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irene_kalo's review
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Torture, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Religious bigotry, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Incest, Homophobia, Grief, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Child abuse, Child death, Bullying, Antisemitism, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, and Abandonment
marianneo's review
5.0
This is an immensely touching and fascinating book about a half-dozen or so young women and girls (including the author, herself, when she was younger) and the way they convey the traumatizing experiences they've suffered through subconscious language and expression. The author did an amazing job of pulling me into each story and of channeling this intense desire to help each girl heal and move on – it was overwhelming, in the best of ways. The book also did an excellent job of opening my mind to a world of indirect communication that is rather poorly understood, and this left me with a lot of hope that there can be peace at the end of the day for victims of any kind of abuse.
And the writing - always caring and introspective, often beautiful and poetic - moved me to tears, especially at the end. I could hardly make it through a page without having to reach for the Kleenex box.
The book goes somewhat deeply into Lacanian theory, which I have to admit that from my mediocre, hand-waving understanding of psychology, was hard to grasp and therefore accept. Of course, this part could be a real treat for other readers (like Christy, in the first review). Even so, I absolutely adored this book and highly, highly recommend it to anyone looking for a solid, moving non-fiction read.
And the writing - always caring and introspective, often beautiful and poetic - moved me to tears, especially at the end. I could hardly make it through a page without having to reach for the Kleenex box.
The book goes somewhat deeply into Lacanian theory, which I have to admit that from my mediocre, hand-waving understanding of psychology, was hard to grasp and therefore accept. Of course, this part could be a real treat for other readers (like Christy, in the first review). Even so, I absolutely adored this book and highly, highly recommend it to anyone looking for a solid, moving non-fiction read.
satyridae's review
3.0
Um. Yeah. Well, I couldn't say. No, REALLY, I couldn't say. Which is probably why I was drawn to this book. Reading it was a roller-coaster ride. There were passages so vertiginous that I thought I'd throw up and then the author would go haring off on a psychotic break of her own, or some impenetrable Freudian passage and I'd roll my eyes like one of the teenagers featured herein. There were passages where I couldn't even breathe, it was like they were written about me, or about that little girl I was.
But mostly, this book made me doubt the stories I have told myself, made me understand that the things I do not, will not, cannot say nevertheless are spoken through my actions, through my life. And it made me very, very sad. I would like to say I walked away from this book full of hope. But I did not.
But mostly, this book made me doubt the stories I have told myself, made me understand that the things I do not, will not, cannot say nevertheless are spoken through my actions, through my life. And it made me very, very sad. I would like to say I walked away from this book full of hope. But I did not.
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