Review by oceanwriter - The House of My Mother

A review by oceanwriter
The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

I hadn’t heard of the Franke family until the news of Ruby Franke’s arrest went viral. The more that came out about her children’s situation, the more heartbroken I felt. While the idea of family vlogging never quite sat right with me personally (hence why I was out of the loop), I didn’t have a strong stance on whether or not it was a moral issue. In recent years, however, I’ve begun to feel differently. If most individuals are putting on airs for the sake of social media, why not families, too?

Honestly, I don’t know what compelled me to pick up this book aside from curiosity. Not so much curiosity about Ruby herself but to hear the side of one of her children. I found Shari Franke’s writing and ability to convey her personal experiences remarkable. I applaud her decision not to write about or even name her younger siblings and what they went through. It wasn’t necessary in order for her to paint a true picture of Ruby.

What came as the biggest surprise for me personally was how much of myself I could see in Shari’s personality, headspace, and coping skills (though I thankfully did not have similar experiences to her growing up). It struck a way deeper chord than I was prepared for, although I am grateful for the insight I was granted. Undoubtedly, this book is going to stay with me.

I admire the fact that despite having negative experiences religiously, Shari has clung on to her faith. That sadly doesn’t happen often when people have suffered the amount of abuse she has. For far less, young adults tend to walk away from their parent's religious views. Her ability to not waver spiritually is an inspiration and, for me, is a good reminder of the importance of a personal spiritual foundation for coping with the ugly parts of life.

If you’re looking for a juicy tell-all, this isn’t it, nor should it be. This is a coming-of-age memoir and a story of strength, resilience, and the price of fame. Namely, the fame that children do not consent to.

Content Warnings

A review by oceanwriter The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

A review by oceanwriter
The House of My Mother by Shari Franke