4 out of 4 stars
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I was happy to select Behind Closed Doors 1 by A.L. Smith since I enjoyed reading another book by this author. It’s the story of three women who were the victims of childhood sexual abuse by the same relative, and the long-term fallout. It is the first installment in the Behind Closed Doors series and is categorized in the Other Fiction genre.
Sierra and her cousins Alex and Latrice were sexually abused by their older cousin Keith as young children. When Sierra eventually tells her mother about the abuse, her mother questions the revelation and blames her for “letting” Keith do that to her. The abuse has a lasting impact on the girls’ self-image and they each take a different path in life. Latrice becomes a crack addict and loses her young son to her mother in the process. Sierra leaves her two children behind in Louisiana and works as a prostitute in Las Vegas. Alex, the perfectionist, tries to pretend the abuse never happened. She goes away to college, joins the Army for scholarship money, and becomes an attorney. Family ties bring them back to Louisiana and the women reconnect, as past and present collide.
This book is the perfect example of a page turner. The writing style is easy to understand, but by no means simplistic. I was pulled into the story from the very first page when Sierra recounted her mother’s reaction to being told about Keith’s pedophilia. The plot is heartbreakingly realistic in its depiction of the coping mechanisms people use and the lasting effects of abuse. The author writes in a matter-of-fact way without resorting to explicit sex scenes. The use of dialogue is superb. There is just the right blend of description and dialogue so that the reader gets a clear picture of the ways that sexual abuse is subtly tolerated by the family.
The characters are well developed. As you can imagine, the choices they make are often far from ideal, but their actions fit perfectly within the storyline. Even the supporting players, particularly Sierra’s pimp/boyfriend Lenny, are given vivid backstories without dragging the plot off into too many directions.
The main characters bear their psychological wounds without pity and move forward in their lives. It was fascinating to see how they reacted to the same childhood experiences. The chapters alternate between each girl’s points of view. I found the switches in perspective easy to keep track of. My only gripe is that I would become engrossed in one character’s story only to have to wait a few chapters to pick up their story again. Still, I can see why the author chose this plot device, as the reader is able to see the women’s parallel progression through the years.
The Louisiana setting is distinct regarding dialogue, but it is treated as a subtle backdrop than an integral part of the plot. This is a good choice as the focus remains on the effects of sexual abuse, which can happen anywhere.
This book deserves nothing less than 4 out of 4 stars. I became so absorbed that I had to reorient myself to my surroundings after reading the last page. The author should be commended for shining a light on a sensitive topic by crafting an interesting, believable tale. I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates good writing, particularly about a subject that is too often swept under the rug.
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Behind Closed Doors (1)
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