Obsessed with True Crime discussion

Spring, a time of rebirth, a time when those of us living in the frozen world realize the air doesn't always hurt our face.

In light of this, April's challenge is about survival. Kind of like, I survived the winter and the horrible snow storm ..... that didn't really come.

LOL

Pick a book from the Survivors bookshelf or pick a few books.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

I just sent for Feel the Laughter: The Inspirational Story of Sharon Komlos -- a story I've wanted to read about ever since I saw the article in Reader's Digest about 12 million years ago -- and True Crime Story: I Survived A Monster by Opal Roux. It seems impossible that could be her real name, but...

I am going to use this as an incentive to finish Reconstructing Sara: The Lost Victim of Ted Bundy.

Shelley wrote: "I am going to use this as an incentive to finish Reconstructing Sara: The Lost Victim of Ted Bundy."

Was it that hard to keep going on it? If so, was it A) too traumatizing or B) dull as beans?

She wrote the book basically for herself and it chronicles her journey over time as she struggles with PTSD and brain damage. The writing can be confusing and disjointed at times. Having said that, I still want to read it. I just need to take breaks from it.

I am just not reading like I used to. Since Jan. 20th, I have been learning (reading articles/watching news shows) about the US political system. Politics...something I have NEVER been interested in before. :)

And maybe shouldn't be interested in now! At the moment it's like slowing down to see a car accident...

I actually have Hope: A Memoir of Survival in Cleveland already but haven't read it, so this would be the perfect opportunity.

Denial: A Memoir of Terror, Jessica Stern
5 stars

I would give this one more than 5 stars if I could. The basic shape of the book is exactly the same as Gone Boy: A Walkabout, but this author is looking into her own never-adjudicated rape. A researcher by training, the author investigates, not only the circumstances of the crime, but herself, trying to clarify if what she remembers is accurate, whether the effects she's feeling are real, and why the people around her responded (or failed to respond) as they did in the years after the assault. She only started this process 30 or more years after the rape, never having spoken to anyone about it. Oh, the things she finds out. By the end of the story an incredible number of family and internal secrets have been dragged out into the daylight, scrubbed and hung out to dry in the sunlight. Everyone who has been sexually assaulted, troubled by family secrets or other unanswered questions should read this book. It will tell you where to go from where you are now.

Absolutely loving Feel the Laughter: The Inspirational Story of Sharon Komlos.

Feel the Laughter: The Inspirational Story of Sharon Komlos, Sharon Patyk Komlos
4 stars

This is not your typical inspirational story, most of which are so oversweet you need to brush your teeth after reading them. This is the true story of one of the narrowest escapes ever from a guy who sounds like a serial killer, and it explains how her dreadful experience changed the author's life. She's refreshingly, totally realistic and straightforward about dealing with a great many unwanted changes. She's apparently been a great example to many people and became an advocate, not only for crime victims, but for the blind -- a club she unwillingly joined on May 23rd, 1980. Well written, straight from the shoulder, totally unflinching. Don't miss this one.

Dirty Laundry - A True Story: From The Streets to an Executive One Man's Forty Year Journey by Ivan Von Baublitz

5 stars and a heart

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have to say it took me awhile to get into this book but about half way I couldn't put it down. The abuse the author suffered just seems to go on and on and I kept wanting something good to happen to him. This book is a journey through the foster care system and the juvenile court system starting in the late 70's and 80's and how it effected his life. Its about a guy that pulled himself out of poverty but everything was not perfect after that. I cried when he suffered a great personal tragedy. I had a hard time figuring out the Nixon character but eventually it did make sense. For me the true test of a great memoir is when I finish and I feel like the author is someone I would like to get to know. When I finished this book I felt like I was leaving a friend. While the book was at times hard to read due to the abuse that was suffered, I had a good feeling when it ended.

Escape from Evil: Married at 17 to a Serial Killer, She's One Victim Who Escaped by Cathy Wilson
3 stars

I seem to be on a roll with reading stories about abuse. The author went from an abusive childhood to an abusive marriage. As some other reviews have said, she was not married to the serial killer while he was actively killing and so there is virtually no details about those murders. For me this book was ok, but not the best as far as the writing. I'm glad she came out of it ok.

Fat, Stupid, Ugly: One Woman's Courage to Survive by Debrah Constance
4 stars

I started this book thinking it would fit the challenge. It is not really a true crime book but this gal suffered some abuse, both emotional and physical, so I am going to count it for the challenge. Here is my review:


Inspirational story about a girl that suffered emotional abuse from both parents, sexual abuse from her father, and spousal abuse. There were ups and downs but she went on to found A Place Called Home, a place for disadvantaged youth to go after school for support, activities, and to learn new skills. Even though the book is about 13 years old, the message is timely, with all the talk these days about body shaming.

True Crime Story: I Survived A Monster, Opal Roux
4 stars

I gulped down this infuriating book in about an hour and a half. Betty Hanson's atrocious story explains exactly why so many women refuse to report rapes; they expect to be blamed. Betty was blamed even after this guy half killed her, even though there was an eyewitness to the whole thing (who also came close to losing her life at this man's hands). The whole story suggests that everyone, even the police, were on the killer's side. Betty should go down in history as a heroine among anticrime advocates, right up there with John Walsh. This is crudely written and poorly copyedited, with some frustrating holes in the information -- Betty Hanson wasn't even billed as a co-author, for Pete's sake! -- but I would recommend it to anyone.