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The Big Dark: A Memoir of Survival, Silence, and Finally, a Voice
476 pages, Paperback
Published July 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 6, 2025
In this book, she is finally heard, and heard loud and clear. Difficult to understand that as a child, the seed of unworthiness was planted. Not washing dishes properly at the age of five got to me. I’m reading this book because as a mature married woman I always had my Jack. I never had a reason to search for Mike. I’m reading this book because I never had the opportunity to read a memoir about a depraved partner or spouse until now, and if for some reason, I find myself in the presence of a battered and abused woman this would help me to help her.
I appreciated the simplicity of the writing and the thought provoking moments. This memoir is very descriptive, some of the writing was repetitive. For this reason, I feel the writing of this memoir could have been shorter.
In her memoir, I felt she was always hesitating for fear of retribution. The flow and the events of her 30 odd years of marriage were so raw and hard to imagine, from her talks about her pets, the struggles with finances, the struggles of her husband always whining, and that it was always about him and never her. She carried her 30 years of pain with grace and dignity because of her family.
I felt I was trapped in her world, emotionally traumatized. She writes in her book “listen to your intuition”, unfortunate how it took her 30 odd years to listen and take her own advice.
This book evoked both sadness and anger. I believe that this young lady was brave to write her story no matter how personal and embarrassing it may have been for her. This memoir is influential to anyone going through the same abuse. A definite must read.
One of her quotes in the book that I will always remember is
“Go away and survive and thrive or stay and die”
I appreciated the simplicity of the writing and the thought provoking moments. This memoir is very descriptive, some of the writing was repetitive. For this reason, I feel the writing of this memoir could have been shorter.
In her memoir, I felt she was always hesitating for fear of retribution. The flow and the events of her 30 odd years of marriage were so raw and hard to imagine, from her talks about her pets, the struggles with finances, the struggles of her husband always whining, and that it was always about him and never her. She carried her 30 years of pain with grace and dignity because of her family.
I felt I was trapped in her world, emotionally traumatized. She writes in her book “listen to your intuition”, unfortunate how it took her 30 odd years to listen and take her own advice.
This book evoked both sadness and anger. I believe that this young lady was brave to write her story no matter how personal and embarrassing it may have been for her. This memoir is influential to anyone going through the same abuse. A definite must read.
One of her quotes in the book that I will always remember is
“Go away and survive and thrive or stay and die”
August 2, 2025
Raw, emotional, and incredibly powerful, I could not put this book down. There were times where my own emotions overwhelmed me and I had to take a break, but I could not stop reading until I finished it. The author writes as though she is speaking directly to you, and she brings you along with her on her journey of abuse, trauma, and eventual freedom. I hope this book helps others find their power and their peace. It is a deeply moving read and I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews