carrieat's review against another edition
5.0
Could not put this book down but what an emotional rollercoaster it took me on. Thank you Tara for sharing your story. Your courage and resilience is outstanding.
brob1856's review against another edition
5.0
I’d say this memoir is one of my all time favorites. Tara’s account of the vast forms of manipulation, abuse, and control her parents exhibited throughout her life is astounding. How she keeps a loving and open heart for so long even through all of the horrific things done to her and her siblings. The ways in which she relays to us how she processes the bits and pieces through the education she finds in books and through others experiences and advocacy to help her. The desperation her dad, brother and mother show in their attempt not to “lose” her is truly frightening and only solidifies in my mind how sick and unwell so many are and have been, certainly those in the throws of religion and/or great conspiracies. Her ability to escape and heal is incredibly inspirational. I recommend this book 10/10 and hope everyone will give it a listen or a read!!!
coatsy44's review against another edition
5.0
When I saw this book as one of the top books of 2018, I knew I had to read it. And now I know why.
It’s one of those books that’s so hard to read but also you can’t really put it down. Tara comes from an extreme Mormon, survivalist home. She becomes one of the most educated people despite the adversity she faced.
It’s an incredible telling of something that happened in the not too distant past. Her life sounds like that of the 1920’s but she’s only a few years older than me.
Highly recommend this book!
It’s one of those books that’s so hard to read but also you can’t really put it down. Tara comes from an extreme Mormon, survivalist home. She becomes one of the most educated people despite the adversity she faced.
It’s an incredible telling of something that happened in the not too distant past. Her life sounds like that of the 1920’s but she’s only a few years older than me.
Highly recommend this book!
ghostduchess's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know exactly how I feel about this one yet. I listened to the audiobook. At first it was a little confusing when she would stop one line of storytelling and jump to another. Then, I realized that if I were telling my life's story, I might not tell things quite linearly. I don't understand why we have nearly no information about "Tony" except his choice of career. Also, aliases or pseudonyms become moot when you publish in your own name and you are discussing family, so it struck me as odd she did this. I think 100 years ago, the information could have remained much more hidden, but today, it's easy to search someone on the internet and find their entire family tree.
As for the story itself. I understand that we are the product of our personalities and upbringing. We have trouble letting go of family ties even when they are toxic. However, for much of the book she seemed almost empathetic to Sean and Gene. It struck me as more Stockholm syndrome than simply a daughter who could not unlove a toxic father and brother. By the end, it seemed she had some realization of this, so maybe the sound of empathy was intentional as in how she felt in the moment. However, in a memoir looking back, it would seem the empathy would be gone. It was a heart-wrenching story and I am glad she became her own woman.
As for the story itself. I understand that we are the product of our personalities and upbringing. We have trouble letting go of family ties even when they are toxic. However, for much of the book she seemed almost empathetic to Sean and Gene. It struck me as more Stockholm syndrome than simply a daughter who could not unlove a toxic father and brother. By the end, it seemed she had some realization of this, so maybe the sound of empathy was intentional as in how she felt in the moment. However, in a memoir looking back, it would seem the empathy would be gone. It was a heart-wrenching story and I am glad she became her own woman.
angryem444's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Definitely check trigger warnings before you read this, but it was a really interesting book.
marta_marques's review against another edition
5.0
I'm just fascinated by this story and the way it is written. Such a great book!
riverlethe's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve hard a hard time writing a review for this one. I read it in one four hour sitting and it is my absolute top recommendation to anyone with whom I want to describe my background. My details were different, but the underlying truth was the same. Some of the conversations she recounts with her mother could have been word-for-word taken from mine. I felt so seen in reading about Tara’s journey out of that life.
To anyone who doubts the veracity, it must be nice to be so privileged.
To anyone who doubts the veracity, it must be nice to be so privileged.
nickynickynicky's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0