Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
I remember the visceral reaction I had upon hearing about Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony against Brett Kavanaugh. I admired her courage then in being willing to share and I admired her courage now in writing about it for this memoir.
I liked that this goes beyond the story we all know. It’s about her life before, during and after the incident and her testimony about it. She’s really tried her best to put her past behind her and move forward and heal. It’s admirable and provides a good framework for other survivors.
She references Chanel Miller’s amazing book, Know My Name, at various points and that’s a good reference point because just like that book, this is a story about healing from trauma. Not just the trauma of being sexually assaulted but the trauma of sharing about it and having people not believe you. Those two books work well in tandem with each other. Thank you Dr. Ford for your testimony, your courage and your strength. It might not seem like it made a difference but it really did. Great memoir of a harrowing experience that I hope no one has to go through.
I liked that this goes beyond the story we all know. It’s about her life before, during and after the incident and her testimony about it. She’s really tried her best to put her past behind her and move forward and heal. It’s admirable and provides a good framework for other survivors.
She references Chanel Miller’s amazing book, Know My Name, at various points and that’s a good reference point because just like that book, this is a story about healing from trauma. Not just the trauma of being sexually assaulted but the trauma of sharing about it and having people not believe you. Those two books work well in tandem with each other. Thank you Dr. Ford for your testimony, your courage and your strength. It might not seem like it made a difference but it really did. Great memoir of a harrowing experience that I hope no one has to go through.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Disappointing
I followed the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation controversy closely, so I thought Dr. Blasey’s behind-the-scenes account of her experience would be interesting and informative. But it reads very defensively, like she’s trying to convince the public that she was telling the truth and didn’t have an agenda and was dragged forward only to have her life destroyed. Since I expect that pretty much everyone who chooses to buy the book already believes her, I was hoping for a deeper, more resonant account with more thoughtful analysis rather than this superficial, vapid and vanilla tale of a plebeian woman and her love of surfing. I stopped at 52% when I got bored and realized I was wasting my time and not learning anything new. (From the 3-star reviews of women who stuck with it to the last page, it seems like I jumped ship just in time, before the celebrity name-dropping began in earnest.)
Dr. Blasey did a great and selfless deed by stepping up to testify about Kavanaugh's assault on her. Perhaps she should have left it at that.
DNF @ 52%
I followed the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation controversy closely, so I thought Dr. Blasey’s behind-the-scenes account of her experience would be interesting and informative. But it reads very defensively, like she’s trying to convince the public that she was telling the truth and didn’t have an agenda and was dragged forward only to have her life destroyed. Since I expect that pretty much everyone who chooses to buy the book already believes her, I was hoping for a deeper, more resonant account with more thoughtful analysis rather than this superficial, vapid and vanilla tale of a plebeian woman and her love of surfing. I stopped at 52% when I got bored and realized I was wasting my time and not learning anything new. (From the 3-star reviews of women who stuck with it to the last page, it seems like I jumped ship just in time, before the celebrity name-dropping began in earnest.)
Dr. Blasey did a great and selfless deed by stepping up to testify about Kavanaugh's assault on her. Perhaps she should have left it at that.
DNF @ 52%
Probably my favorite memoir to date. Blasey Ford comes across as deeply authentic and relatable. Her reflection on a life defining moment that has been deeply shaped by media and politics is honest and genuine. In choosing to speak about her trauma, she faced implications she never imagined, and the poignancy in which she describes these experiences is gripping. This memoir did not overdone or dramatized, and you can hear the work she has put in to her own healing prior to owning her narrative through authorship. There are also so many feelings stirred about systemic injustices that I grappled with while reading and I feel this book serves as a reminder to any reader, regardless of beliefs, that we can never undervalue the importance of hearing someone's story. It's impossible to be concise in this review but highly recommend this read.
4.0 stars
DEFINITE recommend
I liked this audiobook (it wasn't available as a choice here on Goodreads), but I didn't love it.
I also think Christine Blasey Ford's voice was not the ideal choice for an audiobook. I may have had a higher review if I had read this book instead of listening to it. But in her defense, this was Christine's story to tell.
If you are looking for salacious details, this is not the right book for you. It is about her life before the sexual assault by Brett Kavanaugh, in college and work, and having a lovely life in Palo Alton. She is shocked to learn that her attacker is a nominee to the Supreme Court. Christine eventually testifies and it turns her family's life upside down. Then the book is about the horrible aftermath and her healing that takes five years after testifying.
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea:
https://draft.blogger.com/blog/posts/5498228170078225889?hl=en
DEFINITE recommend
I liked this audiobook (it wasn't available as a choice here on Goodreads), but I didn't love it.
I also think Christine Blasey Ford's voice was not the ideal choice for an audiobook. I may have had a higher review if I had read this book instead of listening to it. But in her defense, this was Christine's story to tell.
If you are looking for salacious details, this is not the right book for you. It is about her life before the sexual assault by Brett Kavanaugh, in college and work, and having a lovely life in Palo Alton. She is shocked to learn that her attacker is a nominee to the Supreme Court. Christine eventually testifies and it turns her family's life upside down. Then the book is about the horrible aftermath and her healing that takes five years after testifying.
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea:
https://draft.blogger.com/blog/posts/5498228170078225889?hl=en
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
An amazing display of courage and the ability to reflect deeply on a traumatic event.
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
This was a very powerful memoir. I remember watching Christine Blasey Ford's testimony on tv, and the fallout after her attacker was confirmed anyway. I was horrified but not surprised that yet another man was protected by privilege and wealth, given the benefit of the doubt despite concrete evidence! This memoir gave us a lot of information about what was happening behind the scenes in Blasey Ford's life before, during, and after the confirmation. Still horrified, still not surprised. I am proud of her for sharing her story, and it was nice to listen to the audiobook and hear her own voice telling her own story.
My heart hurts for the awfulness she had to navigate, and yet my heart sings for the kindness of those who stepped up. Christine Blasey Ford tells the life behind the story, and it is definitely worth the read. Thank you for your willingness to once again step forward to tell the truth.