I’m not going to lie – I’m a bit disappointed with this book. Sebold’s fiction was a lot more gripping. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the memoir, and believe me, the details were mind-numbing, but the problem with it was that the climax started and was over within the first 50 pages of the book. The rest of the book was basically all based on one thing: revenge.
It could’ve used some flavor.

i have just started reading this, and having read the lovely bones prior, i’m well aware of sebold’s style of writing. so it’s easy for me to follow. but it incites a type of fear in me, just as ‘bones’ did. as a woman, this happening is frightening.

i’ve had a hard time reading it only because the 1st couple of chapters seems so brutal.

This was a well written and very real book, but it is a difficult subject. It is a memoir of Alice Sebold’s life, centered around her rape as an 18 year old virgin. The book starts with the rape and it is very hard to get through. After that it isn’t so bad but the rape is a primary thread throughout the entire book. This book isn’t for everyone but if you want to read one woman’s account of how rape affected her life then this is an excellent choice.

This has one of the most upsetting opening scenes I can ever remember reading. The only one I can think of that has a similar impact on me was the Grisham book where the little black girl was raped and brutalized in the opening scene. This is similar, but it is a (young) adult and it is a true story. The book on CD is read by the author and this makes it especially impactful to me.

I really enjoyed this book. A biography of what happened to Alice Sebold and written before “Lovely Bones,” this book just really gripped you. It was a journey of a woman who overcame so much and stayed stong. I was very impressed.