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I AM: Kicking Down the Walls of Silence About Sexual and Mental Abuse
Brenda Hammon
2017 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Non-Fiction - Relationships
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
No one can hurt you unless you give them the power to hurt you. This seems to be the core message of I AM: Kicking Down the Walls of Silence about Sexual and Mental Abuse by Brenda Hammon. The book is a memoir that is written with a clear and compelling voice, a story of one woman’s growth through multiple abuses. Brenda’s childhood hasn’t been easy and she’d known all forms of abuses. Such experiences took a huge toll on her life and she suffered psychologically. But when she gives birth to twins, it dawns on her that her life has changed; she knows she has something to live for; it’s a call to restart and to create the life she’d always wanted. She refuses to be determined by her past. It’s a story of redemption, a tale of hope that we can choose what our lives should look like.
I AM: Kicking Down the Walls of Silence about Sexual and Mental Abuse will help many readers understand that in spite of their hurts, in spite of what has happened to them, in spite of what others think about them and how they treat them, they have the power to rise up and take control of their lives, that their dignity comes from the choices they make, those choices that allow them to embrace life and to give life generously. Brenda Hammon articulates brilliantly on a variety of themes, including sexual abuse, the traumas of childhood, self-identity, and womanhood. She tells her story with clarity and unwonted honesty, and many readers will undoubtedly find themselves in the story. Her journey towards healing and success will inspire a million lives.
No one can hurt you unless you give them the power to hurt you. This seems to be the core message of I AM: Kicking Down the Walls of Silence about Sexual and Mental Abuse by Brenda Hammon. The book is a memoir that is written with a clear and compelling voice, a story of one woman’s growth through multiple abuses. Brenda’s childhood hasn’t been easy and she’d known all forms of abuses. Such experiences took a huge toll on her life and she suffered psychologically. But when she gives birth to twins, it dawns on her that her life has changed; she knows she has something to live for; it’s a call to restart and to create the life she’d always wanted. She refuses to be determined by her past. It’s a story of redemption, a tale of hope that we can choose what our lives should look like.
I AM: Kicking Down the Walls of Silence about Sexual and Mental Abuse will help many readers understand that in spite of their hurts, in spite of what has happened to them, in spite of what others think about them and how they treat them, they have the power to rise up and take control of their lives, that their dignity comes from the choices they make, those choices that allow them to embrace life and to give life generously. Brenda Hammon articulates brilliantly on a variety of themes, including sexual abuse, the traumas of childhood, self-identity, and womanhood. She tells her story with clarity and unwonted honesty, and many readers will undoubtedly find themselves in the story. Her journey towards healing and success will inspire a million lives.
Recommend this book:
A Century of Secrets
Teresa Syms
2017 Honorable Mention
592 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Relationships
Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite
A Century of Secrets by Teresa Syms is a gripping story of a family, covering its history over a century and the main players that have given it the visage it has. Readers are introduced to a character who has been through a lot of pain because of the lies, abuses, dark secrets, and intrigue played out in her family over the period of a century. The story explores the conflicts, the deceptions, and the protagonist’s struggle to redefine herself and reconquer her inner freedom. Here is a story that many readers will relate to, the story of a family with its own struggle to function normally.
The reader will be surprised at the honesty of the narrator whose voice comes across powerfully. Teresa is a character that readers will love to know better because she carries in her a pain that many people bear in silence. But how she overcomes depression, finds her voice, and stands up for herself is a lesson that will speak volumes to readers. Just after describing a horrible scene in which the protagonist gets violated by a medical doctor, the narrator notes that: “Teresa’s life was a tortured hell without her love. She became moody and very depressed.” The writing is beautiful, featuring powerful and vivid descriptions that allow the reader to clearly imagine the scenes, the characters, and the action. It is well paced and Teresa Syms has succeeded in getting the reader interested in following the characters. A Century of Secrets is a story that powerfully documents what repression and abuse in the family setting can lead to; it’s a courageous story that explores freedom and the determination to create a life of meaning. Highly entertaining!
A Century of Secrets by Teresa Syms is a gripping story of a family, covering its history over a century and the main players that have given it the visage it has. Readers are introduced to a character who has been through a lot of pain because of the lies, abuses, dark secrets, and intrigue played out in her family over the period of a century. The story explores the conflicts, the deceptions, and the protagonist’s struggle to redefine herself and reconquer her inner freedom. Here is a story that many readers will relate to, the story of a family with its own struggle to function normally.
The reader will be surprised at the honesty of the narrator whose voice comes across powerfully. Teresa is a character that readers will love to know better because she carries in her a pain that many people bear in silence. But how she overcomes depression, finds her voice, and stands up for herself is a lesson that will speak volumes to readers. Just after describing a horrible scene in which the protagonist gets violated by a medical doctor, the narrator notes that: “Teresa’s life was a tortured hell without her love. She became moody and very depressed.” The writing is beautiful, featuring powerful and vivid descriptions that allow the reader to clearly imagine the scenes, the characters, and the action. It is well paced and Teresa Syms has succeeded in getting the reader interested in following the characters. A Century of Secrets is a story that powerfully documents what repression and abuse in the family setting can lead to; it’s a courageous story that explores freedom and the determination to create a life of meaning. Highly entertaining!
Recommend this book:
The Full Catastrophe
A Memoir
Karen Elizabeth Lee
2017 Silver Medal
272 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Relationships
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
The Full Catastrophe: A Memoir by Karen Elizabeth Lee is an engaging memoir about a professional woman who finally gets her life back on track after going through an abusive marriage. The author begins her story with the funeral of Duncan, to whom she was married for fourteen years. He was a controlling bully, diagnosed with cancer ten months after she asked for a divorce. After he dies, Karen realizes that she has other issues in her life to face and handle. The memoir chronicles her emotional and mental journey, her life, and how she manages to stay sane and happy during that roller-coaster phase of her life. It is a story of healing, resurrection, and self-discovery, and how the author uses Jungian analysis to resurrect her life.
The memoir is direct and honest, and it captures the emotional angst of a woman who had undergone domestic and emotional abuse. Her healing phase tells us how the pain and trauma of emotional abuse lingered on, even after Duncan’s death, and how her will to not give up gave her the courage to make positive changes in her life. The author opens her heart and soul to readers, which is not always an easy thing to do, especially when it comes to one’s personal life. It is not always easy to rise above struggles and difficulties in life and emerge a stronger person. Karen Elizabeth Lee’s journey is relatable and palpable to many readers, and her courage in making a noticeable change in her life is commendable.
The Full Catastrophe: A Memoir by Karen Elizabeth Lee is an engaging memoir about a professional woman who finally gets her life back on track after going through an abusive marriage. The author begins her story with the funeral of Duncan, to whom she was married for fourteen years. He was a controlling bully, diagnosed with cancer ten months after she asked for a divorce. After he dies, Karen realizes that she has other issues in her life to face and handle. The memoir chronicles her emotional and mental journey, her life, and how she manages to stay sane and happy during that roller-coaster phase of her life. It is a story of healing, resurrection, and self-discovery, and how the author uses Jungian analysis to resurrect her life.
The memoir is direct and honest, and it captures the emotional angst of a woman who had undergone domestic and emotional abuse. Her healing phase tells us how the pain and trauma of emotional abuse lingered on, even after Duncan’s death, and how her will to not give up gave her the courage to make positive changes in her life. The author opens her heart and soul to readers, which is not always an easy thing to do, especially when it comes to one’s personal life. It is not always easy to rise above struggles and difficulties in life and emerge a stronger person. Karen Elizabeth Lee’s journey is relatable and palpable to many readers, and her courage in making a noticeable change in her life is commendable.
Recommend this book:
Not Exactly Love
A Memoir
Betty Hafner
2017 Gold Medal
238 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Relationships
Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite
Not Exactly Love by Betty Hafner is a memoir that falls into the genre of family and relationships. This is a book that would appeal most to a mixed audience of adults and young adults who are interested in a memoir about a woman in an abusive relationship. Betty was a single French teacher on Long Island in 1969. Her entire life changed when she met a new teacher named Jack who was fresh out of college. Jack was a hippie just back from Woodstock with strong opinions, an angry temper, and a controlling attitude. Betty and Jack hit it off from the beginning, but as Betty began to see more of Jack’s temper, she began to make excuses for him inside her head. These excuses continued and she eventually married him. When Jack turned his temper on her, she was forced to decide when and if to confront him. Will Betty report Jack for his abuse or will she stay silent and keep it secret while learning to live with the abuse.
Not Exactly Love by Betty Hafner was a very somber book, but that is to be expected considering the type of life the book describes. Betty Hafner has a wonderful writing style that really shared the mentality of a person heading into an abusive relationship and how a person ends up in a relationship with an abuser. Betty’s thoughts and excuses really opened my eyes into how easy it is to end up in an abusive relationship once you start making excuses for someone’s anger/temper. As a psychology student, I found that this book helped me to get a better grasp on the nature of an abusive relationship than any psychology textbook.
Not Exactly Love by Betty Hafner is a memoir that falls into the genre of family and relationships. This is a book that would appeal most to a mixed audience of adults and young adults who are interested in a memoir about a woman in an abusive relationship. Betty was a single French teacher on Long Island in 1969. Her entire life changed when she met a new teacher named Jack who was fresh out of college. Jack was a hippie just back from Woodstock with strong opinions, an angry temper, and a controlling attitude. Betty and Jack hit it off from the beginning, but as Betty began to see more of Jack’s temper, she began to make excuses for him inside her head. These excuses continued and she eventually married him. When Jack turned his temper on her, she was forced to decide when and if to confront him. Will Betty report Jack for his abuse or will she stay silent and keep it secret while learning to live with the abuse.
Not Exactly Love by Betty Hafner was a very somber book, but that is to be expected considering the type of life the book describes. Betty Hafner has a wonderful writing style that really shared the mentality of a person heading into an abusive relationship and how a person ends up in a relationship with an abuser. Betty’s thoughts and excuses really opened my eyes into how easy it is to end up in an abusive relationship once you start making excuses for someone’s anger/temper. As a psychology student, I found that this book helped me to get a better grasp on the nature of an abusive relationship than any psychology textbook.
Recommend this book:
What Women Want....Really!
A Pocketbook Guide for Men
Kathryn Foster
2016 Finalist
86 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Relationships
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
What Women Want....Really! A Pocketbook Guide for Men by Kathryn Foster is a useful tool for all those men who want to have a successful relationship with a woman and build a history with her. The book reveals the top secrets of what a woman is looking for and offers step-by-step guidance on how to give emotional support that leads to a loving and enduring relationship. The book also has a couple of questions to help male readers engage their female partners, helping them to understand the man better. The book highlights the importance of revealing both sides of a male psyche to a woman; the hard side and the soft side so that she can be confident while committing.
The author handles the topic methodically and goes into finer details, making it easy to practice these while dating a woman. Everyone wants to love and be loved and this book will help to crack the mystery called 'women' and also show men that women are not as difficult to understand as they think. The author also speaks about the common mistakes men make while handling women, and suggests alternatives that can improve their relationships.
The topic is relevant and the book is useful to both men and women. The author handles the topic with finesse and elegance, and the book provides emotional sensitivity and reaches out to readers nicely. Men can look inside themselves and change the way in which they handle their relationships and communicate better with their wives, partners, and girlfriends.
What Women Want....Really! A Pocketbook Guide for Men by Kathryn Foster is a useful tool for all those men who want to have a successful relationship with a woman and build a history with her. The book reveals the top secrets of what a woman is looking for and offers step-by-step guidance on how to give emotional support that leads to a loving and enduring relationship. The book also has a couple of questions to help male readers engage their female partners, helping them to understand the man better. The book highlights the importance of revealing both sides of a male psyche to a woman; the hard side and the soft side so that she can be confident while committing.
The author handles the topic methodically and goes into finer details, making it easy to practice these while dating a woman. Everyone wants to love and be loved and this book will help to crack the mystery called 'women' and also show men that women are not as difficult to understand as they think. The author also speaks about the common mistakes men make while handling women, and suggests alternatives that can improve their relationships.
The topic is relevant and the book is useful to both men and women. The author handles the topic with finesse and elegance, and the book provides emotional sensitivity and reaches out to readers nicely. Men can look inside themselves and change the way in which they handle their relationships and communicate better with their wives, partners, and girlfriends.
Recommend this book:
 by Kathryn Foster Ph.D. is an engaging book that speaks about the equation between men and women and also teaches them to develop more tolerance and insight into their partners' behaviors. The author discusses the romantic notions we harbor in our minds, the lonely lives we lead, dissatisfaction, expectations...){kind=link}
The Naked Truth About Men (And Romance)
Kathryn Foster Ph.D.
2016 Finalist
280 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Relationships
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
The Naked Truth About Men (And Romance) by Kathryn Foster Ph.D. is an engaging book that speaks about the equation between men and women and also teaches them to develop more tolerance and insight into their partners' behaviors. The author discusses the romantic notions we harbor in our minds, the lonely lives we lead, dissatisfaction, expectations from a relationship, divorce, and many other truths that shed light on relationships and romances. The stories from clients, along with the author's research and interactions with clients of both genders on the topic, make this a profound and insightful read and gives a fundamental viewpoint on what one can expect from relationships and how to work on them to make them fulfilling and happy.
I found the book easy and simple to understand, and the author's observations and techniques are practical and easy to implement. It helps all those who are in marriages, romances, and relationships to look into them and see where changes can be made to improve things. The author speaks about the topic extensively and her observations are genuine, logical, and will be helpful to many when it comes to improving the way they handle their relationships.
Male and female hormones are different which, in turn, make men and women think differently too. The author tells readers what to expect from their partners so that they don't become too disappointed in their relationships. The author's approach to the topic is helpful, and is useful in enabling readers to understand their partners better and how to handle their relationships more effectively.
The Naked Truth About Men (And Romance) by Kathryn Foster Ph.D. is an engaging book that speaks about the equation between men and women and also teaches them to develop more tolerance and insight into their partners' behaviors. The author discusses the romantic notions we harbor in our minds, the lonely lives we lead, dissatisfaction, expectations from a relationship, divorce, and many other truths that shed light on relationships and romances. The stories from clients, along with the author's research and interactions with clients of both genders on the topic, make this a profound and insightful read and gives a fundamental viewpoint on what one can expect from relationships and how to work on them to make them fulfilling and happy.
I found the book easy and simple to understand, and the author's observations and techniques are practical and easy to implement. It helps all those who are in marriages, romances, and relationships to look into them and see where changes can be made to improve things. The author speaks about the topic extensively and her observations are genuine, logical, and will be helpful to many when it comes to improving the way they handle their relationships.
Male and female hormones are different which, in turn, make men and women think differently too. The author tells readers what to expect from their partners so that they don't become too disappointed in their relationships. The author's approach to the topic is helpful, and is useful in enabling readers to understand their partners better and how to handle their relationships more effectively.
Recommend this book:
Erotic Integrity
How to be True to Yourself Sexually
Claudia Six PhD
2016 Honorable Mention
288 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Relationships
Reviewed by Milan Fila for Readers' Favorite
Erotic Integrity: How to be True to Yourself Sexually by Claudia Six, PhD, is more than a non-fiction book about relationships or sex. It is about finding out who you are as a person and being authentic to that person, regardless of what society, religion, or your parents think or say about it. It is about empowerment and enlightenment. The questions raised within this text are meant to start a dialogue that will help you discover who you are, what you like, and if you are living a life authentic to those desires. It is meant to awaken your inner self and realize your full sexual potential, regardless of what that means for you as an individual. Six believes if you start a dialogue with your partner, share stories and experiences, and learn to love yourself and your sexuality that only then will you have a happy, balanced life.
Erotic Integrity is a very interesting read. First, I appreciated the open and frank way Six talks about sex. Six gives permission to people to live a sexual life that they want, without limitations or constraints, outside of any “rules” that society thinks it has the right to impose upon you. Some people might be offended by some of the concepts within this book. However, just as some people might be turned off by this, many people will celebrate this book and the freedom that it offers. Six has a PhD and is very knowledgeable and passionate about this topic, which clearly comes through in her writing.
Erotic Integrity: How to be True to Yourself Sexually by Claudia Six, PhD, is more than a non-fiction book about relationships or sex. It is about finding out who you are as a person and being authentic to that person, regardless of what society, religion, or your parents think or say about it. It is about empowerment and enlightenment. The questions raised within this text are meant to start a dialogue that will help you discover who you are, what you like, and if you are living a life authentic to those desires. It is meant to awaken your inner self and realize your full sexual potential, regardless of what that means for you as an individual. Six believes if you start a dialogue with your partner, share stories and experiences, and learn to love yourself and your sexuality that only then will you have a happy, balanced life.
Erotic Integrity is a very interesting read. First, I appreciated the open and frank way Six talks about sex. Six gives permission to people to live a sexual life that they want, without limitations or constraints, outside of any “rules” that society thinks it has the right to impose upon you. Some people might be offended by some of the concepts within this book. However, just as some people might be turned off by this, many people will celebrate this book and the freedom that it offers. Six has a PhD and is very knowledgeable and passionate about this topic, which clearly comes through in her writing.
Recommend this book:
Graceful Last Chapters
Helping Seniors Who Need More Care
Cynthia Neher Martindale
2016 Bronze Medal
200 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Relationships
Reviewed by Eduardo Aduna for Readers' Favorite
Graceful Last Chapters: Helping Seniors Who Need More Care by Cynthia Neher Martindale is a comprehensive manual on everything one needs to know about the travails and intricacies of elderly care. Told in a frank, no-nonsense style, the book covers every detail caregivers, family members and even the elderly themselves would wish to know about the various care options available today.
Cynthia Neher Martindale writes in a crisp, authoritative voice, one that comes from years of experience in handling a multitude of queries regarding the numerous aspects of elderly care. She manages to capture various perspectives and to break down the psychological and emotional barriers that prevent family members and caregivers from giving the elderly the assistance they need. The early chapters are very welcoming for readers new to the world of elderly care, and her message of "trust me, I've been there, I know what you're going through" is an easy one for readers to receive.
For a book that is all about helping seniors get the care they need, Martindale never fails to highlight the emotional and physical toll the job takes on the caregiver themselves, and manages to come up with several ways to make this difficult task more bearable. It is this comprehensive and insightful knowledge that makes this book "the book" on elderly care, and a must-have in every home, hospice, and senior facility. The elderly and their caregivers will find Graceful Last Chapters: Helping Seniors Who Need More Care a fascinating read that will greatly enrich their knowledge about this extremely important matter.
Graceful Last Chapters: Helping Seniors Who Need More Care by Cynthia Neher Martindale is a comprehensive manual on everything one needs to know about the travails and intricacies of elderly care. Told in a frank, no-nonsense style, the book covers every detail caregivers, family members and even the elderly themselves would wish to know about the various care options available today.
Cynthia Neher Martindale writes in a crisp, authoritative voice, one that comes from years of experience in handling a multitude of queries regarding the numerous aspects of elderly care. She manages to capture various perspectives and to break down the psychological and emotional barriers that prevent family members and caregivers from giving the elderly the assistance they need. The early chapters are very welcoming for readers new to the world of elderly care, and her message of "trust me, I've been there, I know what you're going through" is an easy one for readers to receive.
For a book that is all about helping seniors get the care they need, Martindale never fails to highlight the emotional and physical toll the job takes on the caregiver themselves, and manages to come up with several ways to make this difficult task more bearable. It is this comprehensive and insightful knowledge that makes this book "the book" on elderly care, and a must-have in every home, hospice, and senior facility. The elderly and their caregivers will find Graceful Last Chapters: Helping Seniors Who Need More Care a fascinating read that will greatly enrich their knowledge about this extremely important matter.
Recommend this book:
Masterdate
The Handy Guide to Internet Dating For Guys
George Reagan
2016 Silver Medal
168 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Relationships
Reviewed by Susana Pena for Readers' Favorite
Masterdate: The Handy Guide to Internet Dating For Guys by George Reagan is an informative book filled with helpful dating advice and tips for single guys looking for dates via the internet. George gives his readers his honest opinion on various topics, ranging from the importance of posting an updated profile picture to being a gentleman during a date. The author also reveals different dating scenarios that he went through in his personal life in order to caution men on what they might encounter during a date. This book is written in a funny and down to earth style. The author aims to inject confidence into those lonely guys out there who want to find their significant other.
I loved reading Masterdate: The Handy Guide to Internet Dating For Guys by George Reagan because it was brutally honest and very funny. I literally laughed out loud a couple of times because the author was not afraid to speak his mind about certain topics. For example, the author wrote, “and if you are considering wearing a lime green belt for your next date – do everyone a favor and just stay home.” This was so hilarious to me! George compiled this book using his own life experiences of going through bad and good dates. He wants to teach guys the proper way of landing dates and keeping them, so that they can live happy and exciting lives, and not end up being lonely and miserable.
Masterdate: The Handy Guide to Internet Dating For Guys by George Reagan is an informative book filled with helpful dating advice and tips for single guys looking for dates via the internet. George gives his readers his honest opinion on various topics, ranging from the importance of posting an updated profile picture to being a gentleman during a date. The author also reveals different dating scenarios that he went through in his personal life in order to caution men on what they might encounter during a date. This book is written in a funny and down to earth style. The author aims to inject confidence into those lonely guys out there who want to find their significant other.
I loved reading Masterdate: The Handy Guide to Internet Dating For Guys by George Reagan because it was brutally honest and very funny. I literally laughed out loud a couple of times because the author was not afraid to speak his mind about certain topics. For example, the author wrote, “and if you are considering wearing a lime green belt for your next date – do everyone a favor and just stay home.” This was so hilarious to me! George compiled this book using his own life experiences of going through bad and good dates. He wants to teach guys the proper way of landing dates and keeping them, so that they can live happy and exciting lives, and not end up being lonely and miserable.
Recommend this book:
Learning to Love Myself
A Memoir of Recovery and Self-discovery After Abuse
Viga Boland
2015 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Non-Fiction - Relationships
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Learning to Love Myself: A Memoir of Recovery and Self-discovery After Abuse is a non-fiction memoir written by Viga Boland. It is the second book in Boland's No Tears for My Father memoir series. The author's father physically abused her and her mother when she was growing up, but from the time she was 11 years old, he began to sexually abuse her as well. Viga and her mother lived in fear of a father and husband who could turn violent and abusive with little or no provocation. When she became a teenager, Viga was kept isolated from her peers, and she was kept as what she describes as a 'second wife' until she was 24 years old. She had become a teacher in a local Catholic school and fell in love with one of the other teachers there, an Australian named John Boland. When she nervously brought up the subject of John's asking for her hand in marriage, she was surprised by her father's lack of outrage; however, one week later, he cast her out of his house. Viga lived with the horrific memories of his abuse for forty years before opening up to her family, who encouraged her to write her story.
Viga Boland's non-fiction memoir, Learning to Love Myself: A Memoir of Recovery and Self-discovery After Abuse is powerful and compelling reading. I had trouble getting my head around the awful reality of her childhood and her resulting sense of guilt and shame. But seeing where Boland goes after that very troubling start in life is so inspirational and transcendent. Boland is a marvelous and fiercely honest writer who tells her story with candor and frankness, and her style makes you soon begin to see her as a friend and to admire her courage, imagination and tenacity. I loved the photographs and poems she includes in Learning to Love Myself. Seeing the photos of John and Viga growing together and raising their children, and looking at their houses which she describes so well, brought her story even closer. And while I did wonder how they could ever have left that house by the beach, I found myself applauding each new challenge and adventure they had taken on. Learning to Love Myself: A Memoir of Recovery and Self-discovery After Abuse is a remarkable achievement, and I recommend it most highly.
Learning to Love Myself: A Memoir of Recovery and Self-discovery After Abuse is a non-fiction memoir written by Viga Boland. It is the second book in Boland's No Tears for My Father memoir series. The author's father physically abused her and her mother when she was growing up, but from the time she was 11 years old, he began to sexually abuse her as well. Viga and her mother lived in fear of a father and husband who could turn violent and abusive with little or no provocation. When she became a teenager, Viga was kept isolated from her peers, and she was kept as what she describes as a 'second wife' until she was 24 years old. She had become a teacher in a local Catholic school and fell in love with one of the other teachers there, an Australian named John Boland. When she nervously brought up the subject of John's asking for her hand in marriage, she was surprised by her father's lack of outrage; however, one week later, he cast her out of his house. Viga lived with the horrific memories of his abuse for forty years before opening up to her family, who encouraged her to write her story.
Viga Boland's non-fiction memoir, Learning to Love Myself: A Memoir of Recovery and Self-discovery After Abuse is powerful and compelling reading. I had trouble getting my head around the awful reality of her childhood and her resulting sense of guilt and shame. But seeing where Boland goes after that very troubling start in life is so inspirational and transcendent. Boland is a marvelous and fiercely honest writer who tells her story with candor and frankness, and her style makes you soon begin to see her as a friend and to admire her courage, imagination and tenacity. I loved the photographs and poems she includes in Learning to Love Myself. Seeing the photos of John and Viga growing together and raising their children, and looking at their houses which she describes so well, brought her story even closer. And while I did wonder how they could ever have left that house by the beach, I found myself applauding each new challenge and adventure they had taken on. Learning to Love Myself: A Memoir of Recovery and Self-discovery After Abuse is a remarkable achievement, and I recommend it most highly.
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