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The depictions of abuse, physical and emotional, were difficult to digest for a plethora of reasons, but I was unable to stop listening. I know that everyone’s reaction to this memoir may differ based on their personal experiences, and I have spent so much time comparing and contrasting elements of Tara’s story with my own. I felt shock and anguish and even resignation on her behalf. Maybe it’s incorrect to say that I understand why she did certain things, but I sure can’t blame her for any of it - or say that I’d be as strong or as compliant or as detached, as applicable.
I’ve seen online that Tara’s family members remember certain accounts differently than she does, or simply refute her claims. That doesn’t bother me, but I am curious as to the lives and development of others within her parents’ and brother’s reach.
I’ve been contemplating my own journey, past and present, after reading this.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Blood, Car accident
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness
Minor: Genocide, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Slavery, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Dementia, Death of parent, Alcohol
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical trauma, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Pregnancy
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Vomit
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol
I loved the writing style, lyrical yet ‘real’ but I did think that the book didn’t go anywhere or have any new information or ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ until over halfway through and because of that I found it very heavy and emotionally draining at times.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Violence, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Slavery, Xenophobia, Vomit, War
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Classism
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Genocide, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, War
Difficult to read due to the graphic abuse, neglect and layers of trauma. I'm sure I didn't even capture all of the CWs.
I mostly found it sad and not particularly hopeful which I think just reflects where the author was in her healing journey at the time of writing.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Antisemitism, Car accident
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Colonisation
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Genocide, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Sexism, Slavery, Antisemitism, Grief
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Classism
Minor: Genocide, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Murder