Offering a template for healing

This is a powerful narrative made all the more so by the male narrator and an interview with the author being included makes the audio format the best way to get this book.

Eve Ensler gives a graphic and detailed account of being physically, sexually and emotionally abused by her father from an early age. Neither does she shy away from including the consequences of this as she went on to adult life and the low self-esteem and self-destructive behaviours fostered by this upbringing. She shows a remarkable ability to put herself in the abuser's place and ascribes thoughts, feelings and motives to her father through the medium of a letter of apology that she wished her father had written. That he is dead and unable to acknowledge or apologise in any way for his treatment of his daughter gives Eve licence to get it all out without challenge, but that is important for her healing.

Writing his apology was obviously cathartic for her and she gives an excellent model of how other survivors of such abuse can unload the doubts and self-loathing that comes from being treated this way. She is not prescriptive, however, and recognises that this method and timing of its use is not for everyone. It is admirable writing as well as engendering respect for her courage in making such personal experiences and feelings public.

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1 person found this helpful

V. powerful

I read it in one sitting. Only some will understand the essence of this book. But I hope one day everyone will understand the importance of it.

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5 people found this helpful

Unbeaten track through the landscape of healing

I found it beautiful and very moving. The concept is totally original and surprising. The performance is superb. The last line I will cherish as a mantra.

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2 people found this helpful

Powerful and heartbreaking

Beautifully narrated by what I thought was an Irish man, but find out after is an American. Edoardo Ballerini makes the awful story of Eve's abusive father bearable. It is difficult to say you enjoyed a story of such abuse, but I did. I found it an excellent book. Very affecting.

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Tough going

I don't really know how to rate this. An enjoyable listen it is not. Quite a few times I considered not finishing the book because it was so unpleasant. I even wondered why on earth anyone would publish this account of child abuse. And then I realized that's the point. Stories like this aren't intended as entertainment. It's not inended as a good read. Stories of abuse, by their very nature are stories that people don't want to listen to and so the voices of the abused get shut down. I listened to the end because I realized that this is a voice that should be heard.

Despite the themes it was beautifully written and a very interesting approach to making peace with something so life destroying. I found the author's insight and interpretations of her Father"s behaviour fascinating. She struck me as extremely generous in her assessments, but then that seemed very much a part of the catharthism.

The interview at the end was essential and probably the best part. She answers questions about the process of writing such a difficult piece and she discusses societal influences on male behaviour and sense of worth. Again, I thought her rather generous in her conclusions about men's behaviour - but she presents very interesting perspectives.

If you can get through the awfulness of the subject matter this is worth a listen to gain a unique insight into the mental processing of and recovery from child abuse.

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9 people found this helpful

The Apology- fantastic

The book is written from the heart!!
Incredibly upsetting but a story that needed to be told!!

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beautifully raw and honest

So raw and painful to read the utter devastation caused by an abusive father. Incredible to see the progress in forgiveness as she prayed and channeled her father from the darkness.

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Very disturbing

I appreciate why this book was written but it was not what I was expecting and I found it deeply triggering. WHEN OH WHEN ARE AUDIBLE GOING TO PUT PROPER TRIGGER WARNINGS ON THEIR BOOKS?

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2 people found this helpful

Disturbing

Couldn't get past chapter 1 as it's so graphic in describing sexual abuse it disturbed me

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6 people found this helpful