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The Shift: A Memoir
YOUR MIND MAY BETRAY YOU BUT THE HEART NEVER LIES
Grace, a young woman suffering from sexual and violent intrusive thoughts, as well as recurrent urinary tract infections, feels both mentally and physically broken. It’s a relief when she’s diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder because it means she’s not going crazy like she’d suspected.
While working on managing her condition, her feelings towards her husband become increasingly platonic, and after battling with her head for so long, the culmination of everything gets too much.
On a whim, with her eyes closed, Grace spins a plastic globe that she’s had since childhood and her finger lands on South America. She sets off for Argentina, leaving behind her job, husband, stepson, Labrador, and their home near the beach.
In five months, while exploring 14 countries, Grace has exotic adventures and love affairs, learning to trust herself again in the process. Finally, she thinks she knows who she is and what she wants, but returning home to Australia, to reality, puts this to the test.
Part travel memoir, part spiritual guide, and part erotica, The Shift is a wide-ranging personal odyssey.
Praise for The Shift.
"I'm a true believer in the power of the personal narrative as a way of connecting us. For some of us, stories are our church, and this book is a great example of that. From the mental health journey to the steamy romance, it checks all the boxes as a powerfully-told story that will stay with me." - Kevin, USA.
"The Shift is a raw, relatable account of the author’s struggles and I can’t imagine what she went through to stay totally sane." - Darya, Estonia.
"The Shift has a similar vibe to Wild by Cheryl Strayed and Wine Girl by Victoria James with a dash of Fifty Shades." - Rebecca, Canada.
"If you want to get lost between words on the page, this memoir by Dana Da Silva is for you. Her writing style captivates and inspires while taking you on a journey that feels familiar and relatable. Diving deep into life’s big topics, Dana is determined to create a place of safety where you know you’re not the only one. This book illuminates the light we all possess, if you are brave enough to look towards it." - Kacy, Australia.
"A debut memoir that takes you on a journey with a young woman who leaves the constructs of her ordinary life and gets a surprising result. It teaches us how to be honest with ourselves, and to allow more space for vulnerability in our lives." - Julia, Australia.
Grace, a young woman suffering from sexual and violent intrusive thoughts, as well as recurrent urinary tract infections, feels both mentally and physically broken. It’s a relief when she’s diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder because it means she’s not going crazy like she’d suspected.
While working on managing her condition, her feelings towards her husband become increasingly platonic, and after battling with her head for so long, the culmination of everything gets too much.
On a whim, with her eyes closed, Grace spins a plastic globe that she’s had since childhood and her finger lands on South America. She sets off for Argentina, leaving behind her job, husband, stepson, Labrador, and their home near the beach.
In five months, while exploring 14 countries, Grace has exotic adventures and love affairs, learning to trust herself again in the process. Finally, she thinks she knows who she is and what she wants, but returning home to Australia, to reality, puts this to the test.
Part travel memoir, part spiritual guide, and part erotica, The Shift is a wide-ranging personal odyssey.
Praise for The Shift.
"I'm a true believer in the power of the personal narrative as a way of connecting us. For some of us, stories are our church, and this book is a great example of that. From the mental health journey to the steamy romance, it checks all the boxes as a powerfully-told story that will stay with me." - Kevin, USA.
"The Shift is a raw, relatable account of the author’s struggles and I can’t imagine what she went through to stay totally sane." - Darya, Estonia.
"The Shift has a similar vibe to Wild by Cheryl Strayed and Wine Girl by Victoria James with a dash of Fifty Shades." - Rebecca, Canada.
"If you want to get lost between words on the page, this memoir by Dana Da Silva is for you. Her writing style captivates and inspires while taking you on a journey that feels familiar and relatable. Diving deep into life’s big topics, Dana is determined to create a place of safety where you know you’re not the only one. This book illuminates the light we all possess, if you are brave enough to look towards it." - Kacy, Australia.
"A debut memoir that takes you on a journey with a young woman who leaves the constructs of her ordinary life and gets a surprising result. It teaches us how to be honest with ourselves, and to allow more space for vulnerability in our lives." - Julia, Australia.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 9, 2024
6 people are currently reading
898 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 12, 2024
It is very affirming to see so many Australian women writers continuing to produce great work, especially as a debut. It is exciting to witness the bright young women who embrace the opportunity to tell their stories with complete openness. I inhale memoirs, I love human stories therefore this was a great match for me.
This is Grace’s story. Embarking on an emotional and sudden choice to leave a life behind, destination unplanned. A random choice, a tumultuous farewell. Initially the author’s OCD and oppressive intrusive violent thoughts are discussed, which have taken over a young woman’s life in an extreme way. Added to this is a physical ailment equally as oppressive.
Always searching for answers both emotionally and physically, her journey morphs into a spiritual odyssey. Grace is a woman who needs answers, and her story in seeking professional and spiritual help is testament to a special tenacity.
Written with an unabashed honesty, the author is unafraid to talk about the hard stuff, topics unspoken, themes mostly unspoken of.
When I see similarities to true stories, I am prone to introspection, and this was my experience with The Shift. Dana has eschewed the secrecy in hard topics, those which are not spoken aloud, eroticism, sexual exploration. I found the link between OCD and gratification in new relationships compelling, Grace’s story is very much a discovery process. This was a journey I enjoyed taking.
The Shift is not a light telling it is full of deep reflection, but conversely overflowing with wild abandon. Dana’s writing is conversational and accessible, I enjoy this style, which teased apart the heavy themes – I enjoyed the contrast. She moseyed around, with shades of a child playing freely, while diving deeply into what it is she really wants in life. To be brave and to not necessarily follow the way of societal expectation. And she is funny, without trying to be.
..exploring their nooks and crannies. Anna and I had a brain fart of an idea..
When the opposition scored it wounded him, as though his balls were in a blender.
These were the moments I sensed the author’s true self, the kind empathetic soul: He shook my hand, because that was the kind of man he was, and within minutes, I knew he worked in finance, was somewhat nerdy, and loved to travel. I wanted to throw my arms around him and squeeze.
The Shift is genuine and unique, I held onto this with particular interest after meeting the author at a book launch and I was not disappointed. Because we do not all follow the path most taken.
Thank you Dana, for my eCopy to read and review, in the end I was able to hold the physical book in my hand after having it added to my work library!
This is Grace’s story. Embarking on an emotional and sudden choice to leave a life behind, destination unplanned. A random choice, a tumultuous farewell. Initially the author’s OCD and oppressive intrusive violent thoughts are discussed, which have taken over a young woman’s life in an extreme way. Added to this is a physical ailment equally as oppressive.
Always searching for answers both emotionally and physically, her journey morphs into a spiritual odyssey. Grace is a woman who needs answers, and her story in seeking professional and spiritual help is testament to a special tenacity.
Written with an unabashed honesty, the author is unafraid to talk about the hard stuff, topics unspoken, themes mostly unspoken of.
When I see similarities to true stories, I am prone to introspection, and this was my experience with The Shift. Dana has eschewed the secrecy in hard topics, those which are not spoken aloud, eroticism, sexual exploration. I found the link between OCD and gratification in new relationships compelling, Grace’s story is very much a discovery process. This was a journey I enjoyed taking.
The Shift is not a light telling it is full of deep reflection, but conversely overflowing with wild abandon. Dana’s writing is conversational and accessible, I enjoy this style, which teased apart the heavy themes – I enjoyed the contrast. She moseyed around, with shades of a child playing freely, while diving deeply into what it is she really wants in life. To be brave and to not necessarily follow the way of societal expectation. And she is funny, without trying to be.
..exploring their nooks and crannies. Anna and I had a brain fart of an idea..
When the opposition scored it wounded him, as though his balls were in a blender.
These were the moments I sensed the author’s true self, the kind empathetic soul: He shook my hand, because that was the kind of man he was, and within minutes, I knew he worked in finance, was somewhat nerdy, and loved to travel. I wanted to throw my arms around him and squeeze.
The Shift is genuine and unique, I held onto this with particular interest after meeting the author at a book launch and I was not disappointed. Because we do not all follow the path most taken.
Thank you Dana, for my eCopy to read and review, in the end I was able to hold the physical book in my hand after having it added to my work library!
April 27, 2024
What a crazy ride and a relatable and exciting journey for those in a similar era of life through solo travelling.
I was itching at the end to see if it all worked out and I believe it did ❤️
I was itching at the end to see if it all worked out and I believe it did ❤️
March 12, 2024
Such a page turner. A book written so well with so much emotion, rawness, and excitement.
April 14, 2024
Absolutely adored this book. So well written
February 19, 2024
I'm a true believer in the power of the personal narrative as a way of connecting us. For some of us, stories are our church, and this book is a great example of that. From the mental health journey to the steamy romance, it checks all the boxes as a powerfully-told story that will stay with me.
May 10, 2024
Goodreads giveaway winner / free book review:
What an adventure!
Kindle e-book on IOS.
Used Spoken content accessibility tool with English Australian female voice Matilda Premium to listen to this book.
What an adventure!
Kindle e-book on IOS.
Used Spoken content accessibility tool with English Australian female voice Matilda Premium to listen to this book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews