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craftyscene's review against another edition
3.0
It’s difficult to rate a memoir on domestic violence. Powerful but unnecessary details at times.
penandpencil's review against another edition
4.0
It feels weird to critique anything about this very good book as the author is clearly very talented and brave. I really enjoyed the writing style and her story is incredibly moving. It was a riveting memoir, but I’m not sure it’s breaking new ground. Intimate partner violence is obviously horrific, Caleb should rot, and I am so glad she was able to get out in the end and move on.
I found it to be really tough on her parents, maybe there is more to the story, and I understand she wanted to forgive her mother. They were flawed for sure, as we all are, but the implication with her back story is that she couldn’t trust them when things got bad, idk, I may be projecting here.....
I found it to be really tough on her parents, maybe there is more to the story, and I understand she wanted to forgive her mother. They were flawed for sure, as we all are, but the implication with her back story is that she couldn’t trust them when things got bad, idk, I may be projecting here.....
pussnb00ks's review against another edition
i don't feel comfortable rating a memoir that felt so intimate and raw so it will remain unrated, but i will say that i devoured this whole book in an evening. this was a difficult read, particularly the moments where she reached out for help, to her family, friends, and others, and no one helped.
one of my favorite parts of this book, however, where the glimpses we got of her relationship with her mother. mother-daughter relationships are so complex and difficult, and this book really explores how you can both resent your mother for the times she failed you, while also mourning and acknowledging all the trauma she herself went through. if you have mommy issues, this will hit.
one of my favorite parts of this book, however, where the glimpses we got of her relationship with her mother. mother-daughter relationships are so complex and difficult, and this book really explores how you can both resent your mother for the times she failed you, while also mourning and acknowledging all the trauma she herself went through. if you have mommy issues, this will hit.
annieruokayy's review against another edition
4.0
Bravo to this author for talking about a subject matter that is often ignored. The ugly that goes on behind closed doors, the self esteem issues that go along with. The good times that you try to hold on to, the bad times that make it so hard. This was a story of defeat, then redemption, and ultimately a story of bravery.
My only issue with this book was I really feel the author was TRYING to let me in, but couldn’t quite let me all the way in. And that’s ok. It was still a great book.
My only issue with this book was I really feel the author was TRYING to let me in, but couldn’t quite let me all the way in. And that’s ok. It was still a great book.
joolee0715's review against another edition
5.0
This is a must read. For those that are in an abusive relationship, for those that are not sure if they are in an abusive relationship, for those that have left an abusive relationship, for those that have loved ones in this situation, for those that have loved ones that have left, and especially for those think, “why doesn’t she just leave?”
thegeekybibliophile's review
4.0
Sundberg's memoir about her abusive marriage is straight-forward, unflinching, and ultimately inspiring.
Domestic violence takes many forms, but is always damaging and demoralizing to the person being abused. It takes a great deal of strength to endure such a life, and courage to escape it.
I hope her book will help other women who are in abusive relationships find the courage to seek help and free themselves.
Domestic violence takes many forms, but is always damaging and demoralizing to the person being abused. It takes a great deal of strength to endure such a life, and courage to escape it.
I hope her book will help other women who are in abusive relationships find the courage to seek help and free themselves.
sde's review against another edition
3.0
Read this book in a day. It shows the complexities of a couple of an abusive relationship, including f the good times and love, even after the relationship was over. It also demonstrated clearly the slow escalation of the abuse so that the author, the abused, didn't really fully comprehend what was happening to her, despite people telling her it was abuse.
From the outside, many felt the author and her husband were the perfect couple, and they did have a lot in common. The story demonstrated another sort of #MeToo. Some people didn't believe the extent of the abuse when the author told them because everything seemed pretty good on the outside.
The writing was a bit simplistic (this happened, then this happened, then this did) and detached. But I am guessing that was necessary for the author to even be able to write about what had happened to her.
From the outside, many felt the author and her husband were the perfect couple, and they did have a lot in common. The story demonstrated another sort of #MeToo. Some people didn't believe the extent of the abuse when the author told them because everything seemed pretty good on the outside.
The writing was a bit simplistic (this happened, then this happened, then this did) and detached. But I am guessing that was necessary for the author to even be able to write about what had happened to her.
steffiam's review against another edition
2.0
Hard to get through, uninteresting forced side stories that veer off the main message
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
3.0
This book is not a tragic story with an HEA. It is not a story where the villain is easy to spot or the decisions easy to make.
It is an unflinching look at domestic violence and how all the threads of your life and your being get tangled up with this person you think you know until you don’t. It does not make excuses for bad behavior. This relationship is full of pain both emotional and physical.
It is an unflinching look at domestic violence and how all the threads of your life and your being get tangled up with this person you think you know until you don’t. It does not make excuses for bad behavior. This relationship is full of pain both emotional and physical.