brooklyndohrenwend's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0


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annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0


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se_wigget's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

 
Fuck you, fucking piece of fucking shit fucking victim-blaming fucking rape apologists fucking misogynists. You are the fuck devoid of any redeeming quality.  And that fucking includes you, fucking piece of fucking shit Washington fucking Post. 

This is an intense personal account of the author's experience after rape. It has insightful cultural commentary. Make that... shitculture commentary.
 
"Victims are often, automatically, accused of lying. But when a perpetrator is exposed for lying, the stigma doesn't stick. Why is it that we're wary of victims making false accusations, but rarely consider how many men have blatantly lied about, downplayed, or manipulated others to cover their own actions (p. 191)?" 
 
"Nobody earns the right to rape. It is still rape when he is a good swimmer (p. 249)." 
 
Sexual predators as gaslighters: 
"Society [rape culture] gives women the near impossible task of separating harmlessness from danger, the foresight of knowing what some men are capable of. When we call out assault when we hear it, Trump says, I don't think you understand.  Just words. You are overreacting, overly offended, hysterical, rude [projecting], relax!!! So we dismiss threatening statements and warning signs, apologizing for our [nonexistent] paranoia. We go into a party or meeting thinking it's just a party or meeting.  But when we are taken advantage of, and come crawling back damaged, they say, How could you be so naive, you failed to detect danger, let your guard down, what did you think would happen? Trump made it clear the game is rigged, the rules keep changing. It doesn't matter what you think [or know] is assault, because in the end, he [the sexual predator] decides (p. 278)." 
  
"When society questions a victim's reluctance to report, I will be here to remind you that you ask us to sacrifice our sanity to fight outdated structures that were designed to keep us down (p. 288)." 
 
"This is not a out the victim's lack of effort. It's about society's failure to to have systems in place in which victims feel there's a probable chance of achieving safety, justice, and restoration rather than being traumatized, publicly shamed, psychologically tormented, and verbally mauled. The real question we need to be asking is not, Why didn't she report. The question is, Why would you (p. 288)?" 


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homebodynate's review against another edition

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5.0


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beatrizwithaz's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

“You took away my worth, my privacy, my energy, my time, my safety, my intimacy, my confidence, my own voice, until today.”

I remember following the case as I was beginning college. I remember being devastated at the news of the sentencing. I remember being at Stanford graduation (on Chanel’s birthday, as I’ve now learned) and seeing the hundreds of protesting students holding signs in support of a girl we did not know the name of yet but whose story we have unfortunately heard too many times to count.

I’ve walked Stanford’s campus a hundred times. I think it can sometimes feel easier to try to forget how pervasive violence can be, but Chanel’s words have found their way into my heart. "To girls everywhere, I am with you." Sometimes, the same life that brings you light also brings darkness. And sometimes that feels like a neverending cycle, and you never know what side of things you're going to end up. You don’t always get to choose your topic, but we all have a story to tell.

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blakeandbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

Literally begging anyone and everyone to read this. What an incredible memoir. Chanel does not hold back in her account of what happened to her before, during, and after the Brock Turner trial. I was in tears throughout the book. Her story is a reminder of the difficulty women face in speaking up against their abuser even if there is damning evidence and proof everywhere you look. 

I remember hearing about this trial occurring and the events of the 2016 election so vividly as she slowly discusses how her survivor story happened during such a crucial time in the world.

Hearing her narrate this book made this experience so much more powerful, especially when she read her 12-page victim impact statement where she had to continue to pause while reading and you could hear the emotion in her voice and delivery of the speech. 

A reminder to listen to victims and survivors. And you know nothing of what someone is going through.

CW: rape, sexual assault, sexual violence

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caitlinemccann's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0


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maggiemcfly's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

I wish everyone would read this book. 

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emcfeely's review against another edition

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5.0


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solasuaine's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0


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