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Recommend this book:
Sensitive
My Journey through a Toxic World
Pookie Sekmet
2020 Finalist
305 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Sensitive: My Journey Through A Toxic World is a work of memoir non-fiction penned by author Pookie Sekmet. After unknowingly being exposed to dangerous chemicals when she was a baby, the author grew up experiencing strange sensations and illnesses which then took years to retrace before she knew what was causing these reactions to toxicity in the world around her. But from this struggle, a unique personality is spawned, and Pookie goes on to live an enlightened and alternative life, becoming a freedom fighter against corruption and patriarchal control in the corporate world. This episodic memoir tells the tale of how she developed this strength and empowerment despite her sensitivity to so much in the modern world.
I found author Pookie Sekmet’s story absolutely inspiring in every way. As someone who lives with chronic illness and terrible intolerances myself, I totally related to and understood her harrowing journey of diagnosis, which was filled with heartfelt narration, honesty and highly emotive reflections on that time period of her life. I also really enjoyed Pookie’s personality as a whole, with delightfully dry humor and intelligent little moments peppered throughout the stories which just make you smile all the time. As the most righteous period of the memoir begins, there’s a real swell of emotions and pride for the great work done to break down barriers, and the book takes you from somewhat humble and disadvantaged beginnings to a truly motivational tale of success. Overall, Sensitive is a memoir to be enjoyed, but also to learn from and be inspired by.
Sensitive: My Journey Through A Toxic World is a work of memoir non-fiction penned by author Pookie Sekmet. After unknowingly being exposed to dangerous chemicals when she was a baby, the author grew up experiencing strange sensations and illnesses which then took years to retrace before she knew what was causing these reactions to toxicity in the world around her. But from this struggle, a unique personality is spawned, and Pookie goes on to live an enlightened and alternative life, becoming a freedom fighter against corruption and patriarchal control in the corporate world. This episodic memoir tells the tale of how she developed this strength and empowerment despite her sensitivity to so much in the modern world.
I found author Pookie Sekmet’s story absolutely inspiring in every way. As someone who lives with chronic illness and terrible intolerances myself, I totally related to and understood her harrowing journey of diagnosis, which was filled with heartfelt narration, honesty and highly emotive reflections on that time period of her life. I also really enjoyed Pookie’s personality as a whole, with delightfully dry humor and intelligent little moments peppered throughout the stories which just make you smile all the time. As the most righteous period of the memoir begins, there’s a real swell of emotions and pride for the great work done to break down barriers, and the book takes you from somewhat humble and disadvantaged beginnings to a truly motivational tale of success. Overall, Sensitive is a memoir to be enjoyed, but also to learn from and be inspired by.
Recommend this book:
Bound
A Daughter, a Domme, and an End-of-Life Story
Elizabeth Anne Wood
2020 Honorable Mention
296 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
Bound: A Daughter, a Domme, and an End-of-Life Story by Elizabeth Anne Wood is an honest memoir that takes readers on an emotional ride through the last eight months of her mother’s life. The author is a sociology professor who is startled when she discovers that her mother, who hasn’t been in a relationship for decades, has started seeing men who want to be dominated and who are into kinky sex — bound, sexually dominated, whipped… But the worst news is when her mom is diagnosed with cancer and it eventually develops into a condition that forces her to face her end.
The threads that bind the events together and establish the balance in this narrative are strong, and the author explores themes that are challenging — a mother’s different sex life, her terminal illness, and impending death. With unusual clarity, compassion, and candor, Elizabeth Anne Wood shares her relationship with her mother towards the end of her life and offers commentaries and insights into life that prompt readers to reflect on the quality of their own lives, some nagging social issues, and the health system. It is compelling and absorbing and the reader is drawn into the emotional roller-coaster, following the author as she deals with difficult choices, the hospital, and trying to make sense of the situation.
Woven into the memoir are thoughts and insights that will inspire readers to traverse uncertain moments of life with their feet planted on the ground. Elizabeth Anne Wood’s writing is crisp and engaging, her compassionate voice comes across as a powerful force in the story, and her ability to transform a real-life situation into an engaging story is exceptional. Bound: A Daughter, a Domme, and an End-of-Life Story is told with courage and utter honesty, inspiring and filled with humanity.
Bound: A Daughter, a Domme, and an End-of-Life Story by Elizabeth Anne Wood is an honest memoir that takes readers on an emotional ride through the last eight months of her mother’s life. The author is a sociology professor who is startled when she discovers that her mother, who hasn’t been in a relationship for decades, has started seeing men who want to be dominated and who are into kinky sex — bound, sexually dominated, whipped… But the worst news is when her mom is diagnosed with cancer and it eventually develops into a condition that forces her to face her end.
The threads that bind the events together and establish the balance in this narrative are strong, and the author explores themes that are challenging — a mother’s different sex life, her terminal illness, and impending death. With unusual clarity, compassion, and candor, Elizabeth Anne Wood shares her relationship with her mother towards the end of her life and offers commentaries and insights into life that prompt readers to reflect on the quality of their own lives, some nagging social issues, and the health system. It is compelling and absorbing and the reader is drawn into the emotional roller-coaster, following the author as she deals with difficult choices, the hospital, and trying to make sense of the situation.
Woven into the memoir are thoughts and insights that will inspire readers to traverse uncertain moments of life with their feet planted on the ground. Elizabeth Anne Wood’s writing is crisp and engaging, her compassionate voice comes across as a powerful force in the story, and her ability to transform a real-life situation into an engaging story is exceptional. Bound: A Daughter, a Domme, and an End-of-Life Story is told with courage and utter honesty, inspiring and filled with humanity.
Recommend this book:
Heartbroken
Grief and Hope Inside the Opioid Crisis
Ellen Krohne
2020 Bronze Medal
276 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
Reviewed by Judith Rook for Readers' Favorite
Heartbroken: Grief and Hope inside the Opioid Crisis is written by Ellen Krohne, Diana Cuddeback and Matthew Ellis—three highly experienced and articulate US health and social professionals whose intention is to “… inform the reader as a starting place for healing.” The main core of the text is the accounts of the effects of seven overdose deaths through addictions, which began with the use of opioid drugs. However, the informed insights and understanding built around the harrowing stories take the book far beyond the condition of simple anecdotes and make it fundamentally relevant to any concerned individual or to society as a whole.
The book offers knowledge about the history of the use and abuse of opioids in the US and deals with two main concepts—the stigma associated with suicide and the ‘unrespected’ grief suffered by family members. The text steers away from the tradition of blame and punishment. Even the concept of personal choice as the basis for drug addiction is expertly presented as the tragic circumstance it is.
Heartbroken: Grief and Hope inside the Opioid Crisis is not a book to be read lightly, but it should be read, even by people who have not had direct experience of drug addiction and the overdose death of a loved person. It illuminates one of the greatest negative factors within contemporary Western society and presents some unpalatable facts, but at the same time, it reveals the beginning of a path which our society can follow, which ultimately may lead out of the opioid crisis.
Heartbroken: Grief and Hope inside the Opioid Crisis is written by Ellen Krohne, Diana Cuddeback and Matthew Ellis—three highly experienced and articulate US health and social professionals whose intention is to “… inform the reader as a starting place for healing.” The main core of the text is the accounts of the effects of seven overdose deaths through addictions, which began with the use of opioid drugs. However, the informed insights and understanding built around the harrowing stories take the book far beyond the condition of simple anecdotes and make it fundamentally relevant to any concerned individual or to society as a whole.
The book offers knowledge about the history of the use and abuse of opioids in the US and deals with two main concepts—the stigma associated with suicide and the ‘unrespected’ grief suffered by family members. The text steers away from the tradition of blame and punishment. Even the concept of personal choice as the basis for drug addiction is expertly presented as the tragic circumstance it is.
Heartbroken: Grief and Hope inside the Opioid Crisis is not a book to be read lightly, but it should be read, even by people who have not had direct experience of drug addiction and the overdose death of a loved person. It illuminates one of the greatest negative factors within contemporary Western society and presents some unpalatable facts, but at the same time, it reveals the beginning of a path which our society can follow, which ultimately may lead out of the opioid crisis.
Recommend this book:
How Much Big Is the Sky
A Memoir of a Mother's Love and Unfathomable Loss
Sherry Chapman
2020 Silver Medal
310 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
How Much Big Is The Sky: A Memoir of a Mother’s Love and Unfathomable Loss is a work of non-fiction telling the true-life tale of a mother’s grief at losing her son, and was penned by author Sherry Chapman. Unmasking the raw emotional experience of sudden tragic news and the agonizing process of grief that follows with the loss of a child, Chapman’s fearless and inspiring account takes readers through every stage with a full heart and immersive narration. There is a clear message against drunk driving and strong advocacy for making changes to the law after Ryan’s passing, which also gives this memoir its strong social activism themes.
Author Sherry Chapman writes with literary confidence that makes readers feel as though they are in safe hands, even through the darkest and most emotionally precarious moments of this hard-hitting reading experience. Readers who have experienced similar sudden tragedies are certain to take heart and support when reading Chapman’s account, and for those lucky enough to be ignorant of the experience, it’s a true window into the soul and psyche that, once read, cannot ever be forgotten again. The advocacy for safe teen driving raises an important educational message too, and there are some extremely powerful images of Sherry at different stages of her grief which would make for superb talking points for schools and youth groups everywhere. Overall, How Much Big Is The Sky: A Memoir of a Mother’s Love and Unfathomable Loss is an incredible and highly emotive work of memoir that is sure to touch the heart of anyone that reads it.
How Much Big Is The Sky: A Memoir of a Mother’s Love and Unfathomable Loss is a work of non-fiction telling the true-life tale of a mother’s grief at losing her son, and was penned by author Sherry Chapman. Unmasking the raw emotional experience of sudden tragic news and the agonizing process of grief that follows with the loss of a child, Chapman’s fearless and inspiring account takes readers through every stage with a full heart and immersive narration. There is a clear message against drunk driving and strong advocacy for making changes to the law after Ryan’s passing, which also gives this memoir its strong social activism themes.
Author Sherry Chapman writes with literary confidence that makes readers feel as though they are in safe hands, even through the darkest and most emotionally precarious moments of this hard-hitting reading experience. Readers who have experienced similar sudden tragedies are certain to take heart and support when reading Chapman’s account, and for those lucky enough to be ignorant of the experience, it’s a true window into the soul and psyche that, once read, cannot ever be forgotten again. The advocacy for safe teen driving raises an important educational message too, and there are some extremely powerful images of Sherry at different stages of her grief which would make for superb talking points for schools and youth groups everywhere. Overall, How Much Big Is The Sky: A Memoir of a Mother’s Love and Unfathomable Loss is an incredible and highly emotive work of memoir that is sure to touch the heart of anyone that reads it.
Recommend this book:
Restored
A Self-Paced Grief Workbook for Your Journey from Loss to Life
Marilyn C F Willis
2020 Gold Medal
274 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
Restored: A Self-Paced Grief Workbook for Your Journey from Loss to Life by Marilyn Willis is a handy manual that gives good guidance to readers who are survivors of loss. This book will help them move on to the restored life they are seeking. The book is a good tool to reflect on loss and find peace, community, comfort, and compassion. Grief is a personal emotion and the way mourning happens, the support, and the relationships that sustain can vary from individual to individual and this workbook is the perfect model to the path of healing. Though everyone's grief process varies, the loss leaves everyone with more or less the same challenges. This book walks readers through five key parts of restoration and will help readers open the doors to healing.
Marilyn Willis's personal story and stories from other survivors will make readers going through loss realize they are not alone. The author's compassionate mindset and her ability to understand the pain of others will encourage readers experiencing loss to become strong, resilient, love more, be grateful, and enjoy life. She speaks about the topic extensively and expansively, helping readers find a balance in their grieving. The Suggested Exercises and Reflection Questions are equally useful when it comes to restoring life after a loss. The approach to the topic is engaging and interesting and will pull readers in to participate in the Suggested Exercises and Reflection Questions and find peace and comfort. The author also gives biblical examples and how they overcame their grief by connecting with God. The book is comforting and leaves those who are struggling to overcome their grief and pain with hope and a sense of peace.
Restored: A Self-Paced Grief Workbook for Your Journey from Loss to Life by Marilyn Willis is a handy manual that gives good guidance to readers who are survivors of loss. This book will help them move on to the restored life they are seeking. The book is a good tool to reflect on loss and find peace, community, comfort, and compassion. Grief is a personal emotion and the way mourning happens, the support, and the relationships that sustain can vary from individual to individual and this workbook is the perfect model to the path of healing. Though everyone's grief process varies, the loss leaves everyone with more or less the same challenges. This book walks readers through five key parts of restoration and will help readers open the doors to healing.
Marilyn Willis's personal story and stories from other survivors will make readers going through loss realize they are not alone. The author's compassionate mindset and her ability to understand the pain of others will encourage readers experiencing loss to become strong, resilient, love more, be grateful, and enjoy life. She speaks about the topic extensively and expansively, helping readers find a balance in their grieving. The Suggested Exercises and Reflection Questions are equally useful when it comes to restoring life after a loss. The approach to the topic is engaging and interesting and will pull readers in to participate in the Suggested Exercises and Reflection Questions and find peace and comfort. The author also gives biblical examples and how they overcame their grief by connecting with God. The book is comforting and leaves those who are struggling to overcome their grief and pain with hope and a sense of peace.
Recommend this book:
Riding Standing Up
A Memoir
Sparrow Spaulding
2019 Gold Medal
267 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Riding Standing Up: A Memoir is an autobiography written by Sparrow Spaulding. Sparrow’s earliest memories were idyllic ones centering around a picture-perfect family with an adoring dad and a mom who was patient, loving and fun. But things changed and much too quickly. Her dad left, taking her little brother with him, and then he kidnapped her one morning, while she and her mom were on a doughnut run in town. Sparrow’s last vision of her mom was of her looking broken and twisted on the pavement and screaming. She and her dad drove to his mother’s trailer home in upstate New York, a terrifying trip that lasted, it seemed, forever. Nana was scary, with a stiff face that never seemed to smile even if a smile ever found itself on her painted red lips. Sparrow’s mom and dad had been from different worlds, and when they parted Sparrow’s perfect world seemed to end. Later on, her mom would explain that the breakup had happened because of his infidelities, something she could never forgive or get over.
Sparrow Spaulding’s autobiography, Riding Standing Up: A Memoir, reads like the most enthralling fictional account you’ve ever read and there’s a very good reason for it. No, it’s not that this is really fiction, rather it’s that Spaulding is an extremely gifted writer. That said, I did have to check for myself several times while reading Riding Standing Up, that this was, indeed, a memoir. Spaulding speaks with a wry detachment that works perfectly with her story. I would think to myself, what a great character Sparrow is, and then remind myself that she is also the author. How confusing and yet how incredibly awesome is that? I especially loved those parts of the story where Frank, her mom’s first love, comes to live with them and found the passages about the bikes to be memorable and moving. If you enjoy memoirs, you’ll have a marvelous time reading this exceptionally good one. If you prefer fiction, try it anyway. This memoir may have you rethinking your preferences, and, yes, it’s that good. Riding Standing Up: A Memoir is most highly recommended.
Riding Standing Up: A Memoir is an autobiography written by Sparrow Spaulding. Sparrow’s earliest memories were idyllic ones centering around a picture-perfect family with an adoring dad and a mom who was patient, loving and fun. But things changed and much too quickly. Her dad left, taking her little brother with him, and then he kidnapped her one morning, while she and her mom were on a doughnut run in town. Sparrow’s last vision of her mom was of her looking broken and twisted on the pavement and screaming. She and her dad drove to his mother’s trailer home in upstate New York, a terrifying trip that lasted, it seemed, forever. Nana was scary, with a stiff face that never seemed to smile even if a smile ever found itself on her painted red lips. Sparrow’s mom and dad had been from different worlds, and when they parted Sparrow’s perfect world seemed to end. Later on, her mom would explain that the breakup had happened because of his infidelities, something she could never forgive or get over.
Sparrow Spaulding’s autobiography, Riding Standing Up: A Memoir, reads like the most enthralling fictional account you’ve ever read and there’s a very good reason for it. No, it’s not that this is really fiction, rather it’s that Spaulding is an extremely gifted writer. That said, I did have to check for myself several times while reading Riding Standing Up, that this was, indeed, a memoir. Spaulding speaks with a wry detachment that works perfectly with her story. I would think to myself, what a great character Sparrow is, and then remind myself that she is also the author. How confusing and yet how incredibly awesome is that? I especially loved those parts of the story where Frank, her mom’s first love, comes to live with them and found the passages about the bikes to be memorable and moving. If you enjoy memoirs, you’ll have a marvelous time reading this exceptionally good one. If you prefer fiction, try it anyway. This memoir may have you rethinking your preferences, and, yes, it’s that good. Riding Standing Up: A Memoir is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
You Are Not Alone
A Heartfelt Guide for Grief, Healing, and Hope
Debbie Augenthaler, LMHC, NCC
2019 Silver Medal
268 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
You Are Not Alone: A Heartfelt Guide to Grief, Healing, and Hope by Debbie Augenthaler is the author's personal story of grief, trauma, and loss after losing her husband. Grief connects people and there is no particular way to grieve. It can be messy, chaotic, and hard. Through her book, the author tells people that it is okay to be a griever and healing and recovery does not mean that the person has been forgotten. The purpose of the book is to help others deal with their feelings of grief and offer them tools to deal with their inconsolable loss. The healing insights offered will guide readers who are grieving through their personal maze of loss and healing.
You Are Not Alone is a beautifully expressed book that will give readers the confidence to deal with their loss and grief, and appreciate the deeper compassion they develop while dealing with grief. Coping with grief is not easy and it is something that has to be learned. The book is honest and straightforward. The themes of loss, grief, healing, recovery, and a spiritual journey will connect with readers. The combination of prose, poems, and tips for quick meditations make it an interesting guide and, at the same time, it shows readers how to find their direction. Most importantly, the book gives hope to all those who are grieving. This book is not only about the author's personal loss but also her road to recovery and her spiritual journey.
You Are Not Alone: A Heartfelt Guide to Grief, Healing, and Hope by Debbie Augenthaler is the author's personal story of grief, trauma, and loss after losing her husband. Grief connects people and there is no particular way to grieve. It can be messy, chaotic, and hard. Through her book, the author tells people that it is okay to be a griever and healing and recovery does not mean that the person has been forgotten. The purpose of the book is to help others deal with their feelings of grief and offer them tools to deal with their inconsolable loss. The healing insights offered will guide readers who are grieving through their personal maze of loss and healing.
You Are Not Alone is a beautifully expressed book that will give readers the confidence to deal with their loss and grief, and appreciate the deeper compassion they develop while dealing with grief. Coping with grief is not easy and it is something that has to be learned. The book is honest and straightforward. The themes of loss, grief, healing, recovery, and a spiritual journey will connect with readers. The combination of prose, poems, and tips for quick meditations make it an interesting guide and, at the same time, it shows readers how to find their direction. Most importantly, the book gives hope to all those who are grieving. This book is not only about the author's personal loss but also her road to recovery and her spiritual journey.
Recommend this book:
Shackled
A Journey From Political Imprisonment To Freedom
Adam Siddiq
2019 Bronze Medal
308 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Shackled: A Journey From Political Imprisonment to Freedom by Adam Siddiq is the true story of Khaled Siddiq, a heartbreaking story of injustice and betrayal and a sinister plan to eliminate an entire family. Khaled is just six when his entire family and extended family are betrayed, his father exiled and his uncles executed. His family used to be favored by the King of Afghanistan, but now everything has changed with the new regime. This family of men who stood by the king ends up in a dungeon in one of the forgotten corners of Kabul. Follow this gritty tale of hardship, of painful loss, and hope. Young Khaled makes the best use of his time and studies, learning five different languages and philosophy. When this family is finally released, life will never be the way it once was and it is difficult to walk any street without feeling as though they were being followed. And can Khaled be reunited with his father?
This story of grit and a young man’s struggle to survive against impossible odds is beautifully told. I have read a few books from authors from Afghanistan — including The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini — and there is always this surprising blend of insight and humanity that emerges from the ashes, and Shackled handles this aspect of the story beautifully. The narrative is smooth and the setting comes out clearly, with copious references to the culture and the traditional language of the protagonist. Readers will understand what key moments and places are called in the protagonist’s language. This masterful handling of setting gives authenticity to the story and reinforces the realism in the narrative. Shackled: A Journey From Political Imprisonment to Freedom is deeply moving, infused with deep values of humanity, a tale of hope and resilience. It is an incredible journey to freedom.
Shackled: A Journey From Political Imprisonment to Freedom by Adam Siddiq is the true story of Khaled Siddiq, a heartbreaking story of injustice and betrayal and a sinister plan to eliminate an entire family. Khaled is just six when his entire family and extended family are betrayed, his father exiled and his uncles executed. His family used to be favored by the King of Afghanistan, but now everything has changed with the new regime. This family of men who stood by the king ends up in a dungeon in one of the forgotten corners of Kabul. Follow this gritty tale of hardship, of painful loss, and hope. Young Khaled makes the best use of his time and studies, learning five different languages and philosophy. When this family is finally released, life will never be the way it once was and it is difficult to walk any street without feeling as though they were being followed. And can Khaled be reunited with his father?
This story of grit and a young man’s struggle to survive against impossible odds is beautifully told. I have read a few books from authors from Afghanistan — including The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini — and there is always this surprising blend of insight and humanity that emerges from the ashes, and Shackled handles this aspect of the story beautifully. The narrative is smooth and the setting comes out clearly, with copious references to the culture and the traditional language of the protagonist. Readers will understand what key moments and places are called in the protagonist’s language. This masterful handling of setting gives authenticity to the story and reinforces the realism in the narrative. Shackled: A Journey From Political Imprisonment to Freedom is deeply moving, infused with deep values of humanity, a tale of hope and resilience. It is an incredible journey to freedom.
Recommend this book:
Surrender
A Love Letter To My Daughter
Lou Alpert
2019 Honorable Mention
228 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Surrender: A Love Letter To My Daughter by Lou Alpert is a memoir about addiction that is poignantly written, heartbreaking and filled with light. It begins on December 1, 2017 as the author wakes up to images of her daughter, Crystal, doing heroin in an alley. She is confronted by an Albuquerque policeman. In less than twenty hours, the story goes viral, picked up by other networks. The sensational story sets the mother on a journey to connecting with her daughter. This is a story that is filled with love and light, a journey of acceptance and compassion told with utter honesty.
Readers are introduced to the pain the author experienced for more than two years of her daughter living on the streets. They get powerful insights into what it feels like to live on the streets. Readers will understand the behavior and mental disposition of someone with an addiction. Lou Alpert does an incredible job in exploring feelings and emotions, allowing readers to feel her pain and to see her hope. The story is filled with factual images and text message exchanges that substantiate the story. The author explores themes of love, family, and parenting and exposes the dangers of addiction to both personal and family life. It is a page-turner that will bring tears of joy and pain to readers' eyes. The emotion is raw and gives credibility to this book. Surrender: A Love Letter To My Daughter is bold, engaging and very inspiring. Highly recommended.
Surrender: A Love Letter To My Daughter by Lou Alpert is a memoir about addiction that is poignantly written, heartbreaking and filled with light. It begins on December 1, 2017 as the author wakes up to images of her daughter, Crystal, doing heroin in an alley. She is confronted by an Albuquerque policeman. In less than twenty hours, the story goes viral, picked up by other networks. The sensational story sets the mother on a journey to connecting with her daughter. This is a story that is filled with love and light, a journey of acceptance and compassion told with utter honesty.
Readers are introduced to the pain the author experienced for more than two years of her daughter living on the streets. They get powerful insights into what it feels like to live on the streets. Readers will understand the behavior and mental disposition of someone with an addiction. Lou Alpert does an incredible job in exploring feelings and emotions, allowing readers to feel her pain and to see her hope. The story is filled with factual images and text message exchanges that substantiate the story. The author explores themes of love, family, and parenting and exposes the dangers of addiction to both personal and family life. It is a page-turner that will bring tears of joy and pain to readers' eyes. The emotion is raw and gives credibility to this book. Surrender: A Love Letter To My Daughter is bold, engaging and very inspiring. Highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Mending the Shattered Mirror
A Journey of Recovery from Abusive Therapy
Analie Shepherd
2019 Finalist
296 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite
Wow! Just, wow! That's exactly what I thought when I finished reading Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abuse in Therapy. This intriguing and horrifying true story of the abuse that author Analie Shepherd went through at the hands of her therapist kept me reading into the wee hours of the night; I was that engrossed in the story. Analie, a woman who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, sought the help of a therapist after suffering a terrible tragedy. What she found from her therapist, instead of help, was physical, verbal and emotional abuse. Finally freeing herself from this horrible person, she finds retired psychiatrist, Laurie, through an abuse survivor's support group, TELL. The book recounts their four-year email relationship and the healing that both women are able to achieve from the past wrongs they have suffered.
I loved Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abuse in Therapy. Loved. It. How's that for a review? Well, it is absolutely how I felt about this amazing book. This heart-wrenching story will definitely make you question the therapist and patient relationship, and realize how much harm a person with the wrong intentions in a helping profession can do to a vulnerable person. Author Analie Shepherd is clearly an amazing and resilient woman, and I thank her for being willing to share her very difficult story with the public. I could not give this book a higher recommendation, and I certainly hope that the author will consider writing a second volume that details her continuing life.
Wow! Just, wow! That's exactly what I thought when I finished reading Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abuse in Therapy. This intriguing and horrifying true story of the abuse that author Analie Shepherd went through at the hands of her therapist kept me reading into the wee hours of the night; I was that engrossed in the story. Analie, a woman who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, sought the help of a therapist after suffering a terrible tragedy. What she found from her therapist, instead of help, was physical, verbal and emotional abuse. Finally freeing herself from this horrible person, she finds retired psychiatrist, Laurie, through an abuse survivor's support group, TELL. The book recounts their four-year email relationship and the healing that both women are able to achieve from the past wrongs they have suffered.
I loved Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abuse in Therapy. Loved. It. How's that for a review? Well, it is absolutely how I felt about this amazing book. This heart-wrenching story will definitely make you question the therapist and patient relationship, and realize how much harm a person with the wrong intentions in a helping profession can do to a vulnerable person. Author Analie Shepherd is clearly an amazing and resilient woman, and I thank her for being willing to share her very difficult story with the public. I could not give this book a higher recommendation, and I certainly hope that the author will consider writing a second volume that details her continuing life.
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