3 out of 4 stars
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“There is no shame in asking for help,” Carla JoAnne Frye.
The quotation above almost summarizes this memoir. There are memories of some episodes in life that we wish they never resurface. What happens when something triggers such memories? The author lived with her single mother and sister. Her elder sister was loved by her mother more than her. The kind of treatment she received in her own home made her feel worthless. Furthermore, whenever she made a mistake, her mother would send her to a basement that was in their house. She longed for someone to embrace her. A relative took advantage of her desperation and began treating her in a way that made her feel special. Eventually, she began thinking somebody truly loved her. Was this relative a savior in a world where everyone seemed to hate her?
Silenced Behind the Silence is a memoir authored by Carla JoAnne Frye. The book is approximately 132 pages long and contains 25 short chapters. This is the first book by the author although she has compiled other books that are to be published soon. The author is a licensed evangelist and a motivational speaker who endeavors to empower others by helping them to reach inside themselves and consequently know who they truly are. This book is her account of how she was practically able to achieve this by peeling back layers of past hurt and pain.
The book is very informative. It shows clearly how one problem can lead to more devastating challenges. Children will consistently find solace in their homes. They may resort to seeking other alternatives if they do not earn it at home. This attempt to find a sense of belonging is what caused every problem in this book. The author could not share what she was passing through since her mother could not believe her. This created a conducive environment for abuse. The one who was assigned to protect her thus became a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
What I liked most was how the author handled the topic of child sexual abuse. She presented statistics of social vice in the introduction and afterward gave her own story. Her background was vividly described thus the reader can sympathize with her for some choices she made. Her life was filled with fear, hatred, contempt, revenge, and lies since all she knew was being called a bad girl. Hence, no one will fail to note the role parents and guardians can play in promoting child sexual abuse. One will realize that silence can be a lethal weapon against self as well. The pieces of advice given on the process of healing from abuse will also be helpful for both victims of abuse and those who are close to them. There was nothing I did not like in the book.
The book was fairly edited since it had a couple of grammatical errors. They did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book, though. The author was equally able to successfully deliver her message of healing from abuse. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars owing to the grammatical errors. I recommend it to parents and guardians as it will aid them to discover the importance of being open with their children. Those who have suffered sexual abuse will also find it helpful. The last section entails the author’s spiritual journey and how it helped her in the process of healing. However, this does not imply that non-Christians cannot read this book.
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Silenced Behind the Silence
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