Running from the Devil: How I Survived a Stolen Childhood

by Sara Davies

Sara Davies' story is one of abuse, neglect, betrayal, and, ultimately, survival. When Sara was only five years old, her violent father began to sexually abuse her. She suffered in silence for many years, as her father took advantage of her innocence and her mother turned a blind eye to the horrors that were taking place in her own home. It was only when Sara found the courage to tell her mother what had happened that the truth about the trauma and abuse she had suffered came out. In an attempt to rebuild her life, as a teenager, Sara became a model but even this choice was to lead to more misery when she discovered that the agency had been drugging and abusing her. Despite the horrors that Sara has endured, she has survived and, partly by telling her story, has overcome the past to re-build her life.

Genres: Nonfiction

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

I thought it best just to put the synopsis from Running from the Devil here.


Sara Davies spent her whole childhood living in fear. She has known terror that no child should ever know. When she was only five years old her father robbed her of her childhood when he raped her for the first time. For Sara, this was just the beginning of years of torment and terror. Sara finally found the strength to confide in her mother about the terrible things she had been forced to endure. Despite her father being arrested and imprisoned, it would take much more than his punishment for Sara to free herself from the demons that haunted her. Tryng to find the loe and support lacking in her family, Sara sought comfort from strangers an there followed a series of abortive and often abusive relationships. Her determination to be her own person and find independence led her to leave home to work for a modelling agency. This came to a sudden and shocking end when she discovered that the employers in whom she had placed her trust were drugging and abusing her. Desperate to break the cycle of abuse and determined to liberate herself from the past, Sara has found her own kind of peace - having confronted her father about what he put her through, she has laid her ghosts to rest and is now a happy mother and successful writer. This is her heart-rending story.
Sara has now moved on from the past that haunted her for so long and now lives happily with her six children.

http://www.amazon.com/Running-Devil-S...

Reviews

[Felicia A Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book 5 stars not because the writing was stellar, but because it is someone's life story, and you cannot rate someone's life story with a number of stars.

No, the writing was not fabulous, but this woman is not a writer. She is a survivor of extreme sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the hands of the very person, her father, who should have protected her throughout her life.

Sara's father does, indeed, sound like the devil. He was an uneducated, poorly spoken, drinking, drugging, child abusing, brainwashing, womanizing, wife beating, child fucking baby machine who is a really twisted fucker. Though he is guilty of abuse and incest, he is also a victim himself.

While I agree that the fact he is also a victim helped him to think his behavior was normal, at some point, he HAD to have figured out that he was twisted. But no, he didn't, and there is just no excuse.

A general observation....not to speak ill of Sara Davies AT ALL - and her "childhood" was bloody awful and just plain WRONG - but I have noticed that the tone of "voice" of survivors of this type of thing (abuse, incest, etc.) and the ones who write books about their experience is often the same.

While they are survivors of all things horrible and are to be praised for making it out alive, most of the ones who recount the tales in books have a "tone" that oozes through their writing. It's one of superiority, self congratulation, redemption, and woe. Even when they have gotten some therapy and dealt with their situation(s), that tone never really goes away.

And it's really, really sad to read.

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a little trouble with the way she wrote at first, but once I was into her life story it was no longer a problem. She didn't make her whole story about the abuse she suffered, but also included the after effects, and how she came to a sort of healing.
Sara Davies has been through a lot, and it just shows how brave she is for sharing her story in the hopes that it might help someone know they are not alone, and that healing is possible.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

The rating of 2/5 stars is not a reflection of the author's story itself, because I do not believe I can give a rating on someone's personal anguish. However, the rating is due to the writing itself. I understand that the author is not a writer. My problem is the repetitiveness and choppy, all over the place type of style that could easily have been fixed by a decent editor combing through. This again is not a reflection of the story itself, which I definitely feel moved by. I just found it a struggle to get through when the plot moved all over, backwards and forwards and present day; this book could have been better had the structure been more sufficient.

[Sara Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you all for your kind comments on my book. Felicia you were spot on I'm not an author I just had a story to tell. I hope my story has helped to give some understanding to others.

All best
Sara

[Milly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apart from a few bits when I got confused about timing and who was who I thought this book was good.
What a terrific story! I truly hated Sara's parents and some men she met. I was angry at how she got pregnant so many times, she was so naive but then can you really blame her? Her life was absolutely awful. She was let down by so many people in her life.
I'm glad she has her children who truly love her and how she broke the circle of abuse. What a brave woman!

[Amanda J Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking..

A gripping yet disturbing read of abuse, pain, suffering and the most utter betrayal. A very strong woman came out of that but with the scars to prove it no doubt.

[Iola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a raw, powerful and highly emotional book. I read it in one sitting. Couldn't put it down. Puts my own story to shame really, although I too have been told I should write a book. I just don't have the memories that this lady has. I see that as a blessing and a curse.

[Aliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart breaking.

[Hannah Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a raw, real memoir of her life. Heartbreaking and motivating at the same time.

[Sarah Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaking but fantastic read

[Gail murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping will written what Sara has gone through is sad and shocking. I hope her dad dies of a painful death

[Tricia Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to read but also hard to put down. What she endured throughout her life is heartbreaking.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was brutally honest and very heart wrenching. Sarah Davies tells the story of her life from a young girl up to her in present time. I recommend this book for people to read because its based on events that happen in the real world.

[Sarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2 days. Living proof that the cycle of child abuse can be broken. This is one of the best books i have read. This lady is truly inspirational and i have nothing but total admiration and respect for her. Her children are so lucky to have her. x

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a brave lady the author is retelling her story. So many male realatives made her life hell from an early age that I'm amazed she has turned out so well.

[Linda Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I myself thought this book was a true inspiration and courage from Sara it had me in tears at times as I reall got lost in her torment brilliant brilliant book

[Peter Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book.
Very sad account of abuse, but so pleased the author wrote this book...so pleased the author can now say, 'I'm a survivor!'
A book I recommend reading

[Lynne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this for research but it was not one I would have chosen.

[Christina Rider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I love the honesty in this read. No sugar coating just point blank how it us. Most people don't realize how often these tragedies occur