reader that survivors of trauma exist everywhere in so many forms and we all have learned lessons that have value when we are ready to reach out and discuss it with others.
I'm so glad to have picked the audio book version, which added another level of expertly guided feelings by Alan. He is a fantastic voice, and had me crying on many many bus journeys and walks.
An incredible last line that will stick with me for a long time as well. I wish for many of my friends and family members to read this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Many people were shocked to hear that this is about Alan's experiences of Childhood sexual abuse by his father, not sure if it is in the marketing but had a few people mention they thought it was just about emotional abuse! The sexual abuse is very detailed and a big part of the book.katie_jane2021's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
_charlotteheath's review against another edition
4.0
maybe one day it wont take me like 3 months to read a book..oops
REGARDLESS oh my god this was brilliant. i've wanted to read this for a while and i'm so glad i did. alan is such a fantastic writer and the way this was written was so good. don't wanna spoil too much (can you spoil an autobiography ?? idk) but this deals with some incredibly awful and triggering topics and i thought the way alan wrote about it was just so well written. i did cry a few times and it was had to read about some of the things that have happened to him but he did it all through such a positive lens it didn't feel too upsetting.
anyway i really liked this and alan davies is a national treasure <3
REGARDLESS oh my god this was brilliant. i've wanted to read this for a while and i'm so glad i did. alan is such a fantastic writer and the way this was written was so good. don't wanna spoil too much (can you spoil an autobiography ?? idk) but this deals with some incredibly awful and triggering topics and i thought the way alan wrote about it was just so well written. i did cry a few times and it was had to read about some of the things that have happened to him but he did it all through such a positive lens it didn't feel too upsetting.
anyway i really liked this and alan davies is a national treasure <3
katka_11's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a sad book :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Sexual assault