Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Know My Name: The Survivor of the Stanford Sexual Assault Case Tells Her Story

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Know My Name: The Survivor of the Stanford Sexual Assault Case Tells Her Story by Chanel Miller

85 reviews

novellearts's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

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jeanettesreadingcorner's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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annikadm's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

This book is one of the most important books I have ever read. Chanel recounts one of the most harrowing moments of her life and the butterfly effect it had on her and all those around her. The justice system is not built to protect, advocate, or support victims of sexual violence and that is incredibly apparent throughout reading this book. It is a hard and emotional read but one that is nevertheless necessary.

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silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense slow-paced

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.

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glass_carousel's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

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lindsayvale's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.75

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mortiffa's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.75

To say that this book was hard to read (or listen to, in my case) is an understatement, but I'm so glad to have been able to get Chanel Miller's story, in her own words and her own voice. A beautifully written and courageous piece of literature, this will stay with me for a long time, I feel.

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