Agnes: A childhood betrayed and reclaimed

by Judy King

After a 30-year absence Agnes is returning to Australia, the country of her birth, at the request of her aging, narcissistic mother. Reluctant as she is to return, having undergone a long period of psychotherapy she now entertains a hope that burning questions will be answered, haunting mysteries solved, and buried memories encouraged into the light. Something has blighted her life since childhood. Something has cast a long shadow over her existence, affecting her ability to grasp at life fully, to develop sustained relationships and to appreciate her own sense of self-worth.




In a leafy suburb of Sydney, a chance meeting in front of her early childhood home resurrects memories of a traumatic event. This represents the moment young Agnes starts to realise, and repress, feelings of confusion, cruelty and alienation from those who should love her the most.  Agnes - A childhood betrayed and reclaimed  is the revelatory, true account of one woman's determination to grapple with - and heal - the ills that have beset her past.




As the missing pieces of the family puzzle gradually fall into place this brave woman's search for the truth is vindicated. Decades of mental health challenges, from amnesia to acquired dyslexia to self-limiting thoughts are ultimately overcome, and an irrepressible

spirit released.

Genres: Nonfiction

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2024

About the author

Judy King grew up in Sydney Australia. After a troubled beginning, she emerged in the nineteen sixties to establish a successful Real Estate and property development business in Paddington. Selling up to travel the world, she settled with her husband for a year in London, where she divided her time between working in an antique shop in King's Road selling antique scientific instruments and attending an art school in Lambeth. On the strength of her art work in London, she was accepted back in Sydney into a two year ceramics course at the Sydney College of the Arts.

Judy and her husband divorced after the birth of their son in 1976. More recently she has divided her time between making art and renovating old houses in Mallorca. She currently lives in Soller in an old stone house she renovated with an orchard behind. A walker all her life, her greatest joy is to follow the donkey paths up into the mountains that surround the valley she lives in.

Reviews

[Kadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the book, you wish someone would step in and protect Agnes from her toxic family and environment. But the more the story progresses, the more you realize that Agnes herself, despite all the setbacks, keeps getting back up and moving on with her life, until she finally finds the strength to face the demons of her past.
As well as a gripping story, this book is also beautifully written. You can feel the heat, the dust, the underlying emotions with just a few carefully chosen words. A great book and highly recommended.

[Sarah Newton-John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewer: Sarah Newton-John (Upwork) BA (Hons), Grad Dip Librarianship

This compelling fictional memoir is an astonishing blend of lively, sophisticated human observation and harrowing psychological hardship. With intelligence and sensitivity, the author reveals shocking themes in her family: childhood abuse, reluctant adoption and adult hypocrisy among other concerns, sprinkled with joyous moments of liberation, such as with her diving hobby and summer jobs. The story of Agnes is shaped from a number of retrospective angles, covering the end of a second marriage, a resilient faith, newfound creativity with words and soulful friendships.
Our heroine is an Australian, now a Spanish resident, and the book spans 60 years of her life within (and apart from) her dysfunctional family. You may think many families might be described as “dysfunctional” but as Agnes, aged 62, retraces her steps to discover the truth behind her teenage amnesia and adult emotional patterns, the Keen family will be set apart, on the far end of the spectrum of dysfunction.

With two brothers, neither of whom are kindred spirits, Agnes grows up on Sydney’s well to do North Shore with the guilt of a fatal accident on her conscience, blamed by her “monster” negligent mother. Relationships with a series of “other” families figure in her young life and she is able to form some important friendships with kids, teachers and parents until her family spoils things again. Agnes has low self-esteem as a consequence of the neglect and bullying she receives at home. There is, however, the heartbeat of a strong, sensible and thankfully rebellious woman behind the vulnerability and eagerness to please.

Agnes experiences the theatre and acting, modelling in commercials as a bonny redhead, and a period of nursing where she encounters both positive and negative personalities. She finds herself in real estate and has the chutzpah to take risks that pay off. She builds herself financial security and obviously shines in her professional life where her honesty and drive are valued.
Agnes will inspire your admiration and affection as she navigates school, work, aunts, uncles, nuns and priests to find her voice and bring herself back Down Under on a journey to heal from a highly charged and often painful upbringing. She goes from being semi-literate and stuttering due to her emotional states to finding fluid self-expression. The heartbreaking description of the nightmare in which she loses her voice as a child will stay with me forever.

[Carol Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging and beautifully written novel tracing a woman’s journey to heal the present and future by uncovering the truths of her childhood and her family.
The sense of place and time is wonderful. You are there with Agnes in 50s and 60s Australia as her past is gradually revealed to her.
This is a difficult yet at the same time a very rewarding read. Agnes dominant mother is a difficult and narcissistic woman, her father uncaring and absent, at least in spirit. The diverse people Agnes meets and ‘adopts’ help her survive her difficult youth.
An important novel which tells of Agnes survival despite growing up in such difficult circumstances. Yet at the same time it is written with a light and sometimes humorous touch and you are filled with hope for Agnes’s future!

[Porscia Lam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story contained within these pages is tragic, but the writing is a triumph. It was like a quieter version of Tara Westover's Educated. Towards the middle of the book I was tempted to challenge the authors version of events, due to the sheer magnitude of deception and hardship that she faced. However, if you are willing to let the writing just wash over you it is a very good, though melancholic, read.

My main difficulty with this book was the number of minor characters - keeping on top of them did detract a little from the reading. I think for simplicity's sake the author should have blended them into a few representative characters.

I recommend this book. It was a story worthy of being told - 4.5 stars.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a masterfully crafted narrative, seamlessly transitioning between present and past. Some readers will likely connect with the themes of family dysfunction and mistreatment, finding solace in knowing they are not alone in their experiences. What truly stands out is Agnes’s breathtaking resilience and determination to move forward. Her courageous reflection on the past allows her to uncover and understand the “what” and “why” of her journey.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written story about a brave woman and her amazing life. A story of triumph against all odds, easy to read and engaging. I loved reading about how Sydney was when she was young.

[Don Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a powerful and, at times, frighteningly horrific story of the author's life. A brilliant read.