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A riveting yet heartbreaking read. I know Alison but never knew this was her past till now. Unbelievable how she gained strength and determination from adversity to become a successful businesswoman. What an inspiration and great role model she is..writing this book in the hope it will help at least one child from enduring any abuse. She deserves real credit for this awe-inspiring act of selfless transparency for the benefit of others.
A MUST READ. 5*****
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“Landmark literature”
Monster in my mind is wonderfully written.
Its honesty and openness are powerful and one feels privileged to be able to share Alison’s account of her heroic journey from the horror of child abuse to the woman she has become.
A tale of courage and hope, which is inspiring yet humbling in its essence and once picked up is impossible to put down until the end.
A true piece of landmark literature that hopefully will help build awareness of the horrors of abuse yet so cleverly written so as to engage the reader completely
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A heartbreaking read, it made me sad, angry, and horrified and I wanted to take Alison away from all of what she was enduring, wrap my arms around her, and steal her away as you would think any parent would - but this was her parent!
It was hard to believe that such a young child would have to create a large world of her own protection to surround herself in, with all of her "friends" so she was able to avoid this "Monster"... sometimes.
Alison had to be constantly aware of where he might be, that he would be searching for her, where her next hiding place would be, having to hold back tears, panic, and hold her breath so he would not discover her, to then abuse her so sadistically for his own gain. His own child.
The book proves that we cannot tell what is going on in a child's life, behind closed doors. She was threatened that he would "murder her, her sister, and her mother" if she dared to say anything to anyone.
Did her mother know what was happening all these years? Whether she did or not Alison still was the protective daughter when her mother became ill and needed help.
This book could help us all by making us ask our children those difficult questions i.e. do they feel safe, is anyone hurting them, do they need someone to talk to?
I highly recommend reading this book, to open everyone's eyes to what happens around us, every day, everywhere so that then we could possibly save a child from this kind of daily torture.
It is very helpful to know that there is support out there if you are brave enough to look for it, and also to know that Alison has become a very successful businesswoman after all of the years she has hidden such terrible secrets.
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A heartbreaking read, it made me sad, angry, and horrified and I wanted to take Alison away from all of what she was enduring, wrap my arms around her, and steal her away as you would think any parent would - but this was her parent!
It was hard to believe that such a young child would have to create a large world of her own protection to surround herself in, with all of her "friends" so she was able to avoid this "Monster"... sometimes.
Alison had to be constantly aware of where he might be, that he would be searching for her, where her next hiding place would be, having to hold back tears, panic, and hold her breath so he would not discover her, to then abuse her so sadistically for his own gain. His own child.
The book proves that we cannot tell what is going on in a child's life, behind closed doors. She was threatened that he would "murder her, her sister, and her mother" if she dared to say anything to anyone.
Did her mother know what was happening all these years? Whether she did or not Alison still was the protective daughter when her mother became ill and needed help.
This book could help us all by making us ask our children those difficult questions i.e. do they feel safe, is anyone hurting them, do they need someone to talk to?
I highly recommend reading this book, to open everyone's eyes to what happens around us, every day, everywhere so that then we could possibly save a child from this kind of daily torture.
It is very helpful to know that there is support out there if you are brave enough to look for it and also to know that Alison has become a very successful businesswoman after all of the years she has hidden such terrible secrets.
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A heartbreaking read, it made me sad, angry, and horrified and I wanted to take Alison away from all of what she was enduring, wrap my arms around her, and steal her away as you would think any parent would - but this was her parent!
It was hard to believe that such a young child would have to create a large world of her own protection to surround herself in, with all of her "friends" so she was able to avoid this "Monster"... sometimes.
Alison had to be constantly aware of where he might be, that he would be searching for her, where her next hiding place would be, having to hold back tears, panic, and hold her breath so he would not discover her, to then abuse her so sadistically for his own gain. His own child.
The book proves that we cannot tell what is going on in a child's life, behind closed doors. She was threatened that he would "murder her, her sister, and her mother" if she dared to say anything to anyone.
Did her mother know what was happening all these years? Whether she did or not Alison still was the protective daughter when her mother became ill and needed help.
This book could help us all by making us ask our children those difficult questions i.e. do they feel safe, is anyone hurting them, do they need someone to talk to?
I highly recommend reading this book, to open everyone's eyes to what happens around us, every day, everywhere so that then we could possibly save a child from this kind of daily torture.
It is very helpful to know that there is support out there if you are brave enough to look for it, and also to know that Alison has become a very successful businesswoman after all of the years she has hidden such terrible secrets.
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This book's opening chapters make for gut- wrenching reading. The author draws the reader into harrowing tales of the horrific abuse she suffered as a child. The survival avoidance strategies she used at such a young age are described in such a way, that the reader understands the strength of character to " step outside herself" and cope.Awe inspiring openess.One wondered .initially whether she could maintain her resilience and become well balanced enough to achieve all she has done in adulthood,She does so admirably.
I was impressed with the writer's style, especially" the voice" she can now share to enable the awareness of others of what so often is hidden. To me, the book is a cathartic journey.It travels from suffering and isolation, through ingenious avoidance to confident, self- assertiveness, happiness and success. All achieved through independent determination.
Well written, moving and enlightening, it opens up the world of what can go on, " behind closed doors."
A 5star read.
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