Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.
TWITTER: If you are on Twitter, please tweet a link to your post using the has tag #BookBeginnings. My Twitter handle is @GilionDumas.
MR. LINKY: Please leave a link to your post below. If you don't have a blog, but want to participate, please leave a comment with your Book Beginning.
MY BOOK BEGINNING
I didn't start this healing process until age 56. Prior to that, I had dissociated my abuser's behavior from the abuser. He was my friend, my mentor and my minister. I could not possibly think of him as a predator, so I detached the behavior from the person.
Boys Don't Tell: Ending the Silence of Abuse by Randy Ellison. This is the author's own story of a life messed up by childhood sexual abuse and how he healed. It is an honest and moving account.
Randy is now a strong advocate for abuse survivors, working on his own and with the wonderful organization OAASIS.
That sounds bizarre, but also such a sad situation to be in...
ReplyDeleteTough subject matter... important it is discussed though.
ReplyDeleteA very hard beginnging! But sounds as an interesting book.
ReplyDeleteThat is a strong opening sentence for what I am sure is a powerful book.
ReplyDeleteThat is an intense opener. I'll be sure to read your review.
ReplyDeleteOh, definitely a page turner!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments and for posting on Book Beginnings on Fridays! Sorry I haven't been around for a while. This is the first Friday I am actually in town and at my computer in several weeks.
ReplyDeleteHi Gilion,
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to read how Randy couldn't believe that what he had suffered was abuse, because the abuser was a friend.
I wonder just how many people out there are still convinced by this argument and have never come forward to tell their story.
It took some courage to come out into the open at such a late age and run the risk that you won't be believed by family and friends.
What a secret to carry round with you for all those years.
I don't really read memoirs, however they are certainly moving and powerful lines from a book that must have been harrowing to both write and for you to read.
Thanks for sharing and hosting,
Yvonne
Yvonne: Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Before I started working with child abuse survivors, I didn't realize how common it is that victims don't come forward for decades, for many reasons. It is very sad.
ReplyDeleteA very intense beginning and a very intense story. It is heartbreaking to know how many there must be out there who haven't spoken up for every story we do hear.
ReplyDeleteHeavy reading.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a difficult one, but a topic that shouldn't be ignored.
ReplyDelete