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Dirty Old Man
"Monsters do exist, though many parents can't see them. I knew one called Bernie. He groomed me and led me away from home."
It's been all over the news lately. Teenagers running away from home. Groomed and snatched from the nest by predators, before they get chance to spread their wings.
Regardless of culture or social class, it's happening everywhere; online, in schools, clubs and societies.
It happened to me, Moll.
This is my true story, a harrowing account of my stolen youth, and my journey to take it back. A story of the ones who overlooked my situation, and a story dedicated to those who made a difference to my life.
I lived in that squalid mobile home for two and a half years with my abuser. I even married him because I felt I had no way out.
From the mind games of my father, to the open arms of Bernie, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I was helpless for a short time, but never hopeless.
It's been all over the news lately. Teenagers running away from home. Groomed and snatched from the nest by predators, before they get chance to spread their wings.
Regardless of culture or social class, it's happening everywhere; online, in schools, clubs and societies.
It happened to me, Moll.
This is my true story, a harrowing account of my stolen youth, and my journey to take it back. A story of the ones who overlooked my situation, and a story dedicated to those who made a difference to my life.
I lived in that squalid mobile home for two and a half years with my abuser. I even married him because I felt I had no way out.
From the mind games of my father, to the open arms of Bernie, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I was helpless for a short time, but never hopeless.
262 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
627 people are currently reading
1688 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
October 9, 2013
It's very rare for me to read a book in one sitting especially deep into the night and early hours of the morning, but this one had me hooked and the pace defied real-time.
Not only is it a remarkable and jaw dropping story, that should never have been possible to happen in this day and age, but it shows the reader how and why it all came about and was concluded without actually explaining it. It's all there embedded inside an incredible girl's recollection and insight of what and why she was going through.
To those readers who comment like, 'I can't understand why she didn't tell the police or why she didn't run away,' please read this story. You will be enlightened by this author's insight into this world. You will see her reasoning and logic as it waits for the right time. You will commend her for her strength when she finally flips.
So many people endure abuse for far too long into their adult lives. For some, their whole lives and others it takes their lives. I am in awe that this girl broke away so quickly. It may have seemed like an eternity at the time, but for someone so young to fight back and escape is a credit to her strength of character.
At no point in this story did I read cries for pity or feel the need to rescue an unfortunate broken soul. Something about Moll was stronger than those around her, those abusing her. She dealt with it the best way she could at the time and it's retold to the reader with the fear and anger she would have experienced back then. There are no pleas for sympathy.
The saddest part of this story is human selfishness. Those she grew up with, school teachers, neighbours, everybody around her. All closed their eyes - all turned their backs - all stuck their heads in the sand cos it wasn't their problem and they didn't want to get involved. Are you one of those people?
Not only is it a remarkable and jaw dropping story, that should never have been possible to happen in this day and age, but it shows the reader how and why it all came about and was concluded without actually explaining it. It's all there embedded inside an incredible girl's recollection and insight of what and why she was going through.
To those readers who comment like, 'I can't understand why she didn't tell the police or why she didn't run away,' please read this story. You will be enlightened by this author's insight into this world. You will see her reasoning and logic as it waits for the right time. You will commend her for her strength when she finally flips.
So many people endure abuse for far too long into their adult lives. For some, their whole lives and others it takes their lives. I am in awe that this girl broke away so quickly. It may have seemed like an eternity at the time, but for someone so young to fight back and escape is a credit to her strength of character.
At no point in this story did I read cries for pity or feel the need to rescue an unfortunate broken soul. Something about Moll was stronger than those around her, those abusing her. She dealt with it the best way she could at the time and it's retold to the reader with the fear and anger she would have experienced back then. There are no pleas for sympathy.
The saddest part of this story is human selfishness. Those she grew up with, school teachers, neighbours, everybody around her. All closed their eyes - all turned their backs - all stuck their heads in the sand cos it wasn't their problem and they didn't want to get involved. Are you one of those people?
May 21, 2016
What an odd story.
I had a hard time reading this book. Moll came across as a willful brat as a child, and her reasons for leaving her family came across as more stubborn than desperate. Yes, she was neglected and mostly psychologically abused by her parents, but many of us have been through worse and didn't run off with a weird old pedophile.
The only saving graces for me were that the book was short and cheap.
I had a hard time reading this book. Moll came across as a willful brat as a child, and her reasons for leaving her family came across as more stubborn than desperate. Yes, she was neglected and mostly psychologically abused by her parents, but many of us have been through worse and didn't run off with a weird old pedophile.
The only saving graces for me were that the book was short and cheap.
September 29, 2013
A story told by the victim of an abusive family and a horrible man called Bernie. Stories like this are of real benefit to the writer, helping them to understand what has happened to them, and helping them to overcome it.
Although written with care, I thought 'Dirty Old Man' rather poorly organised and the writing is not the best. It is still a story told from the heart, and as such, it has merit.
Although written with care, I thought 'Dirty Old Man' rather poorly organised and the writing is not the best. It is still a story told from the heart, and as such, it has merit.
September 20, 2017
Interesting read - I found that I read this book quickly. Looking forward to meeting the author!
December 17, 2016
This is a sad and annoying book. It's sad because this young lady had a horrible start in life. But, it's annoying because we only get one side of the story, so we have to take Mill's word for everything.
What, we learn is that her parents are negligent. But, we don't really understand why she is the butt of all the abuse from both parents and siblings. I think, it might be because she comes across as a horrible little brat. Her, father sounds like a real lazy piece of work and her mother sounds like a dutiful wife and poor mother to at least this one child. Also, throughout the book we find Moll destroying friendly relationships but claiming she is doing it to protect her friends. She, is a real martyr or that's what she would like us to believe.
I am sure that she was a sexual victim, but also I am sure that to begin with she willingly walked that path. The only really good thing to come from this book is finally she got the strength to call her family to rescue her and seems to have begun a new chapter in her life. I hope it's better than the first few chapters.
What, we learn is that her parents are negligent. But, we don't really understand why she is the butt of all the abuse from both parents and siblings. I think, it might be because she comes across as a horrible little brat. Her, father sounds like a real lazy piece of work and her mother sounds like a dutiful wife and poor mother to at least this one child. Also, throughout the book we find Moll destroying friendly relationships but claiming she is doing it to protect her friends. She, is a real martyr or that's what she would like us to believe.
I am sure that she was a sexual victim, but also I am sure that to begin with she willingly walked that path. The only really good thing to come from this book is finally she got the strength to call her family to rescue her and seems to have begun a new chapter in her life. I hope it's better than the first few chapters.
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January 30, 2018Just awful
I feel guilty about how strongly I disliked this book but it had no flow and the awful grammar and lack of editing took more of my attention than the actual story which seemed to jump around. There was pages and pages of filler about the minutiae of Moll s school days which only served to make the heroine even less endearing. I'm sorry she had a shit time obviously and its great she's not a 'typical' victim in that she's feisty but its difficult to understand how and why her situation occurred and why no one did anything to help since her vulnerability isn't portrayed well.
Annoyingly wasted time on this book, just glad I didn't spend money on it.
I feel guilty about how strongly I disliked this book but it had no flow and the awful grammar and lack of editing took more of my attention than the actual story which seemed to jump around. There was pages and pages of filler about the minutiae of Moll s school days which only served to make the heroine even less endearing. I'm sorry she had a shit time obviously and its great she's not a 'typical' victim in that she's feisty but its difficult to understand how and why her situation occurred and why no one did anything to help since her vulnerability isn't portrayed well.
Annoyingly wasted time on this book, just glad I didn't spend money on it.
September 30, 2013
I downloaded this when it was free on Amazon. How the author has been through all of this and has been able to write this book is beyond me.
Such a harrowing tale though I enjoyed the ending.
I suppose in that epilogue, there is another books worth of material, maybe she'll write another.
Thank you for a good read.
Such a harrowing tale though I enjoyed the ending.
I suppose in that epilogue, there is another books worth of material, maybe she'll write another.
Thank you for a good read.
June 27, 2014
Obviously written by a young adult. I'm sorry that the author had such a rough life with no adults she could count on, but she could have spent more time editing this book before publishing. There were many, many typos and grammatical errors, words used in wrong places, etc. I did finish reading it although it was hard to get through the poor writing skills.
January 28, 2018
Desperately in need of a proof-read and an edit
This book could be so much better. It’s been terribly edited for starters, and that’s frustrating. The book needs a proof-reader who would first of all find Moll’s ‘voice’ and then get to work on it. I would happily point Moll French in the right direction here if she wants.
If it were me I would immediately dump 40% of the book. The first 10% is good. We find out that Moll, at 15 years of age, has been having a ‘sexual’ relationship with her karate instructor for three years. At this stage, of course, the reader is appalled, and its clear Moll needs support from her family, which she doesn’t get.
“You disgusting tart!” screams her father, and the reader wants to jump into the book and punch him. “You’re disgusting, even your brothers and sisters think so. You’re a disgrace to this family anyway but you’ve gone too far this time, Madam. You’re tearing up this family.”
The child’s been sexually groomed since she was 12 years of age, and her parents are blaming HER for it! Well (spoilers here) they get the karate instructor over to the house, tell him he’s a dirty old man, he acts aloof about it all, AND NOBODY CALLS THE POLICE!
What follows next is pure boredom. Tales of Moll’s school life. And this goes on until half way through the book. I couldn’t care less about a classroom of 15-year-old girls. And it seems to jump about all over the place. One minute she’s being bullied, the next she’s the ringleader in all the classroom trouble. I didn’t get it.
But let’s supposing we could take the first 10% of the book, beat her parents up (both of them), dump the next 40% and then re-write the second half of the book, then we might have a readable story. We don’t want the “juicy details,” nobody wants that, but the reader does want to know exactly what this bloke is putting her through. It can be written tactfully, but will still allow the reader to understand the true horrors of her life with him.
It’s a horrible life she’s forced to lead (spoiler alert), living in a caravan with an abusive pervert, and no family support group, and your heart goes out to her. And (huge spoiler this time) nobody ever calls the police on him! In the end he just moves abroad.
It’s a very unsatisfactory ending. But it’s real life, so what can you say except why the hell didn’t someone call the police!
This book could be so much better. It’s been terribly edited for starters, and that’s frustrating. The book needs a proof-reader who would first of all find Moll’s ‘voice’ and then get to work on it. I would happily point Moll French in the right direction here if she wants.
If it were me I would immediately dump 40% of the book. The first 10% is good. We find out that Moll, at 15 years of age, has been having a ‘sexual’ relationship with her karate instructor for three years. At this stage, of course, the reader is appalled, and its clear Moll needs support from her family, which she doesn’t get.
“You disgusting tart!” screams her father, and the reader wants to jump into the book and punch him. “You’re disgusting, even your brothers and sisters think so. You’re a disgrace to this family anyway but you’ve gone too far this time, Madam. You’re tearing up this family.”
The child’s been sexually groomed since she was 12 years of age, and her parents are blaming HER for it! Well (spoilers here) they get the karate instructor over to the house, tell him he’s a dirty old man, he acts aloof about it all, AND NOBODY CALLS THE POLICE!
What follows next is pure boredom. Tales of Moll’s school life. And this goes on until half way through the book. I couldn’t care less about a classroom of 15-year-old girls. And it seems to jump about all over the place. One minute she’s being bullied, the next she’s the ringleader in all the classroom trouble. I didn’t get it.
But let’s supposing we could take the first 10% of the book, beat her parents up (both of them), dump the next 40% and then re-write the second half of the book, then we might have a readable story. We don’t want the “juicy details,” nobody wants that, but the reader does want to know exactly what this bloke is putting her through. It can be written tactfully, but will still allow the reader to understand the true horrors of her life with him.
It’s a horrible life she’s forced to lead (spoiler alert), living in a caravan with an abusive pervert, and no family support group, and your heart goes out to her. And (huge spoiler this time) nobody ever calls the police on him! In the end he just moves abroad.
It’s a very unsatisfactory ending. But it’s real life, so what can you say except why the hell didn’t someone call the police!
February 18, 2019
This one is really hard to review. Before I was a full 10 pages in I decided to send the book editor a note to complain about the atrocious editing. There were grammar errors, typos … it was just plain BAD. But I could find nothing on Theseus Books. In the end it seems this is a self-published book. For me, the book doesn't ring true, though. I feel a little bad saying that because this book seems like a very personal look into the author's private journal. It's just the journal seems to only have entries from when the author was in a rage, possibly, and leads to a very one dimensional book. I do believe that Moll French has a bad childhood. Traumatic? I'm not sure it quite reached that level. But, I would say Ms. French does need "better" people to surround herself with. I hope she is able to find peace … and a competent editor.
December 10, 2020
All over the place
This book was an OK read, it would be in the middle of a story and then jump to another day/week/month. Did she not have it proof read?
I also found her unlikeable, every single man she talked about in the book she accused of being a pervert and the way she spoke about her sisters looks, I just couldn't like the woman although nobody should have to go through an experience like that. Also she never reported Bernie, but she's OK to write a book about it and charge money for it but he's a predatory paedophile and still out there somewhere probably doing it to other children. I did feel though that she doesn't tell the reader exactly what happened it's more difficult to fully sympathise because we don't know the true extent of what she went through. I just got bad vibes from the writer and wouldn't recommend this book.
This book was an OK read, it would be in the middle of a story and then jump to another day/week/month. Did she not have it proof read?
I also found her unlikeable, every single man she talked about in the book she accused of being a pervert and the way she spoke about her sisters looks, I just couldn't like the woman although nobody should have to go through an experience like that. Also she never reported Bernie, but she's OK to write a book about it and charge money for it but he's a predatory paedophile and still out there somewhere probably doing it to other children. I did feel though that she doesn't tell the reader exactly what happened it's more difficult to fully sympathise because we don't know the true extent of what she went through. I just got bad vibes from the writer and wouldn't recommend this book.
did-not-finish
January 16, 2025I got 70% of the way through this book and each time I went back to it to pick up where I left off I would wonder why I kept going. The things that Moll French experienced are horrific. I am sorry they happened to her. But I can take only so much bad writing. First of all, the title. I almost didn't list it on Goodreads. She could have come up with almost any other title and it would have been better. I understand she felt the need to tell her story. But please, if you are going to self-publish, hire an editor. The publisher is listed as Theseus Books and a web address is given. I tried several times to bring up the site and couldn't.
I'm not wasting any more time on this one. I did skip to the end to see what happened. That's enough.
I'm not wasting any more time on this one. I did skip to the end to see what happened. That's enough.
August 3, 2020
Typically, a book of this nature will have an ulterior motive. Usually along the lines of being insightful to others living a similar situation or circumstance.
I found none of this here. Simply a grammatically lacking story not terribly well explained that jumped around from place to place with no apparent outcome in sight or the willingness to even approach such a mind state.
I am glad the author finally pulled herself out of the hell she was living for quite some time. I really am- yet I do think this could have been a more useful tool to others living with this kind of abuse.
I found none of this here. Simply a grammatically lacking story not terribly well explained that jumped around from place to place with no apparent outcome in sight or the willingness to even approach such a mind state.
I am glad the author finally pulled herself out of the hell she was living for quite some time. I really am- yet I do think this could have been a more useful tool to others living with this kind of abuse.
January 23, 2015
Unbelievable
This was one of the long winded bunch of lying trash I have tried to read in many years. Such a bunch of drivel. People have very few memories from their past. Sounds like carp was added as an after thought to fill up pages. Shame, shame this takes away from people who deserve our compassion and respect.
This was one of the long winded bunch of lying trash I have tried to read in many years. Such a bunch of drivel. People have very few memories from their past. Sounds like carp was added as an after thought to fill up pages. Shame, shame this takes away from people who deserve our compassion and respect.
February 5, 2016
Pass
I didnt care for the book. I read a great deal of this area, but couldn't connect with the main character. It lagged most of the time. The story albeit tragic, could have been condensed greatly. I wouldn't recommend it.
I didnt care for the book. I read a great deal of this area, but couldn't connect with the main character. It lagged most of the time. The story albeit tragic, could have been condensed greatly. I wouldn't recommend it.
July 27, 2024
i had constant state of deja vu when reading this. it was a difficult read due to the nature, but i didn't really enjoy reading it.
August 7, 2014
I won this book on Giveaway , sadly I never received it.
January 21, 2017
Sa
This book was hard to read so much pain..she had trough in her short life.. I wish her all the best
This book was hard to read so much pain..she had trough in her short life.. I wish her all the best
December 18, 2017
Amazing story, very courageous!
I read this entire thing in one sitting because I simply could not put it down! They story was amazing and so painful knowing this actually happened. What courage for the author to tell her story; I applaud this. So many girls go through such horrible trauma and are afraid to talk about it so I am in awe of the courage it takes to speak out and I hope others will read this story and maybe take some of that courage. I give four stars and not five only because I found quite a few grammatical errors throughout the book. Despite this, I found the storytelling compelling and found myself really caring for the author and hoping for her safe escape from the monster who had taken over her life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I would love to learn more about this authors current life and how she is getting along after all that she went through. Thanks for sharing your incredible story with the world. You are one brave lady. Fantastic book. I’m glad I picked it up.
I read this entire thing in one sitting because I simply could not put it down! They story was amazing and so painful knowing this actually happened. What courage for the author to tell her story; I applaud this. So many girls go through such horrible trauma and are afraid to talk about it so I am in awe of the courage it takes to speak out and I hope others will read this story and maybe take some of that courage. I give four stars and not five only because I found quite a few grammatical errors throughout the book. Despite this, I found the storytelling compelling and found myself really caring for the author and hoping for her safe escape from the monster who had taken over her life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I would love to learn more about this authors current life and how she is getting along after all that she went through. Thanks for sharing your incredible story with the world. You are one brave lady. Fantastic book. I’m glad I picked it up.
July 17, 2017
Highly recommend
Extremely honest and emotional story, made me laugh and cry, but more than anything I had a quiet anger throughout. The book is very well written and you don't feel sorry for Moll at all (I don't think she wants sympathy,). The book seems (to me) to be more a part of her healing process and the fact she allows us, as readers, a glimpse of the horror and pain she has been through in her life, shows her continued courage and determination
I hope Moll French continues to be successful and happy with the people she loves around her.
Extremely honest and emotional story, made me laugh and cry, but more than anything I had a quiet anger throughout. The book is very well written and you don't feel sorry for Moll at all (I don't think she wants sympathy,). The book seems (to me) to be more a part of her healing process and the fact she allows us, as readers, a glimpse of the horror and pain she has been through in her life, shows her continued courage and determination
I hope Moll French continues to be successful and happy with the people she loves around her.
January 28, 2018
While this book is shocking in the nitty gritty of abuse.. it tells an important story. One of many that should never remain in shadows but put in the blinding light for everyone to see and begin healing our world one person at a time by billions of the rest.
While this book is shocking with truth of abuse, said truth needs to come out of the shadows and into the blinding light. In that healing light of truth and courage we can heal our world... One person at a time by billions of souls.
While this book is shocking with truth of abuse, said truth needs to come out of the shadows and into the blinding light. In that healing light of truth and courage we can heal our world... One person at a time by billions of souls.
August 28, 2019
The overall story is appalling, literally everyone that was supposed to protect this woman had let her down and fed her to her abuser on a platter. The beginning I had a hard time getting into because it seemed as though she just went on about anything and everything bad that happened, after a few chapters when she did touch on good things that happened and explained there were good moments, it provided a more rounded picture and started to take shape.
As a mother and a woman it was hard to read the level of abuse that she was subjected to by her parents and her abuser.
As a mother and a woman it was hard to read the level of abuse that she was subjected to by her parents and her abuser.
July 15, 2023
“Do I? Do I take this dirty old man to be my awful wedded husband? Do I have a f*cking choice anymore? I thought. Everybody had let me down and contributed in some way to getting to this point”
This book was another reminder that you never know what is going on behind closed doors. While I don’t disagree with alot of the critiques left in reviews for the book — I read in one sitting. I will say the ending itself is short with no feeling of real resolution which leaves me wanting to know where the author is in life now.
This book was another reminder that you never know what is going on behind closed doors. While I don’t disagree with alot of the critiques left in reviews for the book — I read in one sitting. I will say the ending itself is short with no feeling of real resolution which leaves me wanting to know where the author is in life now.
October 23, 2024
Not the best thing I've read!
This story seemed to jump about all over the place and its like it wasn't being told in the right order. Is she home? Has she left? Her parents and siblings hate her but they miss her and want her home or one minute she's a 15 minute walk from her parents house, then it's a 2 hour drive for her dad to get to her. Also the punctuation is all wrong. For eg. Bernie, wanted his tea ready. She, looked at me etc etc. I'm sure the author had a really terrible time with this man but the story would have been more readable had it been better written.
This story seemed to jump about all over the place and its like it wasn't being told in the right order. Is she home? Has she left? Her parents and siblings hate her but they miss her and want her home or one minute she's a 15 minute walk from her parents house, then it's a 2 hour drive for her dad to get to her. Also the punctuation is all wrong. For eg. Bernie, wanted his tea ready. She, looked at me etc etc. I'm sure the author had a really terrible time with this man but the story would have been more readable had it been better written.
September 19, 2017
Brainwashing at its best
This book was very sad. Moll had a hell of a life, from living with her paranoid father to living with an old perverted lunatic. Im glad moll finally snapped out of it and left that deranged old fool... This book I feel could help others that might be in a predicament similar to moll's. You are good person moll and well deserving of all good things life has to offer you. Bravo!! on a book well wrote.
This book was very sad. Moll had a hell of a life, from living with her paranoid father to living with an old perverted lunatic. Im glad moll finally snapped out of it and left that deranged old fool... This book I feel could help others that might be in a predicament similar to moll's. You are good person moll and well deserving of all good things life has to offer you. Bravo!! on a book well wrote.
July 7, 2018
The horrible life this girl went through living with her family (if you can call if a family) is something no one should have to go through. It is no wonder that she ended up in the relationship with Bernie. Of course, this led to even a worse relationship, but I don't want to ruin the book for any new readers. Suffice it to say, my heart broke for this girl. It was very hard to put this book down and I stayed up too late more than once reading it.
October 5, 2017
I was at an author talk with Moll French and was inspired to read this after hearing her speak. This is an honest, heart-felt account of what it was like to be groomed as a child by an adult in a position of trust. Some reviews are judgemental of Moll and her story which says much more about the reviewers than it does about Moll.
July 6, 2021
Amazing story about how a person can be groomed in front of her parents
This story is about a child who felt very unloved by her parents and siblings. She had an abusive father that had an abusive friend. She was discarded. Her life was hell . Too many people suffer from this abuse.
This story is about a child who felt very unloved by her parents and siblings. She had an abusive father that had an abusive friend. She was discarded. Her life was hell . Too many people suffer from this abuse.
April 19, 2022
This needed some help with the editing, but I enjoyed it all the same. My heart goes out to the author for having lived through this. We do the best we can with the circumstances were handed. Shame on the reviews that blame the victim here. She was a CHILD and she needed out of one bad situation but got put in a worse one.
June 16, 2022
started strong and then fizzled out quickly.
In the beginning I was really intrigued by this book, but it quickly fizzled out and turned into very boring recollections of the authors childhood that didn’t really add anything to the main theme of the story. While I feel some pity for the author for going through these terrible things, it may have been good to have an editor.
In the beginning I was really intrigued by this book, but it quickly fizzled out and turned into very boring recollections of the authors childhood that didn’t really add anything to the main theme of the story. While I feel some pity for the author for going through these terrible things, it may have been good to have an editor.
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