Abuse Books

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.

Paul offered Johanna a ride home, and suddenly shy, "good girl" Johanna is saying, "I want you to kiss me." A junior in high school, Johanna has long admired the handsome, fast-driving senior. Now things have changed. She has found the nerve to make a move.

Although nothing happens immediately, Paul eventually begins paying attention to Johanna. Little does she know it's because he and girlfriend Carla have split up, and he needs a replacement. Whatever the reason, Paul and Johanna become a couple.

Grades used to hold top priority for Johanna, but they've been moved to second place to make room for hours spent with Paul. Needless to say, her parents are not thrilled and neither is her best friend, Pam. Paul wants to spend so much time with Johanna that he demands she choose between her best friend and him. There is no choice - Paul is the love of her life.

As time passes, Johanna begins to notice that Paul's gentle caresses are becoming painful slaps, squeezes, and pinches. His loving words are now put downs said not only in private but also in front of their friends. Johanna doesn't know about Paul's hidden problems, but she's learning fast.

Paul's personality surfaces in the novel through letters written to "Dear Dead Dad." His father left when he was twelve, and news came later that he died in a car accident. His mother lost her husband, then her home, and then she "found" Jesus, and Paul began fending for himself. Anger issues and drinking problems begin complicating his relationships. He always apologizes and promises that "things will change," but doubt about their relationship haunts Johanna.

In THINGS CHANGE, Patrick Jones paints a chilling picture of physical and emotional abuse. People often question why the abused continues to "love" the abuser and refuses to seek help. Johanna's story attempts to show how loss of friendships and alienation of family keep the abused from reaching out. This emotion-packed novel tells a story that shouldn't be ignored.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

I thought that this was an extremely good book. I liked this book because i could relate very well to the things that the author portratyed in the book. The book is about high school life...but not the covered up version that you'd read about most of the time. This book is about the REALITIES that tend to happen in high school. I have actually had the privalage of meeting the author of this book, Patrick Jones. Hes not the typical kind of author that is full of him self and just wants more money...he is very down to earth and a good guy. He comes into schools and talks about his book, where he got the ideas for it, and explains and answers any questions. One of the main issues in this book is dating violence. Its a very real thing, and he brings that out through this book. he explained where he got the ideas....which was very cool...but ill stop boring you and simply tell you to read this book, because you definatley WONT regret it.
-Corey Dunning

-i am also looking forward to reading nailed...and i am currently reading the first draft of his next book "Cheated" which is so incredebly good...even on the first draft...so remeber this author in the future.

While reading this story I reached out to Johanna. I couldnt stop reading this book. I sat down and within two days i finished it. I didnt think i would like this book but i took a chance. I've already recommended it to many of my friends.
Its byfar one of the best books ive read in my short life.

I LOVED this book i couldnt put it down for one second! i finished it so fast! i enjoyed it the characters are sooo engaging , the story everything and i barely ever read books acutally i only read this one and tears of a tiger. So yeah the book was really good and i hope you read it.

As a high school teacher, I assigned this book for reading in a literature circle. One of my male non readers was sitting in the hallway while an almost non reader (also male) was reading aloud. They were hanging on every word, and trying desperately to finish the book in time for the discussion. I almost cried to think that they finally had found something that made them want to read. When everyone had finished the book, the discussion was lively, animated, and the book had appealed to both males and females, something that is a bit rare for this age group.

Another student even wrote a note thanking me for letting her read a book which because of its realistic character portrayals which helped her see herself through someone's eyes.

Forced to read the book, I was cringing, as I hate YA literature. What a delight to learn that this was a novella that would not be put down. I found myself carrying it around all day until I was finished. Jones obviously has some talent for creating realistic characters, realistic situations, and a plot that enthralls readers.

This book is amazing! The plot is twisted enough to get the reader guessing, the characters are well rounded and well developed and the attention to detail is first rate. I finished it in 2 days! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read interesting books that have unique points of view, which this one does. This book is definitely a great one if a reader wants to be entertained!

I completed 'Traveling with an Eggplant' in a day. This is the first time--in a long time--that a book has kept my undivided attention. The story is seamless and not full of filler-footage. Every word written has revelance. And the writing is smart, which makes you think, but not in an i-have-to-take-an-exam kind of way. More so in the 'Zen and the Art of Motorcylce Mainteance' way. Just not as heavy.

Alycia Ripley also did an amazing job in bringing the reader into Alison's (main character) world. I felt primarily connected to Alison and had a fun time watching the story unfold in my head. As a thespian, I understand how important it is to keep your audience connected with your character and Ms. Ripley displayed that extremely well in her novel. Also, being a child of the 80's and from Long Island, I could easily associate my own life to various references about the 80's the LI in 'Eggplant'.

I highly recommend 'Traveling with an Eggplant' if you're looking for something different. It's a quick read and I believe most will definitely find a connection to the story.

I'm pleased to say that I briefly knew the author of this book while mutually attending Syracuse University. She was a friend of a friend whom I met at a lively campus bar and often went to see perform in the SU comedy troupe. You could always tell what material was hers because it was so on the mark and on the money. The voice she used while making fun of our (oh so visible) campus stereotypes was unique, articulate and fast as bullets. Although that was comedy and this book is more drama, I can still hear her voice in my head and see her when reading some of the descriptions and images. This book is really engaging and fascinating. The characters are so alive and the circumstances so vivid that I sometimes found myself looking around the room I was in to make sure that I was still alone. There are several parts that kept me awake and freaked me out. If you enjoy a good story, some fresh characters, and having to actually use your brain, you will like this book. Congratulations Alycia for succeeding at what you wanted so much to do! It's really great to see someone from SU making their name in the arts.

Reviewed by Danielle Feliciano for Reader Views (2/06)

In her stunning debut novel, Traveling with an Eggplant, author Alycia Ripley takes the reader on a wild ride through the life and mind of Alison Olson. Alison finds herself revisiting her past, both literally and figuratively. She finds herself haunting the remnants of her college life, aimlessly wandering around her old campus and apartment. As she haunts her old life, her old life begins to haunt her. She lives with an onslaught of memories, as well as a hallucinatory soundtrack running through her head at random. As she attempts to deal with her past, she struggles with the present; her tumultuous and maddening relationship with Seymour, her friendship with her best friend Tara, and her fight for respect and recognition at her job where she is one of a handful of females working in a male-dominated world.

The characters in this novel are so well developed, it is hard to forget they are not actual people. The writing is so vivid and detailed that you can easily imagine yourself taking this journey with Alison. When she begin hallucinating, your mind is right with hers as she dances the line between what is real and what is our imagination. As you watch Alison deal with finding herself, finding her destiny, and commit an amazing act of heroism, you can't help but cheer her on. Your heart breaks with hers, but she gives you a reason to believe there is hope in midst of the chaos we call life. In the end, you celebrate with her as she faces her demons and realizes that to move forward in life, you have to ultimately deal with your past.

Traveling with an Eggplant is a incredibly bizarre book, yet so beautifully written you are never confused about what is happening. It takes you on a journey from the present to the past to the dream world and back again, but is written so smoothly that never once does the reader feel lost. Alycia Ripley has done a splendid job of writing a novel that not only acts as an escape, but as a catalyst for examining our own lives. Alison Olson is a character that we can all identify with, and can all admire for her strength and heroism.

My favorite thing about this book is its great dialogue. With many books the dialogue just sort of reads and you accept it because you have to but in this book, the dialogue is really alive and once it was done, I wanted the characters back. The main character, Alison, is a music journalist with a problem- she's thirty something and doesn't know why she's wandering her college campus and hanging out near her old college apartment. She has a strange relationship with a guy named Seymour who in college once cautioned her about an on coming storm and from then on, the book takes off to her career in New York, writing for a Rolling Stone type magazine and the difficulties in breaking into the business as a woman and as a 'rock encyclopedia' who desperately wants to achieve her goals. Her relationship/friendship with Seymour, now a neuroscientist, veers from charming and sweet to frustrating and maddening! To top it off, she starts hearing voices and songs in her head and being assaulted by a ghost version of someone she knew long ago....Her best friend becomes sick, Alison begins hallucinating (or not) and all this is happening as she deals with becoming a bit of a celebrity. I loved this book- the ending was such a surprise and the dialogue is realistic, hilarious, and engaging. The character of Seymour has to be experienced to be believed! I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.

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.

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.

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

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.

This being my second Deb Caletti book, I feel like I'm starting to get a feel for her writing style. So far, I'm impressed. Caletti writes solidly and in a manner that is entirely alive. It's quite enjoyable to read. Her characters are well drawn and diverse, such that even side characters brought to center-stage once or twice in the book are realistic and nice to come across. So from an entirely technical position, Caletti's book is a hit.

Plotwise, "Wild Roses" has me slightly split. While I really liked reading it - the characters, the writing, the overall story while I was reading - there are a bunch of things that bothered me later. Characters suddenly irked me. Not to the point of hating the book, but something felt off about them. Ian and Cassie's romance, while a nice part, also felt startlingly empty by the end of the book.

What happened? I'm not sure. This book is obviously flufftastic - it's a warm, comforting read for young women about an adorable romance between two attractive (in the literary sense) characters. Readers are quickly drawn into this world and it will most certainly interest just about everyone who comes in. The book has drama, love, and insanity. What more could one need? The music theme for me was a highlight, though, and many musicians will be able to appreciate this as well. The book brings to light an interesting culture that can be found among young and old musicians, including the obsessive tendencies. It's interesting to read and gives the story more depth.

In the end, though, even if at times the book is not strictly incredible, it does what it's meant to do and does it well. "Wild Roses" is a lovely, fun, heart-warming, fluffy read for (probably) young women looking for a well-written world to dive into for a few hours. It's not any sort of classic nor does it delve particularly deep into any important social issues, but it's a nice read - pleasant, enjoyable, and interesting - and it does give readers a fresh and cool story to read.

Not a solid five-star, but a recommended book nonetheless for aforementioned readers.

i liked this book becasue of how Deb Caletti wrote it. it got thirlling at parts and the romance between Casie and Ian was really sweet and romanitic. at times the book got to the point where i had to see what happened next and at times it wasnt. but all in all it was a great read and i liked it.

For me, reading this book was a lot like the emotions it tries to convey. It was forceful; one wild, crashing, rollercoaster ride that left me spent and exhausted.

The last time a book did that to me was 'Becoming Abigail' but that is a more superior piece of literature.

This book is intended for teen readers but the scope is very mature and is very intelligently written. Most of the stuff out there for young adults are about young, blond, spoiled, and rich bimbos with superficial adventures.

Deb Caletti delicately and more importantly, truthfully explores the impact of divorce through the eyes of our lovely teen protagonist Cassie Morgan.

Most of the book also is about that thin, fine line between genius and madeness or even if there is a fine line at all. Perhaps, all geniuses are mad and that is something I have personally always wondered. I have always strongly suspected that to be creative, you have to part with a piece of yourself and it leaves you a little less whole.
I like how the book is littered with gazillions of examples of geniuses and their, to put it kindly, 'eccentricities'.

Deb Calletti handles her characters and their relationships and impacts of their actions on one another with tender care and skill and the book ends like it should.

The book is hardly perfect but it's hard for me to list faults with a book that is for the most part, many rungs ahead in the ladder of young adult fiction. For one thing, Cassie's interior emotions, reactions and brain smarts are focused on rather than her looks or possessions.

Deb Calletti is an intelligent, admirable writer. I do not say that lightly and I will be on the watch for her.

I've never read a DC book before, and I bought this one based on a blurb on another author's site. Much of the writing is excellent. I love YA authors that push the YA boundaries into higher levels. This definitely does that. The characters were distinct, the dialog good ( the foul language peppered thru out wasn't needed ) and she went out of her way to avoid many cliches. It dragged a little in spots where I thought the heroine talked unnecessarily and I skimmed. Overall, a sophsticated read for a more mature YA audience.

Cassie's stepfather Dino is famous. The world knows him as a talented violinist. Cassie knows him as an unpredictable and violent man. As the story progresses, he nears the brink of self-destruction. You can almost hear the walls shake and see Cassie cringe when Dino raises his voice. Meanwhile, Cassie becomes involved with Ian, another violin virtuoso - and a student of Dino's.

While there are plenty of books out there about abusive significant others, there are few - especially those shelved in teen fiction - that confront mental illness or the dynamics of stepfamilies head-on. This book has both. It is honest and unflinching.

Deb Caletti imbues all of her stories with realistic sensibility and captivating characters. Make sure that you read not only Wild Roses but her other novels as well. You won't be sorry.

I love this book, I used it 10 years ago to stop smoking. It guided me through the process of understanding why I smoke, and helped me to understand the role that smoking played in my life, and how smoking served some need (for me, squelching emotion and creating distance from people). It also helped me anticipate what it would feel like to be an adult non-smoker, which was scary because I had never been one! You have to do the internal work before you can quit successfully, to understand where you are, how you got there, and why you want to change. It has to be your own choice for your own reasons. Then, it's easy. Believe me.

This book was a GREAT help to my Mom in her struggle. It detail's a very different kind of approach to quitting smoking. It doesn't throw crap down the reader's throat but rather allow a little leeway, understanding the difficult struggle ahead.

Good strategies for anyone willing to listen to them.

It is not a "STOP SMOKING NOW!" book, neither is it a self-help book, rather an informative, helpful little guide in breaking down each individual smoker's habit, helping them slowly, but surely, gain the willpower necessary to finally quit smoke.

Since she finally quit, It's been several Month's. Her mood has changed a lot, she seem's happier, less nervous and easier to accept difficult challenges.

I quit after 15+ years of smoking. I read this book 2 times before quitting and then stopped 2 years ago and haven't looked back since! I was the most addicted person I know. I mailed my book to one brother who used it to quit. (We both are just amazed by this) He mailed it to my other brother... We shall see!!! I would buy these for any smoker I know. I feel like Ms Rogers gave me a new life! You should see how healthy I look! No more sore throats or headaches.

I was so physically and psychologically addicted that I really believed there was no way I could ever quit smoking. I had tried everything: patches, smoke-cessation groups, cold turkey, etc. Finally, I read this book one summer, made lots of notes, kept the charts that are suggested, made myself a diary of why I HAD to quit and all the other wonderful psychological helps suggested in the book. I got all fired up and ready to go. It then took patches and after that the nicotine gum and about 1 1/2 years of antidepressants and..... I'm free!!! and feeling fantastic! I did this in February of 1996, so next February will be 10 years. I know that I never could have done it without this book. I'm buying it now for a friend. Try it. It will help you to succeed.

This really is a great book. I read it nearly eight years ago and quit smoking after 20 plus years smoking like a fiend. Sadly, after seven years smoke free and losing a parent to lung cancer, a few months ago I began smoking again. I ordered this book and have been working through it, and find it as good as last time I read it. I am having a hard time working through the problems associated with getting up the motivation and willpower to quit - without enough motivation, forget it! - but this is the best book I've found to give great, practical advice and the steps to achieve success. Starting smoking again is the worst thing I could have done. Almost immediately, the cigarettes had their evil, addictive tentacles wrapped around me. A good lesson in never having even ONE!!! I do wish she would update the book again, the last version being over ten years old. I think it's out of print now, but can be found used on amazon. The advice is still great. Good luck!!!

Bad Girls Club

Poor Martha. I don't think I've ready about many girls who have as many battles to fight as this poor girl, but fight she does! Even when all the odds are against her, she keeps trying to move forward, which is no easy thing. A girl at school wants to kill her, her mother is drunk or stoned or gone for days at a time, her neighborhood is about as scuzzy as it gets, and yet Martha survives. With the help of a friend of a friend, Martha gets a second chance and even when that falls apart, she manages to keep going. I recommend this book to all teens who are struggling with abuse, family alcoholism, poverty, bullying, problems at school, or just surviving in a modern world where so many fall through the cracks.

I loved this book, mainly for the character's rich voice, but also because the plot kept moving me along so that I could not wait to find out what happened next. It did tackle a lot of hard subjects right away, and unflinchingly--racism, abandonment, abuse, neglect, alcohol and drug use, drug dealing, poverty, a near-lethal bully, friendships, drifting, a tragic death, guilt, seeking a "normal" life that maybe isn't so normal, and perhaps most frighteningly of all, being pushed to the edge where at last you become violent yourself in order to react to the madness around you. But it's all done with such charm, so intriguingly, and with an odd spark of humor, that you get Martha's voice stuck in your head and you just want to keep reading till you find out what happens next. Despite being not fully satisfied by the ending, I haven't read anything this avidly in a long time.

This book was fantastic. It's a shame young adults get put into situations because of parental flaws. Martha is a perfect example of this and I would recommend this book to young adults as well as adults.

Martha Kowalski is beat down. Beat down by her mother's substance abuse and lousy choice of boyfriends, and beat down by the bullying of a girl at her new school, where Martha is one of the few white students. She lives in a run down apartment in a run down part of town, and her chances of escaping a life of poverty seem to have run out. But a series of events, including a drive-by shooting, actually create a chance for Martha to remake herself in a new home and school. She changes her name, makes new friends, and connects with a boyfriend. But her past - and the lies she's told to cover it up and the lies told about her - catch up with Martha and beat her down again. Similar to my own novel Chasing Tail Lights, this is a shattering look at girl living in poverty, surrounded by a swarm of violence and selfishness, who is resilient enough to rise up again and again after the beat downs.

YOUNG ADULT-A book on "Writing for Young Adults" urged me to read books from the genre that I plan to write for-so here I am.

I was completely intrigued by this book. It was so good that I couldn't put it down. This story is presented in a straight-forward manner. It was so refreshing to see such a realistic story.

This is the story of Martha. She has to deal with her mother's alcohol/drug use, physical abuse, verbal abuse, as well as her own personal issues. In her struggle to become an adult, she has to interact with three major antagonists: Chardonay, Nikki, and her own "Momma".

In Cleveland, Ohio the major anttagonist is Chardonay. Chardonay picks on Martha just because she is different. (The abuse is pushing, kicking, verbal abuse, and with a knife.) Martha tries to reason with Chardonay, but after an almost deadly altercation, the two are separated. The resolution (the parting) is permanent, but the anger and venom was still there.

When Martha goes to live with the Brinkmans, Nikki becomes the antagonist. At first, Martha and Nikki are friends: Nikki gives Martha the nickname "Gina". Nikki becomes jealous and conniving which leads to bad interactions. Martha becomes secretive and defensive. Both delve into drugs to temporarily relieve their pain, but the verbal abuse escalates. Finally, Nikki says that Martha has to leave and Martha''s "Momma" demands her return.

Martha's mother is a constant negative influence on her child's life and future. Her mother is self-absorbed and lives in the past. The mother can not reconcile herself with the bad relationship that she had with Martha's father. The mother takes up with Wayne and turns her back on his physical abuse of Martha. The mother also tries to end Martha's opportunity to be a successful cello player. To be like her mother; Martha temporariily falls into alcohol, drug, and sexual promiscuity, but Nikki, who is a recovering alcoholic by now, reminds Martha that she can be better.

Luckily, Martha does persevere and make her life better. She overcomes antagonists and peronal demons on her voyage to becoming an adult.

My book is Dreams in August: Life, Love, and Cerebellar Ataxia

I have a few books on my shelf on this topic, but this one was the most impact-full to me in terms of its intensity.
This was due to how extensive the examples of abuse are.
Like Fox's book of martyrs, I had to read it in bites, and put it down occasionally.
I guess I'm not very thick skinned :~/

If you are a serious leader in the church, you should be familiar with this material.
Some will say that these events prove that Christians can find safety from abuse within the institutional walls.
But so didn't the children of Israel find safety within the well protected walls of Egypt.
Every institution of man has its pros and cons.
And if you know what to look for, you can always identify the servants and the masters there.

This is why I found this particular book so important.
As I observed the characteristics of one abusive Christian system after another, I started to see the necessary building blocks which lead to the abuse.

For me, the bottom line is, that there are large numbers of people in the world who are very happy being followers. And out of these, are a large number of vulnerable souls.
Vulnerable people are easy to take advantage of.
And it takes a very high level of Christ-character not to be drawn into doing so.
The seed of abuse is inherent within our first Adamic nature.
When the environment is conducive, the seed germinates, and if the new-man does not cast it off, (Hebrews 12:1) we soon have a very large tree.

To be the CEO of Enron requires a high level of academic achievement, business acumen, and charisma.
And so, when an instructionalized clergy-laity system, based on the template of the world exists, the fruit is inevitable.

Men who are put into positions of leadership within a church, which following the template of the world, selects them solely by academic achievement and charisma.
Men, in authority with very little Christ-character worked into their lives are seed beds of abuse ready to germinate.
Place that seed into the ground of vulnerable and submissive followers, and you have today's Christian version of Enron.

This book will help you to see the signs.
100% thumbs up.

There are extreme forms of church abuse and subtle forms. As we grow as individuals we need to learn how to use our wisdom to prevent us from getting involved in abusive situations like church cults. I really didn't need to read much of this book to know the author's motivation for writing it. I was a member the church that ultimately inspired Mr. Enroth to write this book. Fortunately for me, I was not easily controlled, but there were still things that I went along with simply to appease people I assumed were my friends. Unfortunately, there were members who were not a strong willed and this led to broken homes, severed relationships, and suicide attempts among many other things that left me questioning my own sanity for being involved in something that so obviously had nothing at all to do with God. Read this book if you or someone you know is involved in a religious cult because it might very well save a life or at the very least save someone's sanity.

I believe we all know of people who have been in abusive relationships and even abusive job situations but it is sometimes hard to imagine people getting involved in abusive churches. That is why this book is a must read for every disciple.

This book exposes abusive churches. Dr. Enroth even names names. Every chapter opens with an abusive story. Each person is real. Each person has been hurt by abusive churches. The irony is that the leaders discussed in the book fail to see their abuses. Many try to cover them up or simply ignore the pain they have dealt to others.

In the end, I appreciated Dr. Enroth showing the reader that Jesus is not the abuser. While most of these religious groups claim to be speaking in His name or even quote Scripture, they have twisted the teachings and practices of Jesus to be something He never intended (1 John 5:1-4). Truly, Jesus is not like men (Hebrews 13:8) and He will not cause us the pain that is found in this book (Matthew 11:28-30).

In a world of "mega-churches" and cults of personality, it more important to arm oneself with the truth, and not someone else's version of it. While the examples in the book are taken from the late 1980's, and back about a century, there are many examples everyday of the devastating consequenses of spiritual abuse. Whether it is David Koresh and the Branch-Davidians, Jim Jones and Jonestown, or even Andrea Yates (who's mental illness was only worsened by her husband's minister) the results are tragic. Bad churches happen when good people don't step up and say anything. Read this book and recognise the patterns.

This book is helpful and encouraging. Find the life in it and you'll be glad you read it.

I stayed up late to finish this one. It starts out really slow and is a bit of yawn-fest while the set up the characters. Then the introduce Ginny and I was ready to just throw the book across the room. I didn't remember or read the back and I was kind of thinking "Trite!"... but then... then... it got good. Really good. Oh, it's a tough subject, on many fronts. But it's so well written and reasonably well handled. Beautiful book, moving text, and an ending that I liked (yes, *I* liked an ending - that never happens). If you see this one, pick it up. It's a rough going read, but it's so well done and so moving.

This was an excellent weekend read. It kept me interested the entire time and by the end..i was hanging on every word.

Susan Palwick's story, "Flying in Place", is (at its core) about child abuse and the cage of loneliness it creates - it is about the desperate need for escape and one little girl's attempt to find it. A common theme? Yes. A common story? An average talent? No.

For one thing, Palwick throws the paranormal aspect into the mix. Ginny, Emma's long-dead sister, becomes her new-found source of solace; not only a treasured playmate, but Emma's most trusted confidant. And while Ginny's secret is one that might be fairly obvious to some readers, Palwick does an excellent job of concealing it right up to that crucial moment of hideous unveiling. But this is not the reason that I gave the book five stars (though it didn't hurt any). What I really enjoyed about "Flying in Place" were Palwick's characterizations and the novel's powerful conclusion ...

Emma's voice is most definitely Palwick's crowning achievement. It is emotionally raw and painfully - furiously - authentic. Palwick exquisitely captures the mired thoughts and feelings of a loyal, yet naive twelve year old caught in a desperately frightening situation. When you are in the pages of this book, you ARE Emma. You feel everything that she feels to a bone-chilling, crystalline perfection.

And, the conclusion of Palwick's story is refreshingly favorable. It doesn't bring about a purifying redemption - not for anyone involved in Emma's tragic situation. And I loved that about this book. I loved that it didn't have a fairy tale ending. Instead, Emma and the reader are left with the splayed and unraveled ends of a brutal tragedy; with the inexcusable destruction and gradual adaptation that parties involved in abuse must ultimately face.

Overall, "Flying in Place" is a sincere testament to the innocent strength of children, the incredible resilience of the human heart, and the astonishing ability of one's soul to thrive in the total absence of light.

In Wisconsin, everyone in the small town thinks highly of surgeon Dr. Stewart Gray, who dines with the elite. However, the much adulated Dr. Gray hides a dark side from public view. Every night after his wife an English teacher falls asleep he visits his twelve years old daughter Emma to have his sexual way with her. Uncomfortable and with no place to escape, Emma flies away in her mind though her body remains in place. On her mental trips she begins meeting her sister Ginny who at ten years old died long before Emma was born.

Emma becomes more withdrawn with every nocturnal visit as her only friend is her sibling's spirit. School nurse Halloran notices the bruises on Emma's body and the negative trends of withdrawal and grades collapsing; she soon concludes that the epitome of upper crust society Stewart was assaulting his child. Still it is hard to prove until Emma's Aunt Donna arrives; she knows the real Dr. Stewart Gray not the image and believes history is repeating itself.

FLYING IN PLACE is a deep thought provoking reprint of an insightful very dark early 1990s tale. The key characters are purposely left as two dimensional. This approach enables the reader to decide whether the two sisters are actually flying together or just a defense mechanism of the preadolescent, but also restricts the cast as women are courageous or victims and men nice or sinful. Black and white with no gray, FLYING IN PLACE grips the reader from the moment the mask falls off of Stewart and never eases the emotional shock until Donna confronts him.

Harriet Klausner

Another author I never heard of (before or since), a book I never heard of, picked up off a book rack at the checkout of a local general store. Read the first 30 pages one night. Started the next night...and was up till 4AM finishing it! Absolutley could not put it down. I still tell people about it to this day, and I read it in 1992! Original, with real-life characters, it uses the "supernatural" not as it is used in ghost stories or horror, but as a backdrop that reveals the real-life events slowly unfolding, brilliantly and movingly telling of events of the past repeated in the present. Not an upbeat ending, but not downbeat, either. More about acceptance and cautious hope for the future, but laced with a touching sadness. To this day, absolutely one of the most memorable and devastating books I have ever read.

Angela Williams has shared from her heart...boldly, tenderly, even humorously at times...without reserve. Her ability to take you to the most intimate and painful places of her life is rare in our world of pretense. Her abuse at the hands of her stepfather is so painful that, at times I wanted to simply put the book down...yet I felt that if I did, then I would be doing the same thing that others had done to her...rejecting and abandoning her. Yes, the abuse is disgusting and disturbing. That is why it is easy to look the other way. Angela has a wonderful gift of sharing her story in all it's raw ugliness, yet graciously protecting the reader from the most intimate details. This book was an eye-opener...the wickedness of this sin needs to be exposed so that no child suffers the way Angela did. Thankfully, she has been healed by God from the shame and emotional struggles that pursued her for many years. She has a beautiful and victorious spirit. Her story is one of triumph...but don't take my word for it...read the book!

I feel extremely lucky to have found this book. I read it in one sitting! The challanges the author faces are those only God could guide her through. She is an inspiration to all of us.

I read this novel in three days and was so moved by the gripping tale of what Angela endured and survived. Her raw details exposed an all to familiar tale in this country of abuse that children suffer, many times at the hands of someone who claims to love them. Angela's story shows that more needs to be done to protect children. Ultimately Angela gained strength through her believe in God and that is most powerful message this book can send. A great first novel and a must read for anyone who has or is dealing with abuse.

I met Angela in Napa and she was kind enough to give me her book as a wedding gift after knowing me for less than 5 minutes. I read it in two days (only because my husband told me I was reading too fast). I had a hard time putting it down, simply because I had met a strong woman, and was reading the story of a child who was tormented constantly in ways I can't imagine.

I had a hard time with the religious aspect simply because I am not a religious person, but respected the fact that it is such a huge part of the author's life. In the fifteen minutes that I spoke with Angela and her husband, I could tell that they had such a strong bond, and you can see why after reading the book.

I hope that one day I see Angela on Oprah, as I flip through the channels, to make everyone truly aware of what can happen to a little girl.

"From Sorrows To Saphires is an extraordinary first novel, one that will inspire the heart of every reader who has ever loved a child. Angela Williams has managed to take the difficult subject of incest and present her personal account in a way that educates and inspires, yet does not leave the reader feeling assaulted. Williams is an author who knows the hunger and resiliance of the human heart.