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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
The description said this memoir is for fans of Educated and The Glass Castle and I’d have to say I wholeheartedly agree! Stephanie had a terrible upbringing – homelessness, foster care, sexually abused – the list is long and heartbreaking. Her mother suffered from mental illness and addiction, leaving Stephanie and her siblings to fend for themselves.
Stephanie is a great writer. Her prose immediately sucked me in and I knew I was in it for the long haul. Her journey with her mother was interesting – at the beginning of the book, they were nearly estranged, but as the book progressed, Stephanie’s mother becomes ill and she knows she wants to understand her mother as much as she can while she is able to get some answers. Through these revelations, Stephanie gains insight into her mother’s life and slowly begins to forgive her and have compassion for her. It really was a beautiful transformation that really reminds the reader that what others see on the outside is only a piece of the puzzle. Without excusing her mother’s behavior, Stephanie was able to heal her pain when she had more insight into her mother’s past.
What I absolutely hated about this book was Plymale’s exploration of her own marital issues with her husband. I appreciate that her husband was her saving grace, but the focus of the book should have stayed on her mother. This is a memoir, not an autobiography, so there was no need for Stephanie to stray into her personal problems in her marriage. To be honest, while I had a lot of compassion for Stephanie’s upbringing, the way she spoke to and about her husband darkened my opinion of her. I’m not saying there wasn’t value in her explorations of her unhappiness, but maybe it should have been in a different book. The two parts really didn’t compliment each other and I was way more invested in the mother/daughter relationship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer
Minor: Car accident
Plymale's page-turning memoir of abuse, power, abandonment, and the tragedy of mental illness reads like a true crime story! American Daughter was on my Too Be Read list since I first heard of its publication, and it did not disappoint.! I'm uncertain about the credibility of the author's story. Something didn't quite ring true, but I want to give her credit for sharing a very painful experience. I believe that her story is intended to encourage others. It's kind of like Educated on steroids! Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's copy from NetGalley with the expectation I would provide an honest review.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
“Find a way to be the love you didn’t get.”
Stephanie Thornton Plymale endured poverty, neglect, a mentally unhealthy mother, sexual assault and more during her childhood. But thankfully she found her husband and, with his help, became the love she didn’t get as a child.
I’m a huge fan of memoirs and I highly recommend this one that highlights how the systems of this country are failing many. This one has been compared to The Glass Castle and I can see why—I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness
This book was touching and poetic while handling trauma of many different kinds. I recommend it to anyone looking for lessons on forgiveness, parenthood, and control.
Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.
Engrossing, this book grabs you from the first page. And what a wild ride it is. Writing a little too descriptive, even for me!
Engrossing, this book grabs you from the first page. And what a wild ride it is. Writing a little too descriptive, even for me!
Thank you @netgalley for the chance to read this wonderful book!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
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Wow- what a roller coaster ride of emotions in this story. American Daughter is a memoir about a woman named Stephanie who was raised by a mother with mental illness. After being homeless, in and out of foster care, and having to deal with her mothers various partners- she found her way to a more peaceful and predictable life. Along the way, her mother comes back into her life and what she finds out, changes everything. .
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This story reminded me so much of the Glass Castle. If you enjoyed that book- you will love this one. It was a wild ride and without giving anything away- I really enjoyed Stephanie’s search to find answers about her heritage/lineage as well as her search to find how to forgive her mother.
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Wow- what a roller coaster ride of emotions in this story. American Daughter is a memoir about a woman named Stephanie who was raised by a mother with mental illness. After being homeless, in and out of foster care, and having to deal with her mothers various partners- she found her way to a more peaceful and predictable life. Along the way, her mother comes back into her life and what she finds out, changes everything. .
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This story reminded me so much of the Glass Castle. If you enjoyed that book- you will love this one. It was a wild ride and without giving anything away- I really enjoyed Stephanie’s search to find answers about her heritage/lineage as well as her search to find how to forgive her mother.