A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard is the emotional, heartbreaking story of a young girl whose innocence was stolen from her—the life she might have lived, and a horror most people can’t begin to fathom. In 1991, at just eleven years old, Jaycee Dugard was abducted while walking to her school bus stop. She spent eighteen years in captivity, hidden away from the world, before finally being rescued in 2009. Her story is both unimaginable and deeply ...
Biography & Autobiography
Book Review: Holy Disruptor by Amy Duggar King | When Disruption Means Telling Everyone Else’s Story
Holy Disruptor: Shattering the Shiny Facade by Getting Louder with the Truth is an overly convoluted title for Amy Duggar King's memoir—and, unfortunately, it perfectly sets the stage for what follows. I tried not to judge a book by its title, but in this case, my instincts were right. Side note: Gypsy Rose Blanchard owes Amy a coffee. I would have given Gypsy’s book a lower rating, but after listening to Amy’s, I found Gypsy much more likable ...
Book Review: My Time to Stand by Gypsy Rose Blanchard | A Story That Raises More Questions Than Answers
This isn’t a D.N.F.—it’s an N.D.F.: Narcissistic Dumpster Fire.My Time to Stand: A Memoir by Gypsy Rose Blanchard is so full of contradictions, I’m half convinced the co-authors were actively working against her. Here’s the problem: when it comes to Gypsy Rose Blanchard, facts are optional. They don’t matter to her, and they definitely don’t matter to her “gyp-babes.” It’s not just contradictions on the page—though there are plenty of them. ...
Book Review: Unspeakable by Jessica Willis Fisher | Trauma, Faith, and Religious Harm
Unspeakable by Jessica Willis Fisher is a heartbreaking memoir that explores religious trauma, abuse, and survival. At times, it is difficult to digest — but it is absolutely worth the read. Because Jessica narrates the audiobook herself, I highly recommend listening to it in that format if possible. Hearing her gentle voice tell her own story — and sing her lyrics — creates a profound sense of intimacy, camaraderie, and understanding. The ...
Book Review: Satan’s Harvest by Robert David Chase | Victim Blaming in Paranormal Narratives
Satan’s Harvest is book #6 in the Ed and Lorraine Warren series, and the fourth one I’ve read. I’ve had some trouble tracking down a couple of the earlier titles (yes, I am glaring directly at my library for this), but honestly—that frustration pales in comparison to the reaction this book inspired. I’m just going to say it outright: writing this review may very well be the literary equivalent of setting fire to any chance of being accepted as ...
