This is an emotional read from start to finish. The main character, Jesse, is a strong character who is easy to root for. We follow Jesse from before her conception, with her mother Dolores, to the ending, where she comes into her own strength.
The beginning of the book starts with ancillary characters like Jesse’s mother, and her parents. We get a stunningly authentic portrayal of a selfish flighty woman who already harbors seeds of abuse inside her. The characters of the Grandfather and Grandmother are presented as kind, but flawed in their own way. When the character of Robert is introduced, one knows instinctively where the plot is going; his passivity and abuse are just as expertly portrayed as Dolores’s. The friends of the parents, and Jesse’s, are both depicted in realistic ways that don’t glorify or villainize the characters; an impressive feat considering the nature of this memoir. Each family member (and there are many!) all have an individual voice.
The story moves at a steady pace. We jump back and forward in time, from before Jesse’s birth, to scenes of her growing up and being abused, to her having escaped and healing. This braided narrative works well in diffusing the darker themes in this book. As a memoir focusing on abuse by narcissism, it does a great job describing the actions and dialogues of narcissistic people and their enablers. The action speaks for itself, in all its horrifying glory. The pacing of the entire memoir flows and we end with an uplifting note, with a cast of mostly happy and enlightened characters who finally are united.
There were many parts that were hard to read. The emotional, physical and sexual abuse was a lot to take in. But the ending proves that in the end, narcissists oust themselves with their own behavior. And victims become survivors by pumping on their own strength and leaving the abuse behind, finding power in friendship and love. This book reminds us no one is alone, and many people will help others overcome horrific life circumstances.
I award this book a 4.5 stars.