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Lazarus's Denial
Lazarus's Denial is a searing journey through the scars of extreme poverty and abuse. It is a story about survival, about reaching out for love, and about enduring. Finally, it is a story about rising above the unforgivable to find healing and peace.
There is such a cinematic quality to this memoir that the reader is both absorbed and shaken by the reality of what Linda is sharing. Understanding slowly replaces horror as the reader witnesses mercy being shown to those who had been completely merciless. Growth, wisdom, knowledge, and power evolve from this mercy, and a prison of self-hatred melts away to set the past free at last.
"...Daddy left me alone again in the truck. It was cold and dark, and shadows coiled around the trees like giant snakes. I thought I saw bad things shifting steadily towards me. Trolls or goblins or something even worse. The wind rocked the truck slightly—but maybe it was really a monster rocking the truck and it would grab me and carry me away to kill me. I knew I was supposed to stay quiet, but the screams came all on their own. Screams that wouldn’t stop until I fell into a whimpering half-sleep.
Daddy would be back tomorrow or the next day…I knew that he wouldn’t be back tonight.
I learned to tuck my legs under me to keep from freezing and turn my coat around to breathe warm air into the hood. It was raw survival. But it wasn’t life.
Every scream defined the way I would come to view myself and the world around me. Every terror plunged me further and further into emotional and mental illness..."
“Lazarus’s Denial” is my journey back to life. It is where I come to understand that the brightest and most joyful light can shine out of a broken mind.
There is such a cinematic quality to this memoir that the reader is both absorbed and shaken by the reality of what Linda is sharing. Understanding slowly replaces horror as the reader witnesses mercy being shown to those who had been completely merciless. Growth, wisdom, knowledge, and power evolve from this mercy, and a prison of self-hatred melts away to set the past free at last.
"...Daddy left me alone again in the truck. It was cold and dark, and shadows coiled around the trees like giant snakes. I thought I saw bad things shifting steadily towards me. Trolls or goblins or something even worse. The wind rocked the truck slightly—but maybe it was really a monster rocking the truck and it would grab me and carry me away to kill me. I knew I was supposed to stay quiet, but the screams came all on their own. Screams that wouldn’t stop until I fell into a whimpering half-sleep.
Daddy would be back tomorrow or the next day…I knew that he wouldn’t be back tonight.
I learned to tuck my legs under me to keep from freezing and turn my coat around to breathe warm air into the hood. It was raw survival. But it wasn’t life.
Every scream defined the way I would come to view myself and the world around me. Every terror plunged me further and further into emotional and mental illness..."
“Lazarus’s Denial” is my journey back to life. It is where I come to understand that the brightest and most joyful light can shine out of a broken mind.
332 pages, ebook
First published February 2, 2015
135 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Linda S. Hopkins
1 book5 followers After living in Europe for over 26 years, Linda recently moved back to West Jordan, Utah. She is a professional author/writer/speaker who shares experiences about the people and places that have touched her life in profound ways.
Linda grew up in extreme poverty where ignorance and violence left her both physically and emotionally scarred and feeling isolated. After being pressed into public speaking, however, she discovered that our experiences connect us at a deeply healing level. Experience truly is the language of the heart, and the person with much experience speaks many languages.
Linda is a graduate of Jacksonville University in Psychology and Art.
Linda grew up in extreme poverty where ignorance and violence left her both physically and emotionally scarred and feeling isolated. After being pressed into public speaking, however, she discovered that our experiences connect us at a deeply healing level. Experience truly is the language of the heart, and the person with much experience speaks many languages.
Linda is a graduate of Jacksonville University in Psychology and Art.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 9, 2016
I loved it! For me it has a sense of healing from childhood scars of all kinds. I'm not sure how it does it, but it does. It's the memoir of Linda S. Hopkins and how she has had to overcome childhood trauma. Many parts are told in the voice of the child--making it all the more real.
I have wondered if the sense of healing is accomplished in part by the validation the author gives to the child within us. Opinions?
I have wondered if the sense of healing is accomplished in part by the validation the author gives to the child within us. Opinions?
November 12, 2019
Amazing, so good
This memoir introduced me to someone that really made me feel hate in my heart. The author's mother was one of the most despicable people I've ever read about. I'll never understand child abuse; in all its forms. The author suffered through every kind of trauma you could possibly imagine yet she overcomes and learns to see herself as the jewel she really is as one of God's children. Terrific writing, touching story. I loved it.
This memoir introduced me to someone that really made me feel hate in my heart. The author's mother was one of the most despicable people I've ever read about. I'll never understand child abuse; in all its forms. The author suffered through every kind of trauma you could possibly imagine yet she overcomes and learns to see herself as the jewel she really is as one of God's children. Terrific writing, touching story. I loved it.
April 16, 2020
Thank you for a wonderful book that brought me some knowledge of into my own childhood
I am grateful for such a great read and understanding of god’s love for us all.
I wish you joy and love
I am grateful for such a great read and understanding of god’s love for us all.
I wish you joy and love
March 13, 2021
Life's Challenges
I am glad the author came to some resolution to a childhood and life no one should have to be faced with. The abuse, the neglect, the poverty and the failure of those in places that had to have seen what was going on and looked the other way , I am sad that in America children grow up with these conditions. I hope the author finds happiness and peace. Despite the trials and horrible treatment , she made sure her parents and siblings were not abandoned, even at death. She has a lot of healing yet, if that is possible. Where she ponders if " heaven is all around us but we just don't take time to see it", I personally was left depressed and ponder why someone, somewhere of faith or authority did not rescue her and her siblings from the evil she endured. Not an easy read.
I am glad the author came to some resolution to a childhood and life no one should have to be faced with. The abuse, the neglect, the poverty and the failure of those in places that had to have seen what was going on and looked the other way , I am sad that in America children grow up with these conditions. I hope the author finds happiness and peace. Despite the trials and horrible treatment , she made sure her parents and siblings were not abandoned, even at death. She has a lot of healing yet, if that is possible. Where she ponders if " heaven is all around us but we just don't take time to see it", I personally was left depressed and ponder why someone, somewhere of faith or authority did not rescue her and her siblings from the evil she endured. Not an easy read.
November 14, 2020
I don't know why...
I don't know why I keep reading these true life stories. It's so sad and at times a little uncomfortable to think that a child or children could have parents as awful as this and the children are so forgiving, it just blows my mind, but I laid awake night after night to read what horrible thing would happen next.
The book is very well written and kept me reading well after I should have been sleeping. It hurts my heart to read the things that were happening to this child.
I know that forgiving others is the best way to release the pain and suffering but I don't know if I could ever get passed it.
I don't know why I keep reading these true life stories. It's so sad and at times a little uncomfortable to think that a child or children could have parents as awful as this and the children are so forgiving, it just blows my mind, but I laid awake night after night to read what horrible thing would happen next.
The book is very well written and kept me reading well after I should have been sleeping. It hurts my heart to read the things that were happening to this child.
I know that forgiving others is the best way to release the pain and suffering but I don't know if I could ever get passed it.
August 9, 2020
Both Tragic & Uplifting
The author has done an exquisite job of not only describing her ghastly, abusive upbringing but her long, painful path to healing. In perfect clear, simple prose, Linda Hopkins explains every step of her horrific journey, making it crystal clear how arduous it has been to examine her past -- and why the process will never end. I offer my humblest appreciation to Hopkins for sharing her tragic experience so we can all take inspiration from it.
The author has done an exquisite job of not only describing her ghastly, abusive upbringing but her long, painful path to healing. In perfect clear, simple prose, Linda Hopkins explains every step of her horrific journey, making it crystal clear how arduous it has been to examine her past -- and why the process will never end. I offer my humblest appreciation to Hopkins for sharing her tragic experience so we can all take inspiration from it.
October 26, 2020
Great book!
This book wasn't at all what I expected, but it was quite a captivating read. I am happy that I purchased it. Was so engrossing that I couldn't put it down, and didn't get much work done today because I was so engrossed. This book was easy to read and I didn't notice any grammar errors or typos. Good job, Linda!
This book wasn't at all what I expected, but it was quite a captivating read. I am happy that I purchased it. Was so engrossing that I couldn't put it down, and didn't get much work done today because I was so engrossed. This book was easy to read and I didn't notice any grammar errors or typos. Good job, Linda!
January 4, 2020
Good
Exceptionally well written! This author has a unique writing style.
Very disturbing childhood she survived, would recommend to anyone who likes to read true life, first hand written books.
Exceptionally well written! This author has a unique writing style.
Very disturbing childhood she survived, would recommend to anyone who likes to read true life, first hand written books.
January 25, 2020
Amazing
I thought I went through alot in my childhood. Compared to what Linda lived through, my childhood was fun and games. I have read so many books such as this, but nothing compares to Linda's life. Thank you for sharing your life with me.
I thought I went through alot in my childhood. Compared to what Linda lived through, my childhood was fun and games. I have read so many books such as this, but nothing compares to Linda's life. Thank you for sharing your life with me.
December 19, 2020
DID
I was wondering if any therapists ever brought up.multiple personalities. Maybe it would account for the floating out of your body or not being able to account for lost time. Great book. Thanks.
I was wondering if any therapists ever brought up.multiple personalities. Maybe it would account for the floating out of your body or not being able to account for lost time. Great book. Thanks.
April 15, 2021
This book is extremely eye opening about the culture of the 60s/70s and how many children were probably abused (especially the poor ones).
Linda does such an amazing job telling this raw, awful, inspiring tale. I was hooked and desperately wanted to see her through to the end.
Linda does such an amazing job telling this raw, awful, inspiring tale. I was hooked and desperately wanted to see her through to the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2022
Excellent!
Beautifully written and just an all-around incredible memoir. I found it very holistic and I'm grateful to the author for the strength to write this. If I had only one word to describe it, I would say, "Transcendence."
Beautifully written and just an all-around incredible memoir. I found it very holistic and I'm grateful to the author for the strength to write this. If I had only one word to describe it, I would say, "Transcendence."
April 12, 2020
Excellent Book
This book is extremely well written and I hope the author writes more. I think anything she writes would be a good book.
This book is extremely well written and I hope the author writes more. I think anything she writes would be a good book.
May 29, 2020
Amazing book!
I love memoirs and this is the best one I’ve read. It is beautifully written! I highly recommend this book.
I love memoirs and this is the best one I’ve read. It is beautifully written! I highly recommend this book.
October 27, 2020
Sad
I read the whole book really sad. But what a strong person she is. I highly recommend this book. 100 stars
I read the whole book really sad. But what a strong person she is. I highly recommend this book. 100 stars
February 21, 2022
Beautiful and inspirational read
A memoir is always my favorite genre to read and this one stands out as one of my favorites. So much wisdom to be found in this story. Hard to read some of her profoundly tragic experiences. She writes them with an honest voice.
A memoir is always my favorite genre to read and this one stands out as one of my favorites. So much wisdom to be found in this story. Hard to read some of her profoundly tragic experiences. She writes them with an honest voice.
June 25, 2022
A memoir of extreme poverty and abuse. I read it in TWO days!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews