Momma Said Write a Book About It: Memoirs of a Scapegoat

by Victoria S. Hardy

When you’re a scapegoat in an abusive household, the scapegoating doesn’t end when you turn 18. Author Dani Donnelly is just now finding this out at age 50, and she’s about to show the world through her memoirs how pervasively damaging an abusive home can be. Her lifelong narcissistic abuser, however, is taking unthinkable steps to put a halt to Dani’s plan.

This novel is a chilling tale of survival.

Genres: Memoir

622 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2023

About the author

“I'm just as surprised as the reader is at what happens in my stories” says Augusta, Georgia-born author Victoria S. Hardy about her “unconventional” style of novel writing. She plans nothing, makes no outlines and she doesn't even know how the story will end until the moments before she writes it. She literally watches the story unfold in her mind as she scrambles to transcribe it. The stories themselves sometimes turn out as full length novels, novellas or short stories. “Something just compels me to write, and I write!” she explains.

Her style is a hybrid of suspense, drama, horror, paranormal and a bit of religious influence, sort of like Dean Koontz meets Stephen King.

Victoria's third novel “The Thing Inside Lucy Doyle”, a psychological thriller dealing with mind control and exorcisms, also features talent from the Augusta area – the editor, cover photographer and the models on the cover photo are all local.

Other novels by Victoria S. Hardy include "Momma Said Write a Book About It" (A tale of a narcissistic and abusive parent, a scapegoated adult daughter, and karma), "Under The Dream House" (a creepy ghostly thriller), “Rotten” (a zombie apocalypse novel with many conspiracy theories as well), and “Kicking The Goat Silly” (a dark Southern yarn about the battle between good and evil).

Visit her website and read her short stories for free at www.turtlesvoice.com

Reviews

[Kathleen Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful story

I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book. An autobiography ? A mystery ? What I did find was perhaps one of the most powerful novels I have ever read. The story resonated with me and I find myself hoping that it's not an autobiography as no one should have endured what the main character goes through. I highly recommend this book, but don't start it unless you have time to finish it in one sitting. This will stay with me for a long time.

[Shannon Blair Vacca · Rating 5 out of 5]

really eye opening

I grew up with a narcissistic twin sister and older brother in a house where I was the black sheep then I was in a relationship with a bipolar narcissist for 22 Yrs and always wonder why so this book really hit home in a lot of ways !

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing read. Thankful my sister sent me this book as it’s been a key to my own healing journey. There were times I had to stop, the panic and anxiety were overwhelming. There were times I didn’t want to stop because I just resonated so much with Dani’s words. I felt so many of the things she was feeling. I’ve never connected with a character so much.
This book will stay with me forever.

[Rose Kostelecky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening !

This book is written so well . Very hard to put down.
I've read several books about child abuse but this one is the best detailed one I've ever read.

[Susan Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful!

This is a book about abuse and overcoming its lifelong challenges. And it’s about healing and love and finally about family. I loved it!!!!

[Susan LaSpina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping tale, very real

I found this book would not let me out it down for long. The abuse the main character endured was something I could (unfortunately) relate to and understand, although thankfully my experiences paled in comparison, I found myself being more introspective. The weaving of several story lines was artfully done. I felt a romance coming on, but that too was well constructed. I was afraid the ending would be tied up too quickly, too nearly and the whole book would be finished off like some cheesy romance novel. However, it didn't go that way. Although such happy endings rarely occur in real life, I enjoyed the themes of hope, faith and belief in God (Divine intervention) which were an essential part of the story. Only complaint is I found grammatical and spelling errors, as well as a few word choices that could have been better - it brings out the wanna be proof reader in me. Lol.

Overall, a very good read and I will look for more from this author.

[Susan Plett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm conflicted about reviewing this, but I feel like a 2 star review without an explanation is worse than a 2 start review with one. This could have been a great book, with a rigorous edit. The writing itself is good - there are a few grammatical and spelling errors (was/were, misplaced modifiers, breath/breathe, moving people through space and time unnecessarily) but the plot could have been so much more adept/compelling. The same story could have been told in half as many words without losing impact.
I *did* want to keep reading to find out how it ended though.

[Staci McFarland · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like the book dragged on and was rather repetitive with events that occurred. It’s hard to say what genre the book truly is and I found that to be frustrating as well. After a while, I began to disassociate just like the main character. Speaking of main character how many time does it need to be mentioned she smokes and carry on and on about her tattoos? Glad I got this book for free as it’s not my cup of tea.

[Deidre Sowerby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book

I thought this book sounded good, but I was completely surprised at how good it was. Maybe you had to have lived a certain kind of life to really appreciate it, but this book was written extremely well, about all kinds of abuse. And finally how an abused heart and soul can find peace and calm. I would recommend this book to everyone. I can't wait to look into this authors other books. So glad I read it.

[Sharon Radde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great story

Well, not many books have made me tear up at the end, but this one sure did. Happy tears for the ending of the story, and sad tears that I was done with the book. The characters, and even the animals, were just so real. Felt like I wished I knew them all in real life. I highly recommend this book, and I’m going to start reading the author’s other books now as well.

[MIKE MARTIN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow just woe

This book was a bit hard for.me to read at first. It hit home in so many different levels!!! I am looking forward to following this author as this is the first time I have heard of her and happened upon this book on Amazon

[Chanda Shae Curry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gutwrenching

In some parts of the book I saw myself as a child.. Later as a dumb adult trying to please others so they would love me.. This book is sad and heartbreaking in so many spots. More than that it’s about strength and resilience..

[Tammy rainwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uhmmm!

The kid josh....obnoxious.... Mouthy. When Crystal said my hero. I wnted to puke...fake and cheesy. The going and on bout tats....judgmental. Also fat ppl.. For the most part a good book.

[Jenny Dubois · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow eye opening

As I was reading this I hoped it wasn’t a true story.
It felt so real I could honestly say I had some light bulb moments, having to stop and analyse my own life.
Well written, 2 back stories melding into 1
Loved it one of those books you will read again

[Wendy Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

This book gave me great insight into my own childhood and family dynamic. I cried more times than I cared to admit, but I found the story incredibly healing through the insight I gained. Thank you for this book. I am grateful!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I love really long stories, and the way Victoria writes makes it easy to read. I felt like this story took a while to really peak, but once it did, I couldn't stop reading! I can't wait to get into another one of Victoria's books!

[Jenny Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, but for
someone who's endured so much the ending seemed much too tidy.
Enduring so much trauma is not a easy heal, it takes years and years of work and the older you get the more work is involved.
But a good and surprising story.

[Kimbery Wildes · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG

The best book I have reading like forever!!! Dani is the strongest character I have come in contact with, I want to be her when I grow up! Loved loved this book!

[M'lissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

good story but

Would have been so much better without random god talk being forced in. Also could have done without glorifying smoking and not eating

[Alfred Tyszkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

Very well written book. Keep me on the edge of my sit hoping mom would just leave her daughter alone.

[Emily Penninger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story. Listened by audible and it was computer generated which I did not as much enjoy.

[Jessica Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening

Could not put it down and it makes you think what people actually go through and bottle it up inside 😊

[Lisa Druckreier · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good plot but about 100 pages too long.

[Jane Goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am listening to this in Audible. I really wanted to hear this when I saw the sponsored ads for it on Facebook. I grew up in a verbally abusive household; like the author of this book it was my mother who delivered the verbal abuse. I wanted to read/hear this to see if my mother’s verbal abuse was worse or not as bad as the author’s mother’s abuse.

Apparently I lived in paradise compared to the author’s childhood into her teenage years. My heart breaks for her. The book is the novelization of her childhood. I can’t decide whether to continue reading this or stop. It’s so heartbreaking.

If you grew up in an abusive household this book will bring it all back to you, but I think when it happens it will be within the context of the situation the author had to live through. I should say that I hope when it brings you back that you’re not traumatized all over again. It was easy to disassociate my childhood from the author’s. I don’t know if everyone can read it in this way. If you already know that you are unable to do that, you may want to consider not reading this.

Without the context of my own childhood, this book in and of itself is written beautifully and bravely. The story is very compelling but I don’t know how much longer I can read it. It’s a 20 hour audiobook. Very long in comparison to any other audiobook. I might just stop it now and pick it up again after I feel better about this child’s experiences. Well, I will never feel better about what she had to endure, being honest with you. I guess I will pick it up when the hurting for her stops.