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gabriella_'s review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Medical content, Alcohol, Death, Misogyny, Mental illness, Racism, and Sexism
bloomingbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Rape, Alcohol, Suicide, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Police brutality, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Murder
Minor: Blood and Vomit
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Violence, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Medical trauma, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Blood, Cursing, Racism, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Stalking, Mental illness, and Racial slurs
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, Drug use, Outing, and Body shaming
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
nym1013's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual violence, Rape, Gaslighting, Death, and Sexual assault
Minor: Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Blood
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
3.75
miller's writing is crisp and defyingly straightforward, powerfully conveying the initial confusion after the assault, and the subsequent mix of complex emotions that followed the yrs after: disbelief, fear, disappointment, rage and ultimately, hope. this book's honestly eye-opening in how the justice system and court process negatively affect survivors' lives, and it's baffling and enraging. there are very powerful moments st certain parts of the book that point out the larger culture's hypocrisy, double standards, and reaffirm miller's and other survivors' own self and autonomy. it's some memorable reading, thats for sure.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Rape
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
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
leefox's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Blood, Hate crime, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Body horror, Death, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Mass/school shootings, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
annamorgan27's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Sexual violence, Rape, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders