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, ETC:If you are on Twitter, please tweet a link to your post using the hash tag #BookBeginnings. I also recently signed up for Google+ and have a button over there in the right-hand column to join my circles or whatever it is. I don't really understand yet how that one works.
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
The sad exposition of the struggle for justice against the Roman Catholic Church in Delaware begins with the funeral of Douglas McClure, who was the nicest person I have ever known.
-- When Priests Become Predators: Profiles of Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors by Thomas S. Neuberger.
This isn't light reading, but it is an honest and sadly fascinating study of the effects of childhood sexual abuse as well as the history of abuse within the Catholic Church. Neuberger used sworn testimony from jury trials and court documents to tell the stories of several abuse survivors.
I work with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. So often, the most important step in their healing is just to be able to tell their story. Neuberger's book recognizes the power of coming forward and letting go of the shame so many victims have carried since they were kids.
You are reading a very hard book :o
ReplyDeleteNot light at all. Opposite of what I'm reading...subject-wise.
ReplyDeleteBut it does sound very interesting nonetheless. Hope it's good.
Oh, I'm eager to learn more...I'll be watching for your review!
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds like a very hard book to read. I was raised a Roman Catholic and am so disappointed that this abuse has happened.
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad.
ReplyDeleteInteresting choice!
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like a rather heavy topic but with the potential for a cathartic release or two :)
New participant and new follower! Feel free to hop on over if you'd like to my Book Beginnings
Aspen
Hi Gilion,
ReplyDeleteA very hard to read book, I should think.
We are still in the midst of similar investigations, concerning the allegations of abuse within the Catholic Church and involving other individual named members of the clergy, here in the UK.
I can only admire you, for the work you do invloving survivors of such abuse, who are brave enough to come forward, often years later. It must be a very harrowing and emotional job and is not a career that I would even begin to contemplate.
Thanks for hosting Book Beginnings and have a good weekend.
Yvonne
This does sound like a heavy book but an important one. I can see how sexual abuse victims would want to tell their story as a part of their healing process and be acknowledged.
ReplyDeleteMy Book Beginning is from GOODNIGHT NOBODY.
You might shed a tear while reading this one. I'll bet it's very informative.
ReplyDeletePhew I'm glad you do the work that you do but that can't be easy!
ReplyDeleteIs there a connection to sexual abuse as children themselves? Has anyone done that study on Priests? I am an adult whose pastor abused young boys in my congregation as I was growing up. I keep wondering what kind of childhood he had to do such a thing.
ReplyDelete