A review by thuglibrarian
A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings

4.0

In this memoir author Tia Levings writes about her experience growing up as a Christian fundamentalist which included church-sanctioned abuse by her then husband. She writes about having to respond to him as *yes, my Lord* when told what to do by him and physical discipline by him which including spanking her. Yes, you read that right. Spanking by a husband to keep a wife in line. Tia is a highly intelligent woman and like many women who are abused was forced to compartmentalize her life in order to mentally survive. A small spark inside of her knew that this religious rigidity was beyond the pale and that small spark turned out to be her saving grace. Readers will read passages and will probably find it difficult to believe that this type of cruelty not only exists but is sanctioned. E.g. Blanket training is where an infant or toddler is required to remain on a blanket for a limited period of time, with a few selected toys. When the child moves to leave the blanket, parents are instructed to hit the child with a flexible ruler, glue stick, or another similar object.
I found myself cheering on the author and feel others will do the same.
Viewers who enjoyed the documentary Shiny, Happy People will be drawn to this memoir.


*I read an advance copy and was not compensated.