Review of The Secret, Whom Does it Protect

[Eunice Geres]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Secret, Whom Does it Protect" by Jay Foster.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Some secrets are meant to be kept and buried because of fear of changing how others perceive you. But, what if that secret shouldn’t be yours in the first place? What if it’s you who shouldn’t be ashamed and scared of society’s perception. In The Secret, Whom Does it Protect by Jay Foster, secrets are shared, and the shame is finally rightfully placed.

This book is born out of the #MeToo movement. It is the author’s account of a rape experience she and her sister experienced when they were kids. Jay Foster discussed at great length the emotions she felt and the internal struggles she faced because of the abuse she went through. This book shows all the author's anger, blame, shame, and psychological trauma as she realizes that she is not the one at fault in the situation, nor is her sister and mother.

One of the ultimate acts of bravery, in my opinion, is sharing one’s own horrible experience to encourage others to stand up for themselves in the eyes of society. There has always been a shameful connotation regarding rape victims. One of the reasons the author wrote this book is to remind other rape victims that they shouldn’t be ashamed and scared. The ones who should be ashamed are the rapists themselves.

One of the aspects I liked the most about this book is the author’s stance on using the word ‘rape.’ Other people prefer to use ‘sexual assault’ as a substitute for ‘rape.’ In this book, the author discussed the importance of acknowledging the correct term. I liked that the most because I feel like using other terms to discuss rape, decreases the intensity of what happened to the victims, thereby letting the victims feel invalidated.

With all of that said, I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The writing was beautiful, and it was exceptionally edited. I, as the reader, can feel every emotion in the author’s writing. The impact and intensity of the experience can be felt on every page. I also find it informative and inspiring. The only negative comment I have about the author’s writing is that the author tends to repeat certain thoughts and ideas in every chapter. I get that it’s to amplify emotions and situations, but sometimes it becomes redundant. It didn’t negatively affect my reading experience, though.

I find it hard to think of someone to give it as a recommendation. I felt like rape and molested victims would find it difficult to read because of the trauma. But on the other hand, reading this may give them the courage to speak out about their unfortunate experience caused by disgusting predators. So, I would recommend this book to anyone hoping to build up the courage to speak out. You are not alone. Many people are here to support you.

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The Secret, Whom Does it Protect
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[Umesh Bhatt]

Sharing ones sufferings with others in a book form requires some amount of boldness. Thanks for the excellent review.

[Mbenma Esther 080]

Secrets are delicate. Accepting to hold on to it requires determination. Thanks for the review.

[Ajiboye Shola]

Keeping and sharing secrets require some extra mind, it could be a two-edged sword, one turning for you, the other against you. thanks for the review

[Aisha Yakub]

It's sad that victims are always wrapped in the blanket of judgements when the predators run free. It's really brave of the author to share her story. Great review.