Abuse Books

I love everything about this novel! This is one of the most powerful teen novels I've read so far. It has all the ingredients for a great read: real characters, strong emotions, incredible imagery, and all the conflict one could ever want. Highly Recommended (and I look forward to reading more novels by Ms. Erskine)!

Kathryn Erskine respects her readers. She tackles subjects that others seem to avoid like the plague. She does it with wit and grace through Matt, the sarcastic and cynical main character of QUAKING.

Matt (not Mattie, and certainly not Matilda) has once again been dumped into the hands of distant relatives of distant relatives. And this time, she has to make it work because there's nowhere else left for her to go.

But these peace-loving Quaker people will have to understand that she doesn't have any feelings, so she does not intend give in to their silent pleas for love and affection. It's just not worth it to let her guard down only to have everything taken away again.

And she doesn't intend to take their advice and stand against bullies, either. Don't they even have the common sense to run and hide at the first sign of trouble? This tactic has always served her well in the past.

Or has it? Maybe it is time to stand, especially if she wants to stay in one place for once.


This book was my favorite of 2007 Young Adult Novels.

Off to Turn Another Page....

This review was cross posted at The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents ([...])

By Professional Reviewer, Julie M. Prince
(www.juliemprince.com)

Fourteen-year-old Matt (Matilda) is a Goth, but that partially a pose to keep the world away. She uses her look, and her humor - a knife-like sarcasm - to avoid connection and taking action. But she finds at her new home, the parents, in particular the father Sam, are devout Quakers and activists engaged in the anti-Iraq war movement. As she moves closer to Sam, those same beliefs lead to her harassment at school by a big mouth bully and a pro-war civic teacher. As the title suggests, after years of an almost dormant emotional life, Matt begins "quaking" and moving toward action. The ending -- which echoes that of Crutcher's Whale Talk --is tragic, and thus befitting of a book about the Iraq war. Like my own novel Nailed Quaking also explores kids who decide not to fit in and thus turn high school into a trip through the badlands.

If you are mad at the war in Iraq you will like this book. If you wonder how it feels to be a foster kid tossed from house to house, you will love this book. If you've had a really crazy fanatical teacher like the main character Matt does, you will totally relate. Really great read.

Beckie Weinheimer, author CONVERTING KATE, Viking Books 2007.

When I saw "Quaking" reviewed on the TeensReadToo web site, I mentioned it to my best friend who is a Quaker. She said she'd read it and found it very moving, and encouraged me to read it too. I'm certainly glad I did.

What she failed to tell me is that it's a kid's book--and I love to read kid's books. Actually, Amazon has it listed in the 9-12 age range, but since the protagonist is fourteen, it should be listed as Young Adult (YA). Personally, I think it's one of those books that's a cross-over, written to appeal to adults as well as kids ... like so many YA books are.

Kathryn Erskine's debut novel tells the story of Matt (and DON'T call her Matilda!) who is an abused fourteen-year-old shunted from one foster home to another. Matt dresses Goth and memorizes the floor, hiding from the trauma of her past, spurning all offers of kindness and care. What a culture shock for her to end up in the home of Quakers Sam and Jessica Fox!

The story builds in intensity as Matt begins to care about her foster parents and becomes involved with the Quaker peace testimony. Feelings about the war in the Middle East run high in her school and her town, with the school bully ("the Rat") and a teacher ("Mr. Warhead") leading the charge against local pacifists.

Matt tries to hide her fear of the Rat and his gang, but as the town begins to erupt with violent attacks against houses of worship, she knows it's only a matter of time until the Quaker Meeting House and her foster father are victims. Eventually, in an explosive ending, Matt finds her voice and the strength to face her fear and stand up for her own convictions.

The author challenges herself by telling the story in Matt's own voice and does a masterful job of bringing the strong, loving girl out of her protective shell. She uses icons of a happy childhood to expose cracks in Matt's armor. The mesmerizing rhythm of Dr. Seuss's "Green Eggs and Ham" find the first chink: <<"And then I remember how dangerous it is to go to that place. The place you think is safe. Because it is not.">>

Jessica's homemade soup dissolves the last of Matt's defenses: <<"I love this soup. I want to hide in this soup, among its carrots and potatoes and celery and chicken and warm breath ... I want to fall asleep in this soup, wrapping myself in its wide noodles and using a soft lima bean for a pillow.">>

That last passage is like magic to me; a marvelous image that may be my favorite in the entire book!

I particularly enjoyed this book because I learned more about my friend's church. "Quaking" reveals a lot about Quakers and their testimonies, but first and foremost, it's a brilliant YA novel about a young girl who opens her heart to unconditional love. I recommend this beautifully written story for the whole family.

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008

Kimberly Baltakis just wants to get her life back on track, after a bad trip down the road of matrimony. "Seven Blackbirds" is a novel of her journey. Filled with humor and wisdom from the days in the life of a single mother, Helen Black writes out Kimberly's story that many divorced women will laugh and take comfort in reading. "Seven Blackbirds" is an original, deftly written, elegant work of fiction that is certain to please many a reader of literary fiction.

The book is well conceived in many aspects. First, it gets to the basis for the story right away. Once engaged, there's still plenty of anticipation because it doesn't segue with depressing, emotional back-up. It's seasoned with humor, touching moments and well delineated visual effects that bring the story to life. Also, the main character's realistically drawn in that she's unexpectedly talented and well educated, yet has fallen into the battered wife syndrome with all the challenges it brings. Finally, the timing in the phrasing presents it as having been written by a good storyteller. There's a lesson there between the lines and by the book's end, you know you won't be served the annoying happy ending, but thoughts to ponder.

This book goes from 0 to 60 in two seconds flat. The first page is intense, but you keep reading and reading because you keep wanting to know what happens next. The characters are human, believable, the story is multi-layered and satisfying. I never thought you could write about this subject with humor, but this author does it. That deftness plus the total absence of clichés makes this book very original. I could almost see it playing like a movie in my head while I read it. I liked it that the main character, Kim, had some very real, very tough choices to make but she made them, and became the stronger for it. Inspirational.

Seven Blackbirds is the most powerful and memorable book I've read in years, and strongly recommended.

Seven Blackbirds introduces the character of Kimberly Baltakis, an insightful and resilient character caught in a disastrous marriage. Through artfully arranged flashbacks the author juxtaposes critical points in the past and present of the relationship, and then convincingly shows the turmoil of Baltakis's inner and outer lives as the divorce progresses. At the end a compelling character has made a difficult transition.

A nation continues to see a remarkably high divorce rate, and like all men my age I have seen numerous divorces among friends, neighbors, and co-workers. There comes a point where the divorce so distorts the lives of the parties that they seem irrational and impossible to spend time with. Reading this novel was the first time that I got to hear the inner life of a character going through divorce, and it brought significant insights. Reading this novel will bring some understanding and possible more success in supporting others working through the issues.

Other reviewers have commented on the author's descriptions of domestic violence. I note that while the descriptions are disturbing, they are not extended or gruesome. I'd guess that the author wants to make clear from the very first pages of the book that the marriage is over, that the characters are not in love or able to fall back in love. This book is not a heart warming romance about reconciliation and renewal - it is an energizing and inspiring story of resiliency and self-renewal by a young woman who has the blessings of a baby and a good mind.

A final note - I normally read history, and read this novel on the recommendation of a friend. Comparing the two, remember the chestnut "In history, nothing is true except for the names, dates and places. In fiction, everything is true except for the names, dates and places." One leaves this book confident that a chunk of truth has come through to you, the reader.

An inspiring book about life. Yes, we can all overcome the obstacles of life and in the end go full circle and still become all that we were meant to be. A beautiful book about a beautiful woman with the hidden strength of her dead father to help guide her through life. The emotions of the main character, Kim Baltakis, are so eloquently conveyed by this talented author that the reader cannot help but feel Kim's pain, her hope her love, her woman.

Saturday, October 25, 2008
Conversations Presents its "Top 25 Non-Fiction Titles of 2008"
Conversations Book Club is pleased to announce its "Top 25 Non-Fiction Titles of 2008". There are so many true-life accounts on the market right now, however, these are the ones that we feel should be on your bookshelves and centerpieces in your discussions.
(Listed in no particular order)


1. "Resilience" by Alonzo Mourning
2. "Look Me In The Eye" by John Elder Robison
3. "Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration" by Marcia Ann Gillespie, Rosa Johnson Butler and Richard A. Long
4. "Mississippi's Uncovered Glory" by Jerome Gentry
5. "Rollin' With Dre" by Bruce Williams
6. "Rewriting The Script" by Arlether Wilson
7. "The Express: The Ernie Davis Story" by Robert Gallagher
8. "From Pieces To Weight" by 50 Cent
9. "Prince Among Slaves" by Terry Alford
10. "Hard Times & Great Blessings" by Kenneth F. Worth
11. "War of the Bloods In My Veins" by Jiwe
12. "Shattered Reality" by Kimberly Cheryl
13. "It Never Rains In Tiger Stadium" by John Ed Bradley
14. "No Place Safe" by Kim Reid
15. "How To Wow" by Frances Cole Jones
16. "Laying Down My Burdens" by Brenda L. Thomas
17. "Escape" by Carolyn Jessop
18. "How To Get Out of Debt" by Harrine Freeman
19. "The Day I Stopped Being Pretty" by Rodney Lofton
20. "Hiding In Hiphop" by Terrance Dean
21. "Do Travel Writers Go To Hill" by Thomas Kohnstamm
22. "I Don't Want To Die All Alone" by Joseph Henderson
23. "The Enemy Between My Legs" by Stephanie L. Jones
24. "Teach With Your Heart" by Erin Gruwell
25. "Zoom Power" by Monica Carter Tagore

JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books! http://www.thebestbookclub.info
Posted by C. A. Webb at 1:00 PM

One of the most terrifying fears of a parent is for harm to come to their child. "Shattered Reality" is an inspirational guide for parents of sexually abused children who want to help their children heal from the trauma of these incidents and in doing so, help themselves heal. Encouraging parents not to blame themselves, "Shattered Reality" is a solid pick for those who are struggling to cope with these horrible tragedies.

As a father of two teen daughters, as the husband of a woman who endured childhood abuse, I find this subject heart-rending but vital. So often, our society tries to quiet the voices of the victims because of the uncomfortable repercussions within families, jobs, churches, schools, etc.

Kimberly Cheryl brings her own heartache to the page, refusing to be silenced. In "Shattered Reality," Cheryl pours emotion into her words, giving us enough detail to feel her and her daughter's pain without giving undue attention to the acts themselves. I had planned to read this book in another month or two, after finishing a project, but I found myself flipping through the pages, unable to pull myself away from this candid, painful, yet ultimately insightful account. It contains a number of editing errors, but that did not stop me from reading through the entire thing in one sitting.

Do we find absolution in these pages? Not really. The justice system continues to do a pitiful job of protecting the abused, with a jaundiced male eye turned toward the perpetrators and the "overly-emotional" mothers involved. As a father, I would find it hard not to pick up a dull knife and end the perpetrator's possibilities of further abuse, but of course that too is an emotional reaction. Where do we go, though? When families and the law stand opposed to the truth, when they try to protect the status quo at the cost of young lives, I find myself livid.

Cheryl has opened her heart to share her own family's story. I would've loved to hear more of the father's point of view or involvement, but the words here are potent. The drawings done by her daughter are also moving. If only we could look past outward appearances and stop pointing fingers at young women and men who don't look "acceptable," we might find that many of them are covering hurts that go very deep.

Understandably, Cheryl says she'll never forgive. She says she'll never forget. My wife has never forgotten either, but she would say that forgiveness has been vital in her long-term healing, letting go of the need to exact a penalty for wrongs done and instead holding onto a future with men, women, and family who know how to love safely and unconditionally.

"Shattered Reality" is not only an honest and easy-to-read account, it contains a wealth of helpful resources at the end. It would be a great companion piece in the literature for any who have endured abuse, first or secondhand.

This book very graphically brings to light a major problem in American society that is too frequently covered up, because of the impact on the family, and is ignored by the judicial system, because it is a family matter. Ms. Cheryl does a wonderful job of describing the emotions and frustrations that accompany abuse of a child. The resource material that is included is invaluable.

What is your worst nightmare? What would you do if it came true? How would you deal with it, the emotions, the pain and heartache. How would you help your loved one through the horror of a nightmare come true, while at the same time trying to hold it together yourself? These are the questions that the author, Kimberly Cheryl must deal with when she discovers the horrific injustice and gift of sweet innocence being ripped away from her cherished daughter; as she learns that someone held dear and trusted her entire life has, has done the unspeakable to her child.

Shattered Reality is the perfect title of Ms. Cheryl's work, as it describes how quickly one's sense of security can be shattered to pieces, in the blink of an eye. Sexual abuse is a very difficult and still a "hush hush" type of problem in today's society, sadly. Ms. Cheryl takes the subject and speaks of the story that she, her daughter and family had to, and still has t, endure and brings it to light in a very deep and heartfelt way. Shattered Reality is a wonderful book for anyone who has ever experienced sexual abuse, or any type of abuse for that matter. It lets people know that they are not alone and is reassuring in it's honesty.

We, as parents, and myself as a mom, try so hard to keep our children safe from harm. They are our life, our breath and our center of being. To discover that no matter how hard we try, all the precautions that are taken, all warnings, teachings and soul deep desperate ways we try to keep our children safe, circumstances can still happen to rip all of those well meaning intentions to shreds. Our children are an extension of ourselves and when they are hurt and betrayed, as are we. While reading Shattered Reality, I could feel the author's pain and emotional betrayal, the heartache and sense of desperation to make all the wrongs right again.

Shattered Reality is not an easy read, but it is one that I think helps bring to light something that all parents should be made aware of. I also wanted to mention that the author's daughter added her wonderful talent to the book with her soul searching and beautiful drawings that speak volumes with delicate pencil strokes.

I want everyone to read this book! Karen Vanderlaan presents her story
in a way that is almost startlingly free of self-pity and vituperation. Not to be bitter after all she went through is beyond admirable. Somehow Vanderlaan manages to serve Truth without whining or going off on tangents, and she has the talent, integrity, and discipline that are required to write clearly and in a style that informs without turning stodgy. I love her style! Although she is straightforward, there is a lot of color, and the images she paints rock. The farm that was home to her and her siblings early on comes alive!! The trees, the fences, the pastures, the horses. You find yourself enjoying yourself so much that
you feel a little guilty. I love the book's title, but the author mainly shows, rather than tells. Any serious creative writer will tell you that that is key. As readers, we want a writer to fully engage our senses. To see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. This puts us in a story, rather than outside, looking in. Previous reviewers have done a great job of providing details and synopses, so I am going to let it go at that. Except to say again that I want everyone to read this book. 'Amen!'

The Karen Vanderlaan story is an epic chronicle of warm moments sprinkled lightly along a gut-wrenching trail of sadness. It moves inexorably on decline to an eventual inspiring uplift, if not of dreams actualized -- if not of reality warmly embraced -- then of reality acknowledged and fought to a coexistent truce. One could almost characterize this autobiography as a psychological thriller -- a novel with clues to later behaviors deftly woven into a little girl's childhood experiences of warm sibling relationships squeezed all the tighter by a near universal set of negligent, indifferent, or horribly abusive adults that populated the early phases of their lives.

Karen doesn't blink in laying out a gripping chronicle of her family tree adorned with virtues and values, along with more than a few ugly warts and blemishes. There is an element of Stockholm syndrome at work here, where the victim forms an adhesive association with a brain-washing abuser. It takes an incredible amount of intestinal fortitude -- and the fortuitous intervention of some better angels -- to face such overwhelming demons and emerge from the battle a stronger person with life values intact and in control.

I found this book a bit disturbing but incredibly inspiring. Karen's love of endangered children and horses -- and her valiant struggle to make a difference in their lives -- is a theme that shines brightly through the dark shroud that she sets about removing from her most eventful life, thread by thread, fold by fold. I highly recommend it for a very emotional, yet soul satisfying read.

What could possibly go wrong with an all-American family in Vermont who seems to be living the American Dream on a farm straight-out-of-Norman-Rockwell's-Saturday-Evening-Post cover; the Milky Way Farm? Well, plenty could, and did, go wrong with this idyllic family, in what could best be described as something akin to a Stephen King novel.

By her own admission, Karen Vaderlaan was "born in Paradise." Her father, a kind and gentle man who saved animals from certain death, tucked his children in at night with love and affection, but who would grow into an indifferent person as the years grew and the turmoil continued. Karen's stand-offish mother was not your typical nurturer, leaving that chore up to her husband; she was musically inclined and that dream was the prime motivator which made her leave paradise and strike out on the road with Bunny, another musician with no regard for anyone but herself.

For Karen, horses were, and are, a huge part of her life, plus she sought salvation in the form of different religions, none of which comforted her for very long. This is a sad story of outright meanness and interference by Bunny, the outsider, who dominated Karen's mother, the children and Karen, who sought love from, but was denied. This search for love eluded the Karen, the child, for years. It is the tragic story of what happens when uncaring adults do not have the welfare of their children at heart.

It is also a story of devotion. Karen Vanderlaan's loyalty to her horses is her salvation and her comfort. A survivor in the most chaotic examples of abuse, Karen eventually winds up in Utah, marries, has children, and grandchildren, and of course, through it all her magnificent, and some not so magnificent, horses. This is a story of vindictiveness, cruelty and a nomadic existence, but one with a happy ending, because Karen rose above the appalling way she was forced to grow up into the caring and generous woman she is today. I wholeheartedly recommend this well-written book of memoirs, interspersed with beautifully poetry. Treat yourself. Buy this book!

Why this book is not on The New York Times best seller list, I don't know.

I like reading well written memoirs, and this one definitely fits the bill.

Author Karen Vanderlaan bares both her heart and her soul in this very revealing book, which spans her early childhood days on a small family farm in Vermont to her present days as an educator living in Utah. And Vanderlaan shows and tells, and shares, quite a life's journey in this memoir, much of it extremely painful for her, and for the reader.

But as her life progresses from one difficult stage to the next, one thing remains constant throughout - her love of both children and of horses. Vanderlaan raises her children the best way that she can; she rescues horses few others would want to take the time or the effort to care for; and she teaches her students that life truly is what each and every one of us makes of it - each and every day:

"All you have to do in life is live and die. Everything in between is up for grabs, determined by your own uniqueness, and the choices that you make. Anyone can eat, breathe, procreate, make waste, and take up space in this world. Do more with the time you have than just take up space. Make it matter that you are here."

Sound advice for us all, and I believe a book well worth reading.

They say that God only gives us what He thinks we can handle.
After reading Karen Vanderlaan's book Show and Tell, I think He must have handed her an extra helping...but you know what? She triumphs over any adversity.
Ms. Vanderlaan starts this biography with an almost idyllic childhood - growing up with her siblings on a farm with horses and a father that was active in their lives - her mother was more aloof. Mom has great dreams of being a famous singer.
But horses remained a major love in Karen's life, and the humanity she has for them outshines any degree in animal husbandry.
When Karen's Mom starts singing with Bunny, and they leave find fame and fortune, things start going downhill.
Mom takes her children out of Paradise and into Hell guided by a so-called pious Bunny in search of fame and fortune. But Bunny was an abusive force that the children paid the price time and time again. This abuse was such a regular occurrance, it almost seemed normal to the kids - this abuse was all they knew. When Bunny started 'Bible studies' Karen joined her - in an effort to stop some of the negativity?
When you have grown up in a certain atmosphere, it is sometimes hard to leave that environment, and you may go to a like environment, because you have no other frame of reference.
The main thing is Karen overcomes this negativity through her love of horses - and love of her siblings, and then her children. When I was a child my grandmother had a farm we'd go to often - I'd relish going to the horses and riding and talking to them and seeing their heart and personaity - If there ever was a healing influence, looking into the eyes of an innocent horse surely goes a long way to place balm on the wound.
Interspersed in the prose is Ms. Vanderlaan's beautiful poetry. Indeed it is through her poetry on AuthorsDen that I became aquainted with her work.
She is a strong, talented person who has the gift of telling a story, whether in prose or poetry.
Show and Tell is a powerful book - it is hard reading at times when you read what the children had to endure, but it is with purpose - there is triumph.

In her book, "The Spirits of Sexual Perversion", author Laneen Haniah presents various forms of dysfunctional sexuality, and the ways to conquer them. This book is a must read for those that are struggling to break free from the web of sexual addictions, as well as those that have family members or friends with the struggle. One of the aspects that I so appreciated about the book is that Laneen doesn't just describe the problems, she offers remedies and viable solutions. Buy this book for yourself, or for someone that you care about. You won't regret it!

O.K.

I have to admit I was a little skeptical about reading this book upon looking at the cover.

However, once I had opened the book and started reading, there was no turning back (I was completely drawn into it); the testimonies, personal experiences, and the break down of sexual occurrences that I had even experienced in my own life was a real eye opener to why things had not been working out for me with regard to relationships with others (not just my husband)......I trusted no one and because of this, life was just not worth living!!!

Thank God for the author who was bold enough to touch upon issues that are so hushed in the churches today......You've changed my life in a most positive way!!!

God bless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bluntly, this book (truly called of God) will only work for those who really want deliverance in the area of sexual perversion; and are willing (and wholly submitted) to allowing Min. Haniah to take them, step-by-step, through the deliverance/healing process! Based solely on the unadulterated and uncompromised Scriptures of the Bible, each anointed word shared by Min. Haniah is invoked by Holy Ghost-inspired revelation and personal experience of Christ's finished work on the Cross in her life, while serving as a floodlight to one's soul (mind, will and emotions) exposing what satan wants to keep hidden in darkness.

I, myself, an incest overcomer, have first-hand experience of God's matchless power behind this book as it was, in large part, a mighty tool used in the godly counseling I previously received from Min. Haniah. United with the Bible (the foremost Authority in all issues of life), prayer, and submission to her commanding, without concession (yet loving/encouraging) teaching, my deliverance is a manifested reality which, as an ordained minister, I now use to share with others who are bound as I lead them on their journey to becoming overcomers from the demonic spirits of sexual abuse and/or addiction in their lives. God wastes nothing as all things work together for good...!

To say "The Spirits of Sexual Perversion Handbook" is a provocative read is, by far, an understatement: It is a weapon...a spiritual weapon for spiritual warfare, which as you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, will eradicate sexual sin from your life...and as you take authority, the lives of those in your future generations. The question now is, "How bad do you want it?".

"Sin is no longer your master...." Rom. 6:14

Minister Yvette S. Ellington

This book is awesome and a answer to my prayers. The author Laneen Haniah created a master pieces with direction from the Holy Spirit to send such an annointed Word of God to many of us who needs deliverance from Spirits of Sexual Perversion. As I was really disappointed with my husbands lust for porno and not knowing what else to do, I came accross this book which not only shed some light on my husband addiction, but also on some of my own issues that were in the dark. Laneen caught my attention and I felt a strong connection, when she opened up herself and explained her history.

If anyone of your are searching from answers, please stop and look no further. All of you answers are in this book, along with much prayer and sacrifice.

God Bless,

This book is a must read for anyone. This book helps to expose the hidden tactics of satan and how he operates. Anyone that has ever had to deal with any type of sexual sin and the struggles that it comes with will definately benefit from this book. I am currently reading and going through the deliverance part of the book currently and am experiencing a magnificant breakthrough.

Unlike many spiritual books, this book isn`t a "how to" guide. It`s one person`s story. It`s a compelling story because she starts out with a life that`s much worse than most people`s, and ends up with an inner life that`s much better than most people`s. A lot better. Shellee`s story seems to me to show that what we see of our life here on Earth is just the tip of the iceberg of the larger unseen forces that shape our life. Shellee writes: "The strangest part of it all is that NONE of it was my idea. I did not consciously choose to be any of it. My life evolved organically without my having to do anything but be here." Shellee's remarkable journey from hell to heaven while here on Earth also seems to me to indicate that she has had many lifetimes in which to accumulate both a lot of karma, and a lot of abilities. What this means to me is that, as amazing as Shellee's story is, it's her story. I think it can be helpful in a number of ways for us to hear each other's stories, but in the end, it's our own story that brings us what we need in this particular lifetime.

If someone with as much pain and trauma in her life as the author did can fully awaken in this life, there is hope for every single one of us. A deeply inspiring story.

I have worked through my own addictive and traumatic past, and thought I had cleaned out all the garbage...until I had to put the book down for a week and do more grief work and self-forgiveness. If you have scars or wounds, receive the gift of Gratitude: That you did not have the author's experiences. Only the wonderful honesty and candor of the writer keeps this book from being a 'downer,' as it could have been. It's an amazing chronicle and leaves a hope in one's heart: As bad as (your) situation, it isn't as bad as what the author experienced...and overcame.

First of all, I'd like to applaud Shellee for sharing her story and putting herself out there in such an open and honest way.

As I'm sure will be true of other readers, I found some parts hard to read because I could feel her pain and because of the memories of similar times and events in my own life that her words brought back. However, getting to the ending and the emergence of this beautiful person made the discomfort worth it.

I would have loved more details in the 'Blessings Please' chapter. I'm very curious about Shellee's contact with the angel, her out of body experience, etc. Likewise in the 'Life Is Like A Box of Chocolates', I think some readers will be familiar with the healing modalities and views mentioned, but for those who are still desperately searching for something, anything, that will work for them and come upon this book, more info would be very helpful.

I particularly enjoyed the poems and think they are valuable additions. I especially loved 'The Fall' and I hope Shellee continues to write more poetry. I agree with Lou Goldberg's review that Shellee has definitely been clear in saying 'If I can do it, so can you and don't give up'.

Thank you, Shellee

When I first ordered this book, I wasn't sure if it might not be another sad story that I would have to endure. But I found so much honesty and hope in these pages that I couldn't put the book down. I looked forward to the next moments I could continue Shellee's saga. This is a very well-written book and very easy to read. More importantly, it is a real-life journey into the lives that many persons take, from sexual and physical abuse as children to addiction and deep depression as adults. I am so inspired by Shellee's courage, fortitude and love. She is indeed a very special person, but so are we all, if we never doubt that we can, and will, find our way home.

This was a great look at personal accounts of domestic violence. This book shows there is no typical DV victim profile. It can happen to anyone. This book also challenges some beliefs out there. The author asks us to stop blaming the victim and instead of asking why the victim does not leave, we should ask why the abuser commits the abuse. Very good.

I have been working with domestic violence victims for about 7 years. I love this resource book. Ms. Weiss shows compassion for victims while she gives practical, safe advice for victims, their families and friends. I have already lent it to a victim as she was preparing to leave her abusive husband. Keep writing your books, Ms. Weiss and I will keep reading! Stacey M. Geurds, Esq.

Well written and filled with practical advice, heartbreaking case studies and a sound voice of independence and advocacy. Here is a book that those who suffer or have suffered must read - and those who love them need to understand.

Elaine's book is just as impressive as she is. Her sincerity and dedication to helping people hurt by domestic violence comes through on every page. Highly recommeded reading!

It's been going on 12 years since I escaped my abuser. I'm back to school now, working on a social work degree. I want to help others in ways I wanted to be helped back then. While researching material for a research paper on domestic violence I happened across this book. It came to me, along with several others, from the library, borrowed for research.

From the moment I picked it up and sat down with the purpose to skim it for relevant data on a Friday night, until late Sunday night, when I finished it, I was riveted with the stories of the women who were told within the pages. I couldn't just skim with this book. I had to read every page of it, allowing it to dig up memories within myself that had been forcefully buried years ago.

Dr. Weiss does an extraordinary job in telling the stories of these women without any "props" to make their reality any better or worse than what it was. I like the way she begins with her own story in the beginning and then, when telling the others', she uses examples from her relationship with her ex husband to emphasize just how much she identifies with the brave and courageous women who found often ingenious ways to escape from the oppression of their batterers.

Dr. Weiss has the sensitivity and the writing skills to be able to articulate the often subtle aspects of domestic violence. She helps those readers who may not have been victims but who want to learn more about domestic violence to see that it is much more than about blatant physical battering.

I want to thank Dr. Weiss for writing the book and honoring the lives of the women who are in it. I want to thank the women whose stories are told for being shining beacons to those who might read them and gather hope and strength from them.

Perhaps the most powerful messages from Dr. Weiss' book are that women CAN escape from horrific battering circumstances; and that if you see a batterer victimizing their significant other in a public place, acknowledge it! Your acknowledgement could very well become the victim's beacon of light they focus on to find their way out of the darkness.

What if a poet wrote a novel? Here's your answer. This book is something between a poem and prose, but more a poem. The story, for me, was almost inconsequential - the writing dominates.

I gave this five stars because, quite simply, it belongs in the category of Great Literature. She's right up there with Joyce Carol Oates, one of my favorites. And Mary McGary Morris, another great. One of the most interesting aspects of the book is her ability to control what I might call the "erotic" factor. In early chapters in which Leila is turning tricks at the hotel, the encounters with men are not in any way erotic; they are mechanical, dull-sounding, unappealing, in fact, they are icky. However, when she describes her sex-addict mother and philandering uncle's affair, the sex comes alive; it's stimulating, arousing. I believe it's because the writer understands that for children, sexuality is always arousing - children are sexually naive and at the same time more primal beings, which is why violent or inappropriate sex can be so traumatizing for them, as it was for the young Leila. And with time, as the book progresses, the sex becomes different yet again: more brutal and frantic, but less automatic; Leila is definitely coming undone, and that is not necessarily a bad thing, because the novel indicates that things are rising to a spiritual boiling point. I did agree with one reviewer here who said the similes and metaphors began to get repetitive and a bit too grim (or, if you will, "depressing." I found myself cringing at yet another bird carcass, bloody feathers, drowned furry creature, eyes staring out of skeletal bones, just that whole ugly death thing that went on and on and on. Warning to future readers: do not read this book with your dinner. Still, it kept me (if reluctantly) right up to the end. But I gotta say, once again - this writer is masterful when it comes to metaphor. I found myself thinking WOW! Can she write! In fact, the writer who came to mind most often was Egyptian Nobel winner Nagib Mafouz, another writer who can sling metaphors that make you shake your head in disbelief - how the heck did he do that? Kudos to Ms. Kassischke.

I often use the opening line of this book as an example in creative and memoir writing classes that I teach of how an author can immediately capture the reader. This book keeps you breathlessly involved:the extraordinary language, its simplicity, the compelling character. A stunning novel, or novelized memoir?

I read a review, one of the short reviews in the in the New Yorker that are more descriptive than judgemental, many years ago. I only remembered it was intriguing but I bought it recently and read it on this vacation (I am in Mexico as I write). I agree with some reviews that have compared it with Joyce Carol Oates but I would also throw in some other gritty books; Laplante's Cold Shoulder (she wrote the original scripts for the hit TV show Prime Suspect) and Amis' Night Train. The book alternates between the rugged life the central character lives today and her tortured past that continues to haunt her. And yes, have we discussed that she is a poet? I don't have an background in literature and I don't really know anything about poetry (though some of my best friends are poets) but it would appear as though poets do have an excellent command of our language and can use it to great advantage. So if you like grit and you like a talented writer please check this out.

I wanted to point out that Ms. Kasischke spoke at the 1999 Michigan Writers Series. Her discussion of this book and some of her poetry can be found via a search for the Michigan State University Libraries.

Although I finished this book several months ago the story of Leila's life has stayed with me. This book is full of haunting dialogue, rich descriptions, interesting characters. Truly writing at its best! I adore books by Laura Kasischke and wish there were more novels by this amazing author.

Timekeeper is a modern parable, a journey of "re-imagined events" processed through the author's memory onto the page. Part Kerouac's On the Road, part Paul Coelho's The Alchemist, and all soul and spirit, John Atkinson shares with us the story of an Everyman hero who searches for the one thing most precious to a man--His name.

Johnnyboy, who is unable to read, is 14 when the book opens. After another beating at the hands of the abusive father he calls Bugdaddy (who has already popped his eardrum with a slap and beaten him with a fanbelt), he takes to the road, heading physically and metaphorically westward from Virginia, in search of enlightenment.

Being "of the earth," Johnnyboy is full of metaphorical expressions at the start, but as he matures his language becomes more literal until the final chapters, when his journey circles back to a place of balance between the best of what he was and the promise of what he yet will be.

On his cross-country trip to find the Sacred Mountain he meets plenty of trouble and plenty of friends, all of whom spiral out from the central hub of his search like the multicultural spokes of a wheel.

With all of the artistry and insight of Alan Watts, Aldous Huxley, Wade Davis, and Peter Matthiessen's At Play in the Fields of the Lord, Atkinson relates Timekeeper's mescal-induced journey into the higher realms. This is a chapter you'll want to read twice, as it represents the axis mundi of not only the narrator's quest, but the book itself.

John Atkinson has shared a much-needed and vibrant story with us, through both embracing the spirit as it has been explored in the past and furthering its applicability to our own lives through his own life's lens.

this book is a breath-taker, pageturner - I weep and laugh, keep on reading, backing up, think, read more, think again, feeling as I know this guy. He tells his story in a way that no-one has done before. I feel so blessed to be part of his journey. I've already preordered the next one, Dark Shadows Red Bayou. Can hardly wait! :)

Timekeeper is the story of a young man who ages before our eyes. A brave soul, full of hope, but driven by fear he seeks an identity and meaning in a world that is unkind, but beautiful. In Johnnyboy's shoes you witness the darkness of humanity, but more importantly who will be inspired by his personal strength, his faith in the power of the gray dog, and the many guides who assist him on his quest to find inner peace. It is often said, you can only know a man after you walk a mile in his shoes- so read and walk in his. You will learn of Johnnyboy's simple courage as he makes his own tracks, never stepping in another man's. His is an adventure not to be missed.

The book grabs one's attention from the first pages. Having known John Atkinson since he moved to Gwynn's Island in Mathews County, Virgina, I can't imagine that earlier in life he couldn't read or write. He worked hard on the book and did well.

A fourteen year old boy faces too many trials...the reader must decide which is the worst...an abusive father...or the public school system that rejects and does not understand a learning disability that labels Johnnyboy as stupid. This coming of age novel follows a young boy in search of those opportunities that can disprove this fallacy as well as help him become a man. Reminiscent of characters such as Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield, Johnnyboy (Timekeeper) begins his journey across country is search of identity and self. He encounters numerous personalities, rare adventures, and a dog named "Check" that becomes the only family he has. This is a rare book that offers an emotional glimpse into the world of dyslexia, abuse, and human nature during the mid-twentieth century.

I started reading this book yesterday and I'm halfway through it. So far, it's pretty good. I wouldn't a young kid of the age of nine or ten to read this book due to the content and the foul language. Teen girls would like this book because there's always something juicy that's either happening or going to happen.

Another adult who enjoys curling up with YA lit. I studied children/YA lit in college and always trying to keep on the cutting edge of this literary field. I recently picked up Confessions, expecting it to be "fluff" fiction, glamourizing the life of hollywood starlets. I was quite surprised to find out that the narrator is a recovering drug addict, serious about sobriety. This was a fabulously important story. Smart, chic, and entirely enjoyable. I am waiting anxiously for the sequel.

After a drug overdose, teen actress Morgan Carter was shipped of to live with "aunt" Trudy at Fort Wayner (which I thought was a military base...but it's not). With a new hair color and new name, Claudia Miller, she must live like a normal teenage girl for a year.
This book is nothing like the shallow gossip girls/a-list series. Its about a real girl with real emotions who is finding who she is without all the fancy lights and cameras and away from drugs and alcohol.
There's also a little romance but I think there will be a lot more of that in the second book. (I CANT WAIT!)
I recommend this book to any teen girl

Morgan is a teenage star, an actress who loves spending money and living it up. After overdosing at the Viper Room and nearly dying, then spending time in rehab, she is sent to live with her mother's best friend in Indiana. She must attend a public high school for a year as Claudia Miller and let no one know who she really is, requiring a "makeunder" to disguise her famous face.

This book was written as a journal, so it's easy to stop and start. Though a tad predictable, as any 'secret identity' books are to me, it was surprisingly decent. Morgan has issues - big ones, beyond her materialistic ways - that come out as the story progresses. Make sure to check out the other titles in the series. The second book, More Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet, picks up right where this book left off.

After Hollywood It Girl Morgan Carter overdoses on narcotics, her mom decides that she needs to recover, and she thinks that won't be possible in L.A, so she sends Morgan to live with a friend in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Suddenly Morgan has newly dyed brown hair, a new name (Claudia Miller), and a new attendance of Narcotics Anonymous meetings. At first she is completely underwhelmed. Her friends at school are just slightly different from Marissa, her best friend in Hollywood. None of their clothes have labels, and the clothes they do wear don't exactly emphasize their assets and hid their faults the way they should. Their idea of partying involves soda (which they call pop) and pizza, and they fill their days with school, extracurriculars, and homework. Between guidance counselor sessions at school, NA meetings, school clubs, and a series of journal entries, Morgan is able to make some new friends and confidantes, and really get into her "role" as Claudia Miller. However, there's still that tiny something holding her back: her "real life," knowing she's going to have to return to it, and the fear of being discovered. At first Morgan seems vapid and flat, but as she spends more time in Ft. Wayne, she really mellows and becomes a likeable character. Lola Douglas' writing style is both entertaining and genuine, much like the story itself. By the end, you'll be seeing that Morgan Carter isn't so different from Claudia Miller, if only she'd give herself a chance.