chiaracerniglia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.25
thelilfawn's review against another edition
3.0
Finished it in one day, it’s very short and easy to read. The writing flows. Some parts were so vividly written I had to stop mid-reading to catch my breath. I felt sick to my stomach at times because I felt for the narrator so badly. However, it lacks the depth and details of other memoirs like Wasted by Marya Hornbacher.
danamuses's review against another edition
3.0
i had no idea until just reading this book description that this was a memoir. this fact makes the book all the more disturbing. i can't really say i enjoyed it but i'm glad i read it.
raven_morgan's review against another edition
3.0
This book was brutal. Was it willing incest? Abuse? Manipulation? Seen only through Harrison's eyes, its difficult to know the answer. Certainly there was abuse, and there were many family members dealing with mental illness, their broken edges abrading one another over and over.
Fascinating, but in a truly grinding glass way.
Fascinating, but in a truly grinding glass way.
lydou's review
3.0
Je ne sais pas si c'est parce que mon niveau en lecture est élémentaire mais j'ai presque rien compris. Je n'ai pas trop aimé le style de narration non plus.
myotinae's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
laurelinwonder's review against another edition
5.0
Well, I'm wrecked. I'm continuing to read through Kate Elizabeth Russell's reading list from her research for "My Dark Vanessa" this was a very different read in a few key ways. This is not a graphic or lascivious memoir, instead it's a meditation on a very taboo subject. I applaud Harrison for putting this out into the world, because too many will find the context of consent and manipulation to be unbelievable. Here's what I mean, and what should be taken from this memoir (without spoilers): Harrison reflects on how her parents, as terrible as they were, we both master manipulators. She was simply caught trying to own herself and yet still wanting more than anything to be loved as a daughter should be, to be a "normal" family. Ripe for being taken advantage of, Harrison doesn't make herself a victim, instead she unravels how a non-normative relationship can occur in the right (albeit very wrong) setting. Age has nothing to do with matters of abuse, and I've already heard to many say that this was consensual. Here's the deal, even if you don't say no (because you want so badly to be loved among other issues), you can still be used against your will. There is a terrible back and forth between Harrison and her father, who thinks he owns her. If anyone reads this and doesn't see a very real abuse of power by parents, then you need to educate yourself on the power and abuse wheel. There are many ways that humans are terrible to one another, this is just one devistating example that has clearly reverberated throughout Harrison's life. Beautifully written, this is unlike nay other memoir I have ever read, it doesn't ask for sympathy, it asks to you to pay attention, without sermon.