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Elephant Girl: A Human Story
Written in three distinct voices -- child, teen and adult -- Jane Devin takes readers on an intimate, imaginative and often harrowing life journey. Born unwanted and raised without love, the child-author invents a rich inner life to see her through years of trauma. Leaving home at 16, the teen-author struggles to find happiness and a sense of place in a world that feels confusing and unfamiliar. Then, years after stumbling into an adulthood mired in tragedy and broken dreams, the woman-author finds herself at a crossroads. The choice she ultimately makes is as stunning as it is brave.Told in unflinching and often lyrical prose, Elephant Girl goes beyond a singular life story to speak of powerful, universal truths and the ability of the human spirit to redeem itself.
476 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
May 11, 2012
“All stories are true. Some stories happened.” This is how I intended to begin this review. As I read Elephant Girl, from the initial gut-wrenching description of elephant training to the enigmatic conclusion, I kept reminding myself that even though this story sounded for all the world like memoir, it was really fiction. It was fiction with a political agenda of showing the enduring evils of child abuse compounded by the insanity of governmental and other quasi-support systems that have holes in their safety nets large enough for 747s to fly through.
No one life is big enough to have endured this much trauma, I told myself, mostly to remain consistent with the genre description I thought I’d read. This much Truth requires fiction to credibly tell in such concentrated form, I reasoned. Then I clicked over to author Jane Devin’s website and was stunned to discover that the book reads like a memoir because it is in fact a memoir. Apparently one life IS big enough to have endured so much trauma and live to tell the tale.
Elephant Girl is a tale of hard truth. It’s a tale of violence on many levels — physical, sexual and emotional, of betrayal at nearly every turn and fear motivation above all. The overriding metaphor of the elephant training process is an apt one, uniquely suited to Devin’s life experience that so closely parallels that of the elephant trainee. In multiple ways Devin’s body betrays her, beginning to resemble that of an elephant. At the same time, this is a tale of enduring human spirit, determined to beat the odds, that triumphs in a surprising way.
This story is true. This story did happen. This story is worth reading, for the inspiration of Devin’s amazing thought processes, and especially for those who may need a reminder that our very broken support systems need so badly to be fixed. It has certainly moved me to look for more ways I can make a difference in helping to bring about needed reforms. I urge others to read this tough story, consider the same question, and act on your answers. If enough of us ask and act, change must occur. That is the power of Story. I thank her for having the courage to share hers.
This review was originally published at StoryCircleBookReviews
No one life is big enough to have endured this much trauma, I told myself, mostly to remain consistent with the genre description I thought I’d read. This much Truth requires fiction to credibly tell in such concentrated form, I reasoned. Then I clicked over to author Jane Devin’s website and was stunned to discover that the book reads like a memoir because it is in fact a memoir. Apparently one life IS big enough to have endured so much trauma and live to tell the tale.
Elephant Girl is a tale of hard truth. It’s a tale of violence on many levels — physical, sexual and emotional, of betrayal at nearly every turn and fear motivation above all. The overriding metaphor of the elephant training process is an apt one, uniquely suited to Devin’s life experience that so closely parallels that of the elephant trainee. In multiple ways Devin’s body betrays her, beginning to resemble that of an elephant. At the same time, this is a tale of enduring human spirit, determined to beat the odds, that triumphs in a surprising way.
This story is true. This story did happen. This story is worth reading, for the inspiration of Devin’s amazing thought processes, and especially for those who may need a reminder that our very broken support systems need so badly to be fixed. It has certainly moved me to look for more ways I can make a difference in helping to bring about needed reforms. I urge others to read this tough story, consider the same question, and act on your answers. If enough of us ask and act, change must occur. That is the power of Story. I thank her for having the courage to share hers.
This review was originally published at StoryCircleBookReviews
February 12, 2013
As is always the case when I submit an unfavorable review for a personal memoir - I want to emphasize that I am criticizing the BOOK, not minimizing the author's experience, challenging her perspective or memories, etc. The author reports horrific physical and psychological abuse and neglect - starting as a young child when she had no recourse, no choices, no way to defend herself, and absolutely cannot be held responsible for anything that happened to her or how she reacted to it. Although some people have been able to rise above a beginning such as this, and find peace, fulfillment, and achievement as an adult - her account makes it clear that, for most of her adult life, she was not.
Some of the narrative is beautifully written - gripping, rich, multi-layered - but much of it feels like an endless, repetitive litany of woe, why me, and ain't it awful.
The organization of the book is confusing. Since the author includes a number of metaphorical and imaginary characters the lack of a clear timeline makes it a confusing read. I did not feel that anything would have been lost by a more straightforward presentation, although I can concede that the character/author's state of mind may be better represented by a disjointed and somewhat random timeline.
About 2/3 of the way through the book, I found myself asking with more and more fervor, "Where is the editing??!!!" In my opinion, there is an excellent book in here, crying out to be better defined, brought into synthesis, stripped down to better showcase the pain and futility that characterized most of this woman's life.
Either in the last part of the book, or on the author's blog site, I read that she self-published the book, and the lightbulb flashed on. The book did not have the benefit of a successful, for-profit publisher's refining dissection.
If the author, who clearly has some skill as a awriter, tried in vain to have her manuscript accepted, and felt that she must tell her story and experience the redemption inherent in that - then this book is a logical product. It is her loss, and the loss of actual and potential readers, that she was denied the resources to polish and present her memoir as the gemstone it deserved to be.
Some of the narrative is beautifully written - gripping, rich, multi-layered - but much of it feels like an endless, repetitive litany of woe, why me, and ain't it awful.
The organization of the book is confusing. Since the author includes a number of metaphorical and imaginary characters the lack of a clear timeline makes it a confusing read. I did not feel that anything would have been lost by a more straightforward presentation, although I can concede that the character/author's state of mind may be better represented by a disjointed and somewhat random timeline.
About 2/3 of the way through the book, I found myself asking with more and more fervor, "Where is the editing??!!!" In my opinion, there is an excellent book in here, crying out to be better defined, brought into synthesis, stripped down to better showcase the pain and futility that characterized most of this woman's life.
Either in the last part of the book, or on the author's blog site, I read that she self-published the book, and the lightbulb flashed on. The book did not have the benefit of a successful, for-profit publisher's refining dissection.
If the author, who clearly has some skill as a awriter, tried in vain to have her manuscript accepted, and felt that she must tell her story and experience the redemption inherent in that - then this book is a logical product. It is her loss, and the loss of actual and potential readers, that she was denied the resources to polish and present her memoir as the gemstone it deserved to be.
October 29, 2012
Very sad book. Very long. Very Sad.
Started out totally engulfed. Her accounts of abuse, bad fortune and human struggle were enough to bring tears to my eyes several times. It's hard to imagine a life so different from your own.
Midway through I started getting annoyed. This story is about a woman, and her struggle through poverty and personal issues, to which I am completely sympathetic to. However, not once in the book does she accept any kind of responsibility for anything. She was dealt really terrible cards, but she never mentions, maybe she had bad taste in men, or should have educated herself before making adult decisions at 16 and then getting pregnant. I thought that maybe midway through the book in the halfway part of her life she would reflect a little on the choices she made. Nothing. The whole book feels like someone who just blames her situation for everything that happened to her. After reading other political articles and essays she has also written, I now see this as true.
I tried not to be insensitive, but towards the end, it became just a whiny story of her poor life.
Started out totally engulfed. Her accounts of abuse, bad fortune and human struggle were enough to bring tears to my eyes several times. It's hard to imagine a life so different from your own.
Midway through I started getting annoyed. This story is about a woman, and her struggle through poverty and personal issues, to which I am completely sympathetic to. However, not once in the book does she accept any kind of responsibility for anything. She was dealt really terrible cards, but she never mentions, maybe she had bad taste in men, or should have educated herself before making adult decisions at 16 and then getting pregnant. I thought that maybe midway through the book in the halfway part of her life she would reflect a little on the choices she made. Nothing. The whole book feels like someone who just blames her situation for everything that happened to her. After reading other political articles and essays she has also written, I now see this as true.
I tried not to be insensitive, but towards the end, it became just a whiny story of her poor life.
September 30, 2011
“Everything seems so precarious and based on chance, and a whole life can change with one wrong or right turn, even if a person doesn’t know what’s wrong or right at the time.”
Elephant Girl: A Human Story is an extraordinary and harrowing memoir by Jane Devin that I feel privileged to have read. Devin’s story is unlike anything I’ve read before, and the emotional response garnered from this story was unexpected. I found myself crying for the abused and neglected little girl of the beginning of the story, and cheering for the strong and undaunted woman she becomes.
Devin’s story is at once incredible and inspiring, yet upsetting and filled with traumatic experiences. It becomes difficult to believe that this story could have anything even close to a “happy ending.” The characters are complex and multi-faceted, bringing them to life for the reader, even if sometimes in a heartbreaking way.
The most impressive part of this memoir is Devin’s writing. Her voice extends beyond the pages, inviting the reader right into her mind and her heart. The book begins with Devin as a young girl, naïve and uneducated. As the story progresses, and she matures, so does the narrative voice.
Jane Devin is a heroine for modern day girls. Every dangerous and dark aspect of human nature has inflicted itself on her life, and somehow she was still able to survive. It is sometimes painful to follow the journey, not knowing where it is going to end. And yet, despite a lifetime of struggling through the darkness, Devin remains positive and determined to find a way to survive.
You need to read this book. If you have ever felt like the world was crashing down on top of you, you will find inspiration in Devin's experiences and her sheer will to survive against all the odds. If you have lived in poverty, suffered abuses of any kind, you will see yourself in Devin. And maybe that will provide all the encouragement you need to believe this too shall pass and it does get better. (I know, I hate cliches too. But they just seem to fit perfectly right now.)
I won a digital copy of Elephant Girl from a giveaway on the author’s Twitter account. I knew nothing of Devin or the premise of the book when I started reading. I found myself in disbelief when I realized it was a memoir. Since completing the story, I have read more about Devin and started following her blog. She continues to be inspirational. I was happy to see on Twitter that she recently raised enough money for a publicity campaign. If you’d like to donate, you can visit her page on Kickstarter. To read more from Devin, check out her blog at www.janedevin.com.
---------------------------------------------------------
***Disclosure: I won a digital copy of this book from a giveaway hosted on the author's Twitter account. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own***
Elephant Girl: A Human Story is an extraordinary and harrowing memoir by Jane Devin that I feel privileged to have read. Devin’s story is unlike anything I’ve read before, and the emotional response garnered from this story was unexpected. I found myself crying for the abused and neglected little girl of the beginning of the story, and cheering for the strong and undaunted woman she becomes.
Devin’s story is at once incredible and inspiring, yet upsetting and filled with traumatic experiences. It becomes difficult to believe that this story could have anything even close to a “happy ending.” The characters are complex and multi-faceted, bringing them to life for the reader, even if sometimes in a heartbreaking way.
The most impressive part of this memoir is Devin’s writing. Her voice extends beyond the pages, inviting the reader right into her mind and her heart. The book begins with Devin as a young girl, naïve and uneducated. As the story progresses, and she matures, so does the narrative voice.
Jane Devin is a heroine for modern day girls. Every dangerous and dark aspect of human nature has inflicted itself on her life, and somehow she was still able to survive. It is sometimes painful to follow the journey, not knowing where it is going to end. And yet, despite a lifetime of struggling through the darkness, Devin remains positive and determined to find a way to survive.
You need to read this book. If you have ever felt like the world was crashing down on top of you, you will find inspiration in Devin's experiences and her sheer will to survive against all the odds. If you have lived in poverty, suffered abuses of any kind, you will see yourself in Devin. And maybe that will provide all the encouragement you need to believe this too shall pass and it does get better. (I know, I hate cliches too. But they just seem to fit perfectly right now.)
I won a digital copy of Elephant Girl from a giveaway on the author’s Twitter account. I knew nothing of Devin or the premise of the book when I started reading. I found myself in disbelief when I realized it was a memoir. Since completing the story, I have read more about Devin and started following her blog. She continues to be inspirational. I was happy to see on Twitter that she recently raised enough money for a publicity campaign. If you’d like to donate, you can visit her page on Kickstarter. To read more from Devin, check out her blog at www.janedevin.com.
---------------------------------------------------------
***Disclosure: I won a digital copy of this book from a giveaway hosted on the author's Twitter account. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own***
June 20, 2012
Looking at other reviews, it seems people either loved this book or hated it. Unfortunately, I'm in the latter category. The book was confusing. It took me the first half of the book to figure out that much of her early life was based on a vivid imagination. UFO's? Praying to Joe? Difficult to follow. But most disturbing to me was the selective memory Jane/Darlene used in writing about her life. She was not her mother's favorite child, I get it. But the hate her mother seemed to feel for her, even as a small child was, I'm sorry, a little unbelievable. Three other sisters all found favor in their mother's eyes, but not poor Darlene, and not based on anything she did or didn't do. Her mother also made it her mission to turn all Jane/Darlene's teachers against her. She was a prococious child, and yet her teachers were all too dimwitted to see the child's promise. For some unknown reason, every one of them would choose to believe her mother, who had labeled her as a troublemaker. Really? I came very close to putting the book down at this point, It was becoming clear the book was an autobiography of sorts. These were Jane's reflections of her life growing up, yet there was no character development, and no insight into - WHY? WHY did everyone hate her? She was a victim of horrible abuse and this was a travesty. But she seems to suggest even this came about because her mother hated her and wanted nothing better than to get rid of her for the summer. If I learned anything from this book, it's that having a negative attitude and making bad decisions runs in families.
September 27, 2011
The most honest, heartbreaking and powerful memoir I've ever read. Someone else called it a "heart in a book" and nothing could be more true. Not usually at a loss for words, I'm having a very hard time articulating myself in writing this review. To have the ability to live through all of the anguish and despair and still find hope, love, humanity, to still hang on and get through is a perfect description of what it is to be human. I couldn't stop reading although I did have to take breaks to remind myself to breathe as I found I was holding my breath over and over again. An incredible story, beautifully written - the honest, brutally honest, truth of it. Don't miss this one.
July 30, 2013
What a long, horrible, self pitying slog. Bleak and sorrowful and hopeless, hapless and worst of all, selfish. Every other sentence was the phrase "made me feel diminished". I found no hope and no beauty and no responsibility in this hideously overwritten book.
August 27, 2012
This was a generous Kindle freebie. I am the type of reader who has to finish a book out of fear I'll miss some great revelation in the end. The beginning of this book had me hopeful for that type of ending. It seemed that Darlene was working toward creating a future for herself despite her family circumstances. Then Jessica kept me hoping, and I was touched by the things she experienced and admired her growing power to overcome. I thought she was building toward a positive adulthood, especially through seeking help from professionals. Her troubled, neglected, poverty-stricken, and loveless childhood was difficult to fathom, but Jessica kept plugging along determined to reach the life she imagined.
Then Jane emerged and lost me in the succession. A transformation still loomed in the distance, so I kept reading. But it was almost as if losing Mac and witnessing Elizabeth's youth trauma sent Jane plummeting over the edge of hope.
***somewhat of a spoiler***
I can empathize with her feeling defeated ... I'm not that hard-hearted, but I could not understand how Jessica seemed to give in easily and acquiesce to everyone else's (negative) suggestions. Why did she accept yet another loveless relationship through a marriage? It was totally out of character, or at least what I presumed was her character, to let everyone convince her this was her best choice. The Darlene/Jess presented in the first half of the story would never have accepted that defeat. And everyone seemed to be against her, except for a small number of allies.
True, it's not my or anyone else's place to judge this woman's actions. We don't know what we'd do in similar circumstances. All we have to build our opinion of those circumstances, though, is Jane's personal story, and things quickly slid downhill to an ending I hoped was not inevitable. Jane seemed to simply say, "This bad thing happened, then this bad thing happened, then another bad thing happened, and I just can't make these things stop happening!" Jane continued to say what people were doing TO her instead of doing something back to THEM or stopping them from doing it to her. The litany of catastrophes was never-ending, and her reactions were not at all what I had hoped.
Jane told us how she couldn't understand why people thought she was a liar, a snot, a bad wife/mom, etc. I didn't want to believe those people, but I got to the point where I couldn't entirely believe her anymore. Every employer was unkind, unethical or fraudulent. "The lady dost protest too much." It began to get too coincidental, and she wouldn't stop going back to the same horrible people, presumably because they were "family." They claimed to offer her help that was only hindrance. Desperate conditions certainly call for desperate acts, but damn! Insanity is having the same thing happen over and over again and thinking there would be a different outcome, regardless of whether someone is family or not.
I'm glad Jane is still alive and has apparently found some peace in her life, but it was hard to accept all the defeatist actions and resulting insanity. This woman lived through a hell of an ordeal, so I was glad to read through to the end and know she survived. I don't know what that would've been like, and I hope I will never know. It's naive to wish for a world where tragedy doesn't occur. It was my hope for something better for Jane and other women, young and old,(and our society) that kept me reading.
Then Jane emerged and lost me in the succession. A transformation still loomed in the distance, so I kept reading. But it was almost as if losing Mac and witnessing Elizabeth's youth trauma sent Jane plummeting over the edge of hope.
***somewhat of a spoiler***
I can empathize with her feeling defeated ... I'm not that hard-hearted, but I could not understand how Jessica seemed to give in easily and acquiesce to everyone else's (negative) suggestions. Why did she accept yet another loveless relationship through a marriage? It was totally out of character, or at least what I presumed was her character, to let everyone convince her this was her best choice. The Darlene/Jess presented in the first half of the story would never have accepted that defeat. And everyone seemed to be against her, except for a small number of allies.
True, it's not my or anyone else's place to judge this woman's actions. We don't know what we'd do in similar circumstances. All we have to build our opinion of those circumstances, though, is Jane's personal story, and things quickly slid downhill to an ending I hoped was not inevitable. Jane seemed to simply say, "This bad thing happened, then this bad thing happened, then another bad thing happened, and I just can't make these things stop happening!" Jane continued to say what people were doing TO her instead of doing something back to THEM or stopping them from doing it to her. The litany of catastrophes was never-ending, and her reactions were not at all what I had hoped.
Jane told us how she couldn't understand why people thought she was a liar, a snot, a bad wife/mom, etc. I didn't want to believe those people, but I got to the point where I couldn't entirely believe her anymore. Every employer was unkind, unethical or fraudulent. "The lady dost protest too much." It began to get too coincidental, and she wouldn't stop going back to the same horrible people, presumably because they were "family." They claimed to offer her help that was only hindrance. Desperate conditions certainly call for desperate acts, but damn! Insanity is having the same thing happen over and over again and thinking there would be a different outcome, regardless of whether someone is family or not.
I'm glad Jane is still alive and has apparently found some peace in her life, but it was hard to accept all the defeatist actions and resulting insanity. This woman lived through a hell of an ordeal, so I was glad to read through to the end and know she survived. I don't know what that would've been like, and I hope I will never know. It's naive to wish for a world where tragedy doesn't occur. It was my hope for something better for Jane and other women, young and old,(and our society) that kept me reading.
February 14, 2012
Actually, I downloaded this book on accident due to misnavigating my Kindle. I'm glad I did.
Jane Devin seems to have been born unloved. Perhaps the off spring of an affair, she's terrible mistreated by her mother and father and mostly ignored by her older sisters. She's labeled a problem child, spends a summer being drugged and molested and is brutally beaten during a stint in juvie for a minor offense.
At 16 she leaves home out of desperation and struggles in poverty for the next thirty years.
The descriptions of life in poverty were brutal, particularly once Jane is left a single mother of two small children. It was actually anxiety inducing to read as she tried to balance time and money with motherhood.
I read "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Wells and this books felt similar. Just raw and brutal. Definitely worth the download. Accidental or not.
Jane Devin seems to have been born unloved. Perhaps the off spring of an affair, she's terrible mistreated by her mother and father and mostly ignored by her older sisters. She's labeled a problem child, spends a summer being drugged and molested and is brutally beaten during a stint in juvie for a minor offense.
At 16 she leaves home out of desperation and struggles in poverty for the next thirty years.
The descriptions of life in poverty were brutal, particularly once Jane is left a single mother of two small children. It was actually anxiety inducing to read as she tried to balance time and money with motherhood.
I read "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Wells and this books felt similar. Just raw and brutal. Definitely worth the download. Accidental or not.
February 16, 2014
At least a dozen times while reading Elephant Girl I had to close the book, close my eyes, and simply breathe. From the first page I was taken in and swept along a rocky and bruising road via the graceful words and smooth prose of the author, Jane Devin, an extraordinary woman with a heart and perseverance that may very well put us all to shame.
Was Elephant Girl an easy read? Most certainly not, and most certainly so. Her story made me ache and cry and it tapped on the shoulder of some of my own deep-seeded painful memories and fears, but her writing is so sparkling and pure, it was a joy to read all at the same time. Both the ache and the awe compelled me to keep going, just has she has been compelled to keep going.
Do read this book, but be prepared to be changed by it.
Was Elephant Girl an easy read? Most certainly not, and most certainly so. Her story made me ache and cry and it tapped on the shoulder of some of my own deep-seeded painful memories and fears, but her writing is so sparkling and pure, it was a joy to read all at the same time. Both the ache and the awe compelled me to keep going, just has she has been compelled to keep going.
Do read this book, but be prepared to be changed by it.
March 11, 2012
This book sort of wore me out. It was a tale of ups and downs - mostly downs. Everyone has them, but the way one handles them determines the outcome.
I understand that not everyone is brilliant and can figure things out quickly, and that situations can make one depressed and feel helpless (been there, done that), but reading page after page of bad decisions being made, then wondering why things didn't work out was tiresome.
I understand that not everyone is brilliant and can figure things out quickly, and that situations can make one depressed and feel helpless (been there, done that), but reading page after page of bad decisions being made, then wondering why things didn't work out was tiresome.
April 22, 2012
Just not an uplifting book; poor character development; Finished it because I kept thinking it would improve; it didn't.Don't waste your time.
March 16, 2014
Not all stories have happy endings, and not all lives are worth living. Elephant Girl is a memoir about the echoes of an abusive past that continue to ring out through a person's history. People in the book continuously tell the narrator, "the universe has a plan for you." But pain doesn't always have a reason, and dragging oneself up from poverty is anything but revelatory, or wholesome. At times tedious and slow, at times cringeworthy, I still read Elephant Girl in a few sittings. The narrator seems to have a painful, almost autism-like misunderstanding of human emotion and her own impact on others. I found myself feeling her pain, but wincing at the lack of learning and understanding of others. It's a long read, but almost a relief from feel good memoirs of people climbing their way into luck.
November 6, 2012
Hard to read for a few reasons. It's depressing. The entire story feels as if it's just going to end terribly. There are no redeeming qualities to any of the characters. Everyone treats everyone awfully. And the story itself is disjointed. I couldn't follow parts as it got really abstract. It's just a poorly written, depressing book. Despite all of that, it's engaging. I couldn't stop reading it. But I didnt finish it feeling happy or even fufilled. It was depressing.
August 4, 2012
Painful reading. The narrator lived an awful life of physical abuse, sexual abuse, drugs, alcohol. However, the writer seems to be boastful of her exploits and agrandizing about her abuse. She is a perma-victim and happy in that role. Painful, painful read. Skip it.
November 6, 2012
Having worked in the social work field for 20+ years, I'm familiar with many of the events and struggles written about by Ms. Devin. However, I'm familiar with them from the perspective of someone who is trying to help others survive, not from the perspective of someone who is trying to survive. I have academic knowledge of child abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, poverty, and hunger but I have never had to experience any of those issues first-hand. I hear accounts every day of people facing insurmountable odds and struggling to make it through life one day at a time but Ms. Devin's account of her life, her struggles, her victories, her defeats, and her self-discovery put things in a different perspective for me. Her story was difficult to read, exhausting at times, and I marveled at her ability to keep going regardless of what she was facing. Through her words I felt some of the hopelessness she experienced; as I read I wondered how I would have coped in similar circumstances.
This is not a happy story by any means but there are moments that shine particularly brightly. Ms. Devin's life, from childhood on has been fraught with struggles that many of us will never know. Her ability to keep going, to keep moving toward something better is inspirational and humbling. She was knocked down time after time and kept getting up to try for more, never losing sight of the bright moments in her life.
Elephant Girl is a social commentary that made me cringe--there have been times in my life when I thought things were tough but after reading her story I realized again how fortunate I have been in my 46 years. Her story illustrates that hard work is important but it is not all that's needed to succeed in our society. Hard work, opportunities, luck, support systems, education, financial security, grit, good decisions...so many factors go into being successful. Ms. Devin's life began without some key foundations and as a result she struggled financially, physically, and emotionally for years. Her experiences with social service agencies angered me--so many agencies exist to 'help' others but often those who need help the most are the ones who cannot access the help when their need is greatest. Even though I have worked in social service agencies and am familiar with the red tape that must be waded through, Ms. Devin's experiences with social services agencies angered me. As a society we need to revamp our social services--there are people out there who truly need help despite their best efforts to make it on their own.
I commend Ms. Devin for her honesty and for her determination. I am curious about where she is now and what she's doing--I hope with all my heart that she has finally found peace and comfort in her life.
This is not a happy story by any means but there are moments that shine particularly brightly. Ms. Devin's life, from childhood on has been fraught with struggles that many of us will never know. Her ability to keep going, to keep moving toward something better is inspirational and humbling. She was knocked down time after time and kept getting up to try for more, never losing sight of the bright moments in her life.
Elephant Girl is a social commentary that made me cringe--there have been times in my life when I thought things were tough but after reading her story I realized again how fortunate I have been in my 46 years. Her story illustrates that hard work is important but it is not all that's needed to succeed in our society. Hard work, opportunities, luck, support systems, education, financial security, grit, good decisions...so many factors go into being successful. Ms. Devin's life began without some key foundations and as a result she struggled financially, physically, and emotionally for years. Her experiences with social service agencies angered me--so many agencies exist to 'help' others but often those who need help the most are the ones who cannot access the help when their need is greatest. Even though I have worked in social service agencies and am familiar with the red tape that must be waded through, Ms. Devin's experiences with social services agencies angered me. As a society we need to revamp our social services--there are people out there who truly need help despite their best efforts to make it on their own.
I commend Ms. Devin for her honesty and for her determination. I am curious about where she is now and what she's doing--I hope with all my heart that she has finally found peace and comfort in her life.
January 18, 2012
After reading this book I can't think of any words that would describe what an amazing person Jane Devin is. How brave she is to strive and continue trying to succeed in her life and then to share her story with the world.
The story about her hard life as a child that only kept getting harder and harder. After she left home it seemed that bad luck and horrible things kept following her. It is truly heart breaking and emotional story that cannot be just explained in a short summary.
It is so depressing to hear that throughout her life she had met so many people who were so cruel and unjust. I hope that this book will become one of the best sellers world wide and that it makes a change in the world. Hopefully the ending of the book is just a beginning of the great things to come. This book is one of the best I have had read and hope that this is just the first book of many for her.
I had received this book through goodreads giveaways and I can't be more thankful. Had I not won it through the site I would have probably not bought it at a store. The book I owe had already been lent to a friend and I hope many of her friends will be interested in it enough to pick a copy up and read it as well.
My best wishes to the author.
The story about her hard life as a child that only kept getting harder and harder. After she left home it seemed that bad luck and horrible things kept following her. It is truly heart breaking and emotional story that cannot be just explained in a short summary.
It is so depressing to hear that throughout her life she had met so many people who were so cruel and unjust. I hope that this book will become one of the best sellers world wide and that it makes a change in the world. Hopefully the ending of the book is just a beginning of the great things to come. This book is one of the best I have had read and hope that this is just the first book of many for her.
I had received this book through goodreads giveaways and I can't be more thankful. Had I not won it through the site I would have probably not bought it at a store. The book I owe had already been lent to a friend and I hope many of her friends will be interested in it enough to pick a copy up and read it as well.
My best wishes to the author.
October 17, 2012
Raw, Real and Rare
Jane Devin takes us on the ride of her life, in this phenomenal memoir, Elephant Girl. Truly, when I first started reading EG, I did not believe that it was her story. Really? I thought to myself, how on earth has she been able to pull herself together and put this on paper - and in such elegant prose?
Rarely will you find a person who can not only endure the dark side of life, but can relay it in such a fashion that you jump on board and hold on for the trip. Like a cowardly roller-coaster ride, you will read, peering through your fingers, but you will not be able to stop.
And just when you are gasping for air, she tell you something that will make you believe in the human spirit. She will showcase over and over again, that even in the darkest of dark, we can rise from the ashes and love. Even when we are in the deepest despair, we can still reach out to feel the power of destiny and hope.
This is Jane's first published book, but it is my hope that it is her first of many to come. She is Van Gogh with a pen. Of that I am sure.
Jane Devin takes us on the ride of her life, in this phenomenal memoir, Elephant Girl. Truly, when I first started reading EG, I did not believe that it was her story. Really? I thought to myself, how on earth has she been able to pull herself together and put this on paper - and in such elegant prose?
Rarely will you find a person who can not only endure the dark side of life, but can relay it in such a fashion that you jump on board and hold on for the trip. Like a cowardly roller-coaster ride, you will read, peering through your fingers, but you will not be able to stop.
And just when you are gasping for air, she tell you something that will make you believe in the human spirit. She will showcase over and over again, that even in the darkest of dark, we can rise from the ashes and love. Even when we are in the deepest despair, we can still reach out to feel the power of destiny and hope.
This is Jane's first published book, but it is my hope that it is her first of many to come. She is Van Gogh with a pen. Of that I am sure.
October 11, 2011
"Let myself be who I am" the author says.. Jane is a blogger, writer, woman, mother.. many many labels.. but like the book says, this is a human story. The book is so extremely well written that you can't help but melt into her life and stories. Don't let the number of pages scare you, this was a two day read, not because it was easy but because I cared. In the last decade I've read many blogs but never read Jane's, and I'm glad because it goes to show that this will be a book for all readers, not just bloggers and friends of the author.
June 6, 2012
A very real, personal story about reaching beyond what you were brought up for. It seems that the people who have the most unfortunate things happen to them become almost magnets for more of the same. The book really illustrated to me how vulnerable we all are. I wonder, though, how much of the author's perspective was skewed? How can one person run into so many evil ones in one lifetime? Whatever the reality, I don't doubt that Jane Devin has been through the wringer and I definitely admire her resilience and creativity.
December 31, 2013
This was a free download and I knew as I started reading that it wouldn't be a favorite. I kept waiting for some kind of success, joy, resolution or inkling of hope in her life. I think that is why I continued reading, to see if by some chance as she grew older that the victim of circumstance mentality would change. This is her story of her life told and felt in her perspective, and looking in from the outside, what a sad, sad life it was.
July 18, 2012
Interesting, but not uplifting, helpful, or hopeful. The story has the shocking violence of a train wreck, and the reader is similarly compelled to watch, without ever being given reprieve from one tragedy after another. This was a free kindle download, and I'm glad that I didn't purchase it because I would not re-read it.
October 17, 2012
Gave up reading. The most depressing book ever. The main character is so pathetic. I could not connect to her. No redeeming qualities to keep me reading. I would give negative stars if possible.
August 7, 2012
I wanted to love this book. A friend recommended it. I found Jane Devin's perspective on her own life limited.
January 3, 2012
Compelling writing but the violence, horror and inhumanity made it unbearable to read.
March 24, 2012
the beginning of the book ruined any chance of enjoying the main story. guess I'm just not into animal cruelty
June 1, 2012
Not what I expected...slow moving.
May 22, 2012
I read most of this book and after a while it just had a "poor me" feeling to it so I could not finish
June 1, 2012
I felt sorry for her in the beginning of the book, she had a hard childhood. But then she just seemed to whine - nothing was ever her fault. Couldnt finish it.
June 16, 2012
Could not get into reading this at all. As much as I feel for the child in the book - its just not my sort of read.
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