Suffer the Child

by Judith Spencer

Chronicles the abuse suffered by Jenny beginning at age two, abuse that caused her to develop multiple personalities, and describes her treatment and subsequent reintegration

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, True Crime, Mental Health, Biography, Abuse, Memoir

375 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1989

Reviews

[Kerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately one of the hardest to believe books ‘non-fiction’ books that I have read. While interested in personal stories of DID/MPD and also SRA, this book seems to go way overboard in describing satanic practices and the extreme abuse encountered by Jenny (the core multiple and a pseudo name for the real woman whose story it is) –so much so that I couldn’t even finish it all – ever new chapter I’d exhale an ‘oh come on!

There is way too much ‘crap’ in this book that makes it even slightly believable. I know that true stories can sometimes be fictionalized sightly for the ‘audience enjoyment’ but this seems to go too far.

I would need to be shown some type of proof that this is a true story before classing it under non-fiction. (It really is much too overboard to be real and theres too many - what i call 'continuety errors') How this book has become recommended reading for American psychology students is beyond me, they should add books like The Flock or even When Rabbit Howls to their mandatory read list rather than this over the top ‘account’

Pretty disapointing because I really dont see how any of it can be true, if it is a true story i believe it to be only in part with a huge fictionalzation to make it something more.

WARNING - graphic content of ritual abuse. not for the faint stomached

[Hester · Rating 1 out of 5]

If Michelle Remembers was the blockbuster book that blew the lid off of child Satanic Ritual Abuse and was the equivalent of a blockbuster horror film, then Suffer the Child is its over the top, copy and paste direct to DVD sequel of a book. Judith Spencer sticks with the formula-- young child forced into a cult by her abusive mother--but ups the ante by throwing in claims of children forced to perform bestiality, sacrificial murder, prostitution and a victim with 400 or so personalities. Its all too much, too long and too boring to finish.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard for me to reconcile someone having 400+ personalities. It's hard to swallow. However, I can "understand" it after going through the things this girl went through. And that's only what was written here. Who knows what else there is.
I find it suspicious that because of her "fair skin" could "not seem to be marked." "Burns and cuts healed almost instantly, leaving scars so faint they could barely be seen." Really? Hmm.
Also, how exactly does another personality show a scar? Aren't they sharing the same body? I'd like that explained.
There were some conversational instances where Jenny would mistake someones name. Apparently this "proved" she was ill. This "proved" she had other personalities. All it proves to me is she's either forgetful or slick. Slick - not sick.
I found it extremely intriguing how very easy it was to bring forth and expel personalities. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, bing, bam, done. Huh. Hard to believe.
I'm pessimistic when it comes to this sort of thing. I'm not saying it doesn't happen but I'm seriously skeptical. And this book, and the authors, didn't give me any information to teach me otherwise. I learned a lot about what THEY think and how Jenny is according to THEM. Which is, of course, the point, but one would think with a subject such as this the author(s) would have gone more through the ins and outs. I didn't want to just read about this, I wanted to learn about her story and take something away. Instead I was left feeling the therapists were suckered.

[Iamshadow · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a three and a half star rating from me for this one. The writing is engaging, you get a sense for how Jenny&'s system is structured, and a really damning catalogue of how they were failed over and over again by medical professionals who should have identified something seriously wrong, and didn't. Whether you believe in the likelihood of a Satanic cult (especially in the wake of the SRA/MPD controversy) is almost irrelevant. Jenny& was multiple, dissociative and a child abuse victim, and the Alexanders gave them better care and support than anyone ever had, and hopefully, they went on to live a better life post-memoir, whether it was integrated or as a low-number stable system. Both are potential outcomes mentioned at the very end. Personally, I think, given Jenny&'s high-number system and tendency to both create new system members and have old system members return after a change of circumstances, a recovered memory sequence, or a stress in life, I think a low-number stable system the most likely outcome. Like The Troops (Truddi Chase), Jenny&'s earliest abuse was as an infant. Their trauma splits date from that age; there is no 'single' existence for them to return to. There is also the suggestion that Jenny&'s own mother may have been multiple, implying a possible genetic, family tendency to dissociation and multiplicity. Even without abuse, Jenny& may never have been a singleton.

So yeah, read if you want a decent account without a complete integration ending, and you don't mind a narrative full of the standard trappings of satanic ritual abuse (sacrifice, rape, etc.) The meeting between Jenny& and Chris Costner Sizemore at a Dissociative Disorders convention is short but nice.

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a detailed account about a woman who was raised in a satanic cult. With the abuse this woman suffered it's no wonder she was such a broken person. I read this book when I was 12 years old (I know not the type of book a 12 year old should be reading), but even after all these years the story of this womans life still haunts me.

[Lore LongSoulSystem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lectura pesada, pero lo más pesado (además de los detalles gráficos del abuso) es 1) hay gente que no le cree dentro del libro y 2) hay gente que no le cree por fuera del libro, incluyendo en comentarios de goodreads.
Yo sí creo que este tipo de maltratos ritualísticos existen, hay gente muy horrible en el mundo (especialmente los fanáticos de cualquier religión/culto/secta), leí el Malleus Malleficarum (un manual real no ficticio de torturadores), existen torturas de todo tipo en el mundo y suceden casi en cualquier lugar donde haya gente con un desprecio absoluto, en cualquier casa un progenitor puede decidir torturar a su progenie. Además, no creo que todo tenga que ser literalmente exacto como lo recuerda para que su TID sea real y al menos una fracción grande de su relato sea plausible.
En fin, leí esto por dos motivos; justo porque es una de las memorias más criticadas por los promotores de falsas memorias y escépticos del TID, y porque Chris Costner Sizemore es mencionada. El encuentro con Chris fue bonito, aunque sí me dolió el capacitismo interno que Chris manifiesta con la "normalidad".
Ah! Por cierto, se supone que este libro es criticado porque Jeni "recuperó memorias por hipnosis" pero en realidad la hipnosis fue introducida mucho después de que surgieran ya varios recuerdos, al menos así está narrado. Además de que la mayoría de recuerdos que surgen no sucedieron durante hipnosis.

[Spencer · Rating 1 out of 5]

not nonfiction, save yourself the time. talks about magical satanic rituals that actually come to fruition, seeing physical demons, and was published at the height of the satanic panic

[Gunzz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! I couldn't put it down. When at work all i could think about was going home to immurse myself and serveral more chapters. This books is a great insight to MPD that everyone should understand. The extent of abuse that one person can take, emotonally and physically, with the help of the mind can truely astound you. If you have read sybil please know that this is a much easier read. The book was written in a very well thought out methodical way to allow you to understand the alters, when they existed, for what reason and ultimately how they intergrated.

[Astrid Yrigollen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the heaviest books I have ever read.I had to stop and give myself a emotional break from it since it was giving me nightmares. When I picked it up again and forced myself through it I finished it with a sigh of relief.
While I actually have met a victim of satanic abuse that had a severe personality disorder, you cannot help but to be amazed at the way the brain attempts to shield a person who has suffered abuse.
I was actually nervous while reading this book ( maybe because of the links to satanism in the book) but it lasted for a few days after I was finished.

[Dale Stonehouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who doubt the veracity of these events because one personality should have the same physical body characteristics as another: they each have distinct voices; some change hair color; there have even been examples of women whose breast size changed with the personality! These things are difficult to accept, but as someone who has been around DID for most of my life, the changes are real and denial is a defense mechanism, understandable but false.

[Barbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

what can I say ... this is the sickest book I have read ever, so far. I cant even begin to imagine .... Once u get her full back story, u realize she had to fragment into different people. only reason y she was still alive ...

[Larissa]

It's so hard to rate this book. I read it on a suggestion almost 10 years ago, and it was heart wrenching, I probably cried through the majority. I couldn't put it down hoping for a happily ever after, but left with disappointment but also hope at the end.

[Anastacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so I am currently reading the book and it is one of the best book I have ever read.

[Melissa Carnival · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read about a case of multiple personalities with its roots in Satanic ritual abuse.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly haunting and difficult read - especially for those of us with children. Can imagine most people not being able to finish, and others bouncing right off it thinking it not possible to have lived such a cruel and abusive childhood. People seem to have trouble believing in Satanic groups/rituals despite the huge amount of literature, documentation, open admission, and independent corroboration of such groups existing. I don't blame people for wanting to live in a world where this stuff doesn't exist.

Spencer tackles the life of Jenny - an early documented case of multiple personality - as she fractures from one into many through her incredibly abusive upbringing as a method for coping with the cruelty. Jenny's therapy process is perhaps the most interesting part of the book as her personalities are slowly reintegrated. Truly fascinating book and a cause to ponder the implications for human consciousness.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book years ago. It is very well written. I give it a 3 to make you aware that it is a hard read, emotionally. It has severe child abuse. It is one of the few books I almost choose to not finish but decided I needed to In order to have closure.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly one of the most interesting, disturbing, gut wrenching and informative books I’ve ever read. The combination of learning about her dysfunctional upbringing along with seeing the therapeutic process for her recovery, as a clinician was invaluable. A few concepts were out of date but overall an excellent and gripping read. [TW for literally everything]

[Diane Boudrias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite an interesting story!!!

[Ashleigh Chase]

Read this back when I was younger, I’ll try remember roughly the year and update soon

[A.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fascinating look into Jenny Walters' multifaceted personalities created to deal with the abuse of her mother and being raised in a satanic cult held me both parts spellbound and horrified. It's more a story of her brave fight to regain mental health and oneness.

[Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so intense. I read it probably 6 or 7 years ago and it still sticks in my mind like I read it yesterday. Note to readers: have tissues handy because you WILL cry.

[Jessica G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of sad and surprising. Good book overall.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd love to re-read this one again. I read it probably close to 20 years ago and remember it to be heartbreaking and chilling account of a child's mind splitting apart to cope with severe stress.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if this is all true or not. There's so much controversy over MPD but I thought this was a good book.

[Bethea Schnuit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second time reading this book- and it was just as riveting the second time around. The book is phenomenal. Jenny's story is devastating.

[Patricia Kaniasty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrible brutality. It's amazing that this child survived at all. I just can't understand why people would do such things. Scary!

[Rainylrclark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story stuck with me for years. I first read this as an early teen and then again more than 10 years later. Sad, horrifying, and painful I couldn't help but feel with Jenny throughout this story.

[Lysa Fisk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!