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A review by bookblurbage
The Only Girl in the World by Maude Julien
5.0
Wow, wow, wow. Hooked from the start. A very heartbreaking and cathartic ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐ read. So many thoughts and feelings to process whilst reading this one.
A prewarning that there are senstive themes in this book and descriptions of physical and verbal abuse throughout.
⚠️Triggers: Anxiety, animal abuse, cults, physical, emotional and verbal abuse, torture, sexism, child abuse, sexual abuse, self harm, suicide
A true depiction of Maude's tough upbringing by her strict cult esque father translated beautifully by Adriana Hunter. He believes that she is a tabula rasa or blank slate (John Locke theory); ready and waiting to be moulded and influenced by her father. To absorb and learn passively by surpressing all emotion. A miniature adult.
Her mother is also on the same wavelength as her father. Both are unforgiving in their life lessons. Milestones which should be full of praise, excitement and joy are instead ones of fear and humiliation. Of which both parents chastise and have no remorse on the sheer upset (putting it lightly) they are inflicting on their child.
The fact she isn't allowed to leave her house (or very rarely) but takes opportunities to find joy in the small things such as looking after her pet dog or escaping within the realms of a book and her imaginary characters help keep a balance on her mental state.
This is a shocking case of abuse, isolation and a downright horrific and miserable upbringing but I can't help but admire Maude's tough interior and sheer willpower to carry on. She discloses that her main savour keeping her from suicide or the madhouse is that of wildlife. Animals and nature altogether proving that it really is a great form of natural therapy.
An incredibly sad but moving read of a little girl that wants to be nurtured with an amazing desire to learn which I think helps her to survive and flourish into a stable and loving wife, mother and psychologist.
Truly mindblowing. A story of strength and inner courage. A 5 star must read for fellow memoir lovers.
A prewarning that there are senstive themes in this book and descriptions of physical and verbal abuse throughout.
⚠️Triggers: Anxiety, animal abuse, cults, physical, emotional and verbal abuse, torture, sexism, child abuse, sexual abuse, self harm, suicide
A true depiction of Maude's tough upbringing by her strict cult esque father translated beautifully by Adriana Hunter. He believes that she is a tabula rasa or blank slate (John Locke theory); ready and waiting to be moulded and influenced by her father. To absorb and learn passively by surpressing all emotion. A miniature adult.
Her mother is also on the same wavelength as her father. Both are unforgiving in their life lessons. Milestones which should be full of praise, excitement and joy are instead ones of fear and humiliation. Of which both parents chastise and have no remorse on the sheer upset (putting it lightly) they are inflicting on their child.
The fact she isn't allowed to leave her house (or very rarely) but takes opportunities to find joy in the small things such as looking after her pet dog or escaping within the realms of a book and her imaginary characters help keep a balance on her mental state.
This is a shocking case of abuse, isolation and a downright horrific and miserable upbringing but I can't help but admire Maude's tough interior and sheer willpower to carry on. She discloses that her main savour keeping her from suicide or the madhouse is that of wildlife. Animals and nature altogether proving that it really is a great form of natural therapy.
An incredibly sad but moving read of a little girl that wants to be nurtured with an amazing desire to learn which I think helps her to survive and flourish into a stable and loving wife, mother and psychologist.
Truly mindblowing. A story of strength and inner courage. A 5 star must read for fellow memoir lovers.