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A review by beanie_bob
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
5.0
As my second read of 2024, this follows up Jon Krakauer’s Missoula. This was an intentional choice on my part as I wanted to continue my journey of truth seeking. Missoula acts as a microcosm to examine sexual violence on campus and acquaintance rape, weaving many stories together. Know My Name is one story but, astonishingly, it reaches out and connects with all stories. The latter chapters specifically discuss cases that rose up after Channel testified, as well as pays respect to the women who came before her.
I was a Bay Area High School Senior the year Channel was raped by Brock Turner, and then a college Freshman when his absurd sentencing unfolded. Six months, but out after three. I’ll never forget it as long as I live. The injustice burned something inside me and whenever a rape trial occurs I think about Brock.
Channel was anonymous in the four years following her rape. In my mind, Emily Doe was a girl like me and in some ways I was right; born in June, Bay Area native, an artist, a writer. What I never knew, and could never know, was how wholly individual she is. Can you ever fully know a person, in all their complexities? Channel shares so much of herself in her memoir, takes healing into her own hands to reclaim her voice and her name.
There were some moments where the writing didn’t work for me (mainly some of her metaphors), but how can I complain when so much more of the book was insightful, inspiring, difficult but important? And what does it matter when so much more had me highlighting and saying, yes you are so right.
I was a Bay Area High School Senior the year Channel was raped by Brock Turner, and then a college Freshman when his absurd sentencing unfolded. Six months, but out after three. I’ll never forget it as long as I live. The injustice burned something inside me and whenever a rape trial occurs I think about Brock.
Channel was anonymous in the four years following her rape. In my mind, Emily Doe was a girl like me and in some ways I was right; born in June, Bay Area native, an artist, a writer. What I never knew, and could never know, was how wholly individual she is. Can you ever fully know a person, in all their complexities? Channel shares so much of herself in her memoir, takes healing into her own hands to reclaim her voice and her name.
There were some moments where the writing didn’t work for me (mainly some of her metaphors), but how can I complain when so much more of the book was insightful, inspiring, difficult but important? And what does it matter when so much more had me highlighting and saying, yes you are so right.
I do not owe him my success, my becoming, he did not create me. The only credit Brock can take is for assaulting me, and he could never even admit to that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Racism