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wmatamoros's review against another edition
1.0
This started out intriguing enough, but pretty quickly just kept repeating and repeating. If all of this is true, it's nuts and fascinating. It's pretty amazing that someones mind can protect themselves from trauma this way, but I feel like the way Karens story is told doesn't do it justice.
kilosmom7's review against another edition
5.0
I have been dying to write this review.
I was curious at first to see the way MPD/DID would be described in this book. And I WAS BLOWN AWAY.
the several personalities were distinct and i grew to love them as characters in Karen's story.
reading about how fragmented and desperate this woman was to be put back together was heartbreaking. Karen had no idea how many years she had lost, and for someone like me who has had no experience with DID this was so interesting to visualize Karen's mental home and all of her coping mechanisms.
this was a longer read than i had planned but the content was kind of confusing if you didn't get all the parts in order.
the integration section was my favorite. I was proud of Karen and her alters for finding the strength to come together to become a whole. Giving up the freedoms and tasks they had been dictating for Karen's whole life for the better of the whole system.
MUST READ for those interested in MPD/DID
I was curious at first to see the way MPD/DID would be described in this book. And I WAS BLOWN AWAY.
the several personalities were distinct and i grew to love them as characters in Karen's story.
reading about how fragmented and desperate this woman was to be put back together was heartbreaking. Karen had no idea how many years she had lost, and for someone like me who has had no experience with DID this was so interesting to visualize Karen's mental home and all of her coping mechanisms.
this was a longer read than i had planned but the content was kind of confusing if you didn't get all the parts in order.
the integration section was my favorite. I was proud of Karen and her alters for finding the strength to come together to become a whole. Giving up the freedoms and tasks they had been dictating for Karen's whole life for the better of the whole system.
MUST READ for those interested in MPD/DID
emiged's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure how to rate this book as I can't really say I "liked" it. It was incredibly disturbing, graphically detailing the horrific systematic physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and torture of a little girl for years. I was disgusted by the evil and depravity that led so many adults to hurt her in so many ways for their enjoyment, and also by the willful ignorance of so many other adults in her life who could have made a difference and didn't. It was inspiring reading of Karen's strength and courage to accept and unravel these dark, unspeakable events so she could start to heal. It was fascinating to learn how the human mind is capable of adapting and functioning under unbearable pain and stress and to be led though the decade-long process of merging her personalities.
Dr. Baer's almost inhuman commitment to this patient (she was the only one he kept when he closed his private practice and he saw her at his home after he ended the lease on his office space) floored me. He seemed to maintain an appropriately professional doctor/patient relationship while gaining the trust of all 17 personalities, but I wondered at the toll on his personal life. After several years, he agreed to see her for no charge because of the negative associations money held for her. In addition to their scheduled appointments, he spent hours and hours on the phone with her. While he didn't go into much detail, his marriage suffered because of this commitment and eventually ended, though I'm sure there were other factors. His devotion is laudable and he was obviously instrumental in her healing (I'm sure that moving her care to someone else would have set her back) but it makes me wonder where the line should be for physicians treating their patients. Not to cast aspersions on his intentions, but I also wondered how much of it was his true altruistic desire to help her and how much was his professional fascination with her case.
As for the book itself, I would have liked a more general background on multiple personality disorder (MPD) at some point to provide a better framework for Karen's situation, though I recognize that hers was an extreme case.
For more book reviews, visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
Dr. Baer's almost inhuman commitment to this patient (she was the only one he kept when he closed his private practice and he saw her at his home after he ended the lease on his office space) floored me. He seemed to maintain an appropriately professional doctor/patient relationship while gaining the trust of all 17 personalities, but I wondered at the toll on his personal life. After several years, he agreed to see her for no charge because of the negative associations money held for her. In addition to their scheduled appointments, he spent hours and hours on the phone with her. While he didn't go into much detail, his marriage suffered because of this commitment and eventually ended, though I'm sure there were other factors. His devotion is laudable and he was obviously instrumental in her healing (I'm sure that moving her care to someone else would have set her back) but it makes me wonder where the line should be for physicians treating their patients. Not to cast aspersions on his intentions, but I also wondered how much of it was his true altruistic desire to help her and how much was his professional fascination with her case.
As for the book itself, I would have liked a more general background on multiple personality disorder (MPD) at some point to provide a better framework for Karen's situation, though I recognize that hers was an extreme case.
For more book reviews, visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
cocoispuffed's review against another edition
2.0
Most people get MPD from traumatizing events that happened in their life. Well one of the worst things that can happen is rape, and that is exactly what happened to this woman. Let's just say they were way too detailed for my liking.There are detailed scenes about what happened to her and how these personalities all were formed from these events. So, many disgusting things happened to her.
lizlogan's review against another edition
3.0
The story was interesting, but I felt bad being the patient of another doctor - very judged and wondering if my own doctor thinks such disparaging thoughts about me. The abuse was written about in a manner that was still managed to convey the horror involved without being absolutely overwhelming, but the doctor writing things like how he didn't like Karen until some of the parts he did like joined her seemed extremely judgmental. I guess I know and understand that psychologists have opinions of their patients, but it seems extremely unprofessional to offer it to the world at large, negative or otherwise.
brigade_of_beans's review against another edition
1.75
I just feel like this entire novel is an exploration and subsequent exploitation of the system's (Karen's) trauma. I have DID (or, as the novel outdatedly refers to it, MPD) and found that representation, whilst accurate, disheartening. This wasn't a novel about a system learning to work together to overcome the hardships that being a system entails, but instead a way for the author and treating professional to gloat about how wonderful he was. Repeating the same thing over and over, using the systems trauma for shock value, not adding any neuanced discussion around final fusion and functional Multiplicity. I didn't expect that to be a part of the main novel, due to the timeframe it took place in, but I did expect at least mention of it in the already existing authors note. But no, nothing.
Honestly, as a system, this isn't the kind of novel I wish to see about folks like myself. Because this isn't about the system, it's about a therapist and how much he loves himself and his work.
Honestly, as a system, this isn't the kind of novel I wish to see about folks like myself. Because this isn't about the system, it's about a therapist and how much he loves himself and his work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Rape
missmarcyb's review against another edition
4.0
The story is intriguing and compelling, however I am unable to give it 5 stars due to ethical concerns about some of the doctors choices.
The details of the patient's trauma history may be upsetting to some readers.
The details of the patient's trauma history may be upsetting to some readers.
lyssworm27's review against another edition
5.0
Hands down, one of the best books I have ever read. I teared up and cried, especially during some of the integrations. Karen’s story is a story that I won’t ever forget. I started reading this book last year, and decided to finish it in a span of a few days because I was inspired. At first, I could not fathom the abuse and pain that Karen went through and it was painful for me to read. I was able to get through the painful pages, delving deep into Karen’s story. It’s truly amazing and I’m glad that it was shared. Please read this book if you are going into the field of psychology as it can prepare you for your future and the people you may encounter. You will end up more compassionate than ever before after reading this book.
joneal233's review against another edition
4.0
A very difficult read emotionally, and it took me a very long time to finish it for that reason. I love Dr. Baer's use of the term "murdering of the soul," because that is what this woman went through. It is very fascinating to see the personalities complexities, and how and why they developed. The skeptic in me still has difficulty believing in them to an extent. I would also like to believe that so much abuse and torture could not happen to an individual, but I am afraid that I do believe that.
kylorenfri's review against another edition
2.0
This is at it's core a good story about a therapist and client. But the writing is terrible and the author is far too self-congratulatory for me to find him compelling or compassionate. He seems so invested in being this woman's therapist, but his motivations are suspect.