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supermanninja23's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Mass/school shootings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
fkshg8465's review against another edition
5.0
This book was both easy and hard to read. It feels so rare that women are vindicated, and that was the case here. An empty victory, but I was so proud of that California jury. We Asian women are stereotyped and taken advantage of because of those stereotypes. It’s unusual for BIPoC to get justice, to be believed, but when it’s rape, when it’s the victims who are vilified and scrutinized and intimidated and manipulated on the stand, it feels like BIPoC victims have an insurmountable agony. All that said, that damned judge - UGH!!! I feel like he violated her as much as Brock Turner. I hope they and the defense attorney and his parents share an eternal damnation where they are continuously violated and erased over and over and forevermore for legally gaslighting all women through their aggressively limp actions.
The judge being recalled was a very inadequate outcome. He needs to be tormented everyday for all the subpar sentences he’s surely meted out, because Brock was no way the first one he let off easy. As for this rapist whose sentence was pretty much a step removed from a get-out-of-jail-free card, the women in his area are holding him accountable. Still not enough, but at least his “freedom” comes with a lot of strings now - least according to Google.
Looked up Chanel in Instagram. Happy for her - happy that she’s found a way to thrive, though being an assault victim myself, I know she’ll have her haunted moments too. I wish her luck and send her lots of love.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Alcohol, Medical content, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Racism, and Sexual harassment
se_wigget's review against another edition
5.0
This is an intense personal account of the author's experience after rape. It has insightful cultural commentary. Make that... shitculture commentary.
Graphic: Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Bullying, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
wquindley's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Mass/school shootings, and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexism, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, and Racism
jeanettesreadingcorner's review against another edition
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Alcohol, Mass/school shootings, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Gun violence, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Blood, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Medical content
Moderate: Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition
5.0
I survived because I remained soft, because I listened, because I wrote. Because I huddled close to my truth, protected it like a tiny flame in a terrible storm. Hold up your head when the tears come, when you are mocked, insulted, questioned, threatened, when they tell you you are nothing, when your body is reduced to openings. The journey will be longer than you imagined, trauma will find you again and again. Do not become the ones who hurt you. Stay tender with your power. Never fight to injure, fight to uplift. Fight because you know that in this life, you deserve safety, joy, and freedom. Fight because it is your life. Not anyone else’s. I did it, I am here. Looking back, all the ones who doubted or hurt or nearly conquered me faded away, and I am the only one standing. So now, the time has come. I dust myself off, and go on.
This is one of the most powerful, heart-wrenching memoirs I have ever read. It took me some time to get into it, particularly due to the seemingly monotonous voice Miller used at the start of the audiobook. Only later did I figure out that this was part of the experience; as the book went along, Miller's pain, confusion and disappointment with the justice system came across more and more. She beautifully captures the fight against self-loathing and self-isolation that many experience to different degrees but very few can put into words quite like her.
I think this is not something recent survivors or people who are too empathetic or compassionate should necessarily push themselves to read. It is such an important book, but don't rush it - read it when you are ready, you won't regret waiting. Some may also find it to be hard to get through, but I would recommend pushing through, the end (which is only the beginning of a new stage of Miller's life) is worth it. Finally, another complaint might be that the book is repetitive or too graphic, but again I think that this serves a purpose. It mirrors the invasive and cyclical nature of the court system; it's dry, continuous, tedious and far too invasive for the victims.
Overall, I do not find that it would be right for me to criticise this book. It did what it was written to do and it did so lyrically, emotionally and incredibly truthfully. It cannot receive anything less than 5/5 stars.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide, Misogyny, Mass/school shootings, Rape, Vomit, Sexism, and Gun violence
Minor: Physical abuse, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Racism, Death, and Domestic abuse
sarah_hutchins's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Minor: Suicide, Mass/school shootings, and Gun violence
bdilley28's review against another edition
5.0
Favorite Quote: "It is not a question of if you will survive this, but what beautiful things await you when you do."
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, and Mental illness
ksuazo94's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Racial slurs and Gaslighting
Minor: Body horror, Classism, Death, and Emotional abuse
noceur's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Mass/school shootings, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Gun violence