Reviews tagging 'Grief'

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

121 reviews

silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

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

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

han_leigh_v's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Minor: Cursing, Body shaming, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, Racism, and Rape

bdilley28's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

This is possibly the best book I have ever read. I started this book without truly knowing what it was about, and I finished it in tears, feeling inspired. This book is painful, beautiful, heavy, and encouraging, and everyone should read this. The small moments of hope in the Swedes who saved Chanel, the doorwomen of her apartment, the old man on the bench, Alaleh, Tiffany, Lucas, and Chanel's own voice reading the audiobook were a comforting hug in a book riddled with trauma. I will never stop recommending this book to anyone I ever meet.

Favorite Quote: "It is not a question of if you will survive this, but what beautiful things await you when you do." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, and Mental illness

kimboklaer's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Chanel tells her story in a way that is so vulnerable. Her writing is absolutely beautiful. I feel empowered by her words. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault

Chanel tells her story with a lot of grace and refrains from graphic details. There were some moments in which I felt triggered (to move toward depression) by the weight and sadness of her experience.

ksuazo94's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Racial slurs and Gaslighting

Minor: Body horror, Classism, Death, and Emotional abuse

questingnotcoasting's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

This is probably the best memoir I've ever read. I'd seen almost universally positive reviews but Chanel Miller's writing still blew me away with how beautiful it was. I rarely highlight books but I couldn't resist it here because her observations and descriptions were gorgeous. I particularly loved how she often included little details of her daily life which really grounded her story and drew me in.
Miller writes about her experience with such grace and strength, as well as the rage you'd expect. It's such an important book and it made me absolutely furious at the justice system. I remember reading Miller's victim impact statement when it was released and her book has the same power. I'd put off reading it because I knew it would be challenging but I'm so glad I did finally pick it up. She doesn't shy away from the realities of dealing with trauma and depression but it's also hopeful and much funnier than I was expecting. I've been following her on Instagram for a long time and really enjoy her illustrations and am so looking forward to seeing what she does next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Suicide, Misogyny, and Racial slurs

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

this was absolutely devastating. i read this in a day and would not recommend doing that. i finished the book feeling so hollow and sad. Chanel Miller is an amazing author and i am so grateful to have been able to read her story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Grief, Medical content, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence

vale_reading's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Medical content, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Medical trauma, and Grief

mandi_lea's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Violence, Medical trauma, Grief, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Misogyny, and Gaslighting