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jhabelita's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism
wquindley's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Mass/school shootings, and Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Police brutality
jjoycoyle's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Sexual assault
beanith's review against another edition
5.0
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.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Racism
oceanw1's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Blood, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Animal death, Racism, Suicide, Vomit, and Police brutality
ziggypop's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Racism, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racial slurs
paupaurobles's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Mass/school shootings
silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition
5.0
I survived because I remained soft, because I listened, because I wrote. Because I huddled close to my truth, protected it like a tiny flame in a terrible storm. Hold up your head when the tears come, when you are mocked, insulted, questioned, threatened, when they tell you you are nothing, when your body is reduced to openings. The journey will be longer than you imagined, trauma will find you again and again. Do not become the ones who hurt you. Stay tender with your power. Never fight to injure, fight to uplift. Fight because you know that in this life, you deserve safety, joy, and freedom. Fight because it is your life. Not anyone else’s. I did it, I am here. Looking back, all the ones who doubted or hurt or nearly conquered me faded away, and I am the only one standing. So now, the time has come. I dust myself off, and go on.
This is one of the most powerful, heart-wrenching memoirs I have ever read. It took me some time to get into it, particularly due to the seemingly monotonous voice Miller used at the start of the audiobook. Only later did I figure out that this was part of the experience; as the book went along, Miller's pain, confusion and disappointment with the justice system came across more and more. She beautifully captures the fight against self-loathing and self-isolation that many experience to different degrees but very few can put into words quite like her.
I think this is not something recent survivors or people who are too empathetic or compassionate should necessarily push themselves to read. It is such an important book, but don't rush it - read it when you are ready, you won't regret waiting. Some may also find it to be hard to get through, but I would recommend pushing through, the end (which is only the beginning of a new stage of Miller's life) is worth it. Finally, another complaint might be that the book is repetitive or too graphic, but again I think that this serves a purpose. It mirrors the invasive and cyclical nature of the court system; it's dry, continuous, tedious and far too invasive for the victims.
Overall, I do not find that it would be right for me to criticise this book. It did what it was written to do and it did so lyrically, emotionally and incredibly truthfully. It cannot receive anything less than 5/5 stars.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Vomit, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
han_leigh_v's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Rape
Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Medical content, and Grief
lecta's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Mass/school shootings, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts