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Daddy's Girl
Emancipated long before anybody had heard of it, she escaped her family to save [her] life. The life that is recounted in Daddy's Girl is harrowing, yet the memoir is distinguished by Allen's heroic efforts to rescue and support herself, by herself. This memoir emphasizes - in addition to a commitment not to live life as a "walking wound" - the power of language.
Allen has always believed in the potency of words; she began writing as a child, and used notes to communicate with women she admired. She began writing fiction in order to get Daddy's Girl published, which supports the idea (central to confessional writers), that the self may be transformed by the self-in-writing.
Allen has always believed in the potency of words; she began writing as a child, and used notes to communicate with women she admired. She began writing fiction in order to get Daddy's Girl published, which supports the idea (central to confessional writers), that the self may be transformed by the self-in-writing.
221 pages, Paperback
Published January 7, 2002
17 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Vale Allen
54 books40 followersCharlotte Vale-Allen was born in Toronto and lived in England from 1961 to 1964 where she worked as a television actress and singer. She returned to Toronto briefly, performing as a singer and in cabaret revues until she emigrated to the United States in 1966.
Shortly after her marriage to Walter Allen in 1970 she began writing and sold her first novel Love Life in 1974. Prior to this book's publication she contracted to do a series of paperback originals for Warner Books, with the result that in 1976 three of her books appeared in print.
Her autobiography, the acclaimed Daddy's Girl, was actually the first book she wrote but in 1971 it was deemed too controversial by the editors who read it. It wasn't until 1980, after she'd gained success as a novelist, that the groundbreaking book was finally published.
One of Canada's most successful novelists, with over seven million copies sold of her 30+ novels, Ms. Allen's books have been published in all English-speaking countries, in Braille, and have been translated into more than 20 languages.
In her writing she tries to deal with issues confronting women, being informative while at the same time offering a measure of optimism. "My strongest ability as a writer is to make women real, to take you inside their heads and let you know how they feel, and to make you care about them."
A film buff and an amateur photographer, Allen enjoys foreign travel. She finds cooking and needlework therapeutic, and is a compulsive player of computer Solitaire. The mother of an adult daughter, since 1970 she has made her home in Connecticut.
Shortly after her marriage to Walter Allen in 1970 she began writing and sold her first novel Love Life in 1974. Prior to this book's publication she contracted to do a series of paperback originals for Warner Books, with the result that in 1976 three of her books appeared in print.
Her autobiography, the acclaimed Daddy's Girl, was actually the first book she wrote but in 1971 it was deemed too controversial by the editors who read it. It wasn't until 1980, after she'd gained success as a novelist, that the groundbreaking book was finally published.
One of Canada's most successful novelists, with over seven million copies sold of her 30+ novels, Ms. Allen's books have been published in all English-speaking countries, in Braille, and have been translated into more than 20 languages.
In her writing she tries to deal with issues confronting women, being informative while at the same time offering a measure of optimism. "My strongest ability as a writer is to make women real, to take you inside their heads and let you know how they feel, and to make you care about them."
A film buff and an amateur photographer, Allen enjoys foreign travel. She finds cooking and needlework therapeutic, and is a compulsive player of computer Solitaire. The mother of an adult daughter, since 1970 she has made her home in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 30, 2010
I believe I have read all of Charlotte Vale Allen's books, most of them I read back in the 1980's and 1990's. This book is her memoir about surviving an abusive childhood. Her books are very honest and well written, and stay with you long after you have read them.
September 9, 2008
A great book of someone's sad story and how she became a survivor of sexual abuse. It was heart breaking and hard to read at times but worth reading!
July 7, 2012
Subjects that have been part of our domestic world since the beginning of time have only recently been exposed in the media. Part of this media is literature. Daddy’s Girl by Charlotte Vale Allen is a story based on autobiographical truths and far surpasses that produced by a mere active imagination. Daddy’s Girl was published in 1980 when the subject of incest was still cloaked in the closet of unspeakable subjects.
The book is rather chaotically written (starting in the past and jumping in time continuously without either warning or preamble) which makes it sometimes difficult for the reader to follow. As the story advances and the reader has time to reflect, this chaos becomes more understandable. When one considers this subject so close to and still very emotionally violator to the author, this structural pandemonium is understandable. To me, what makes this story so appalling, horrific and depressing, is realizing that this is (to the outside world) as normal as those next door.
Writing this book has reportedly helped the author to recover the remnants of life and might help or inspire others along this same path. The rest of the readers will help bring this closet subject out of the dark shadows and into the light.
The book is rather chaotically written (starting in the past and jumping in time continuously without either warning or preamble) which makes it sometimes difficult for the reader to follow. As the story advances and the reader has time to reflect, this chaos becomes more understandable. When one considers this subject so close to and still very emotionally violator to the author, this structural pandemonium is understandable. To me, what makes this story so appalling, horrific and depressing, is realizing that this is (to the outside world) as normal as those next door.
Writing this book has reportedly helped the author to recover the remnants of life and might help or inspire others along this same path. The rest of the readers will help bring this closet subject out of the dark shadows and into the light.
June 23, 2009
This book was one long thought with a bunch of "click, click". I would have enjoyed the book a little more if it she didn't keep saying "click, click". Oh that was so annoying!
This is not one of my favorites.
This is not one of my favorites.
December 25, 2014
This must be a reprint of a book that I read back in 1983 while working as a Child Protective Service Worker.
February 12, 2009
Normally I like Charlotte Vale Allen's books. Even though the subject of this book is parental sexual, physical, and mental abuse (so "like" isn't exactly the word I'd use to describe it), Vale's writing is what has always drawn me into her stories. That didn't happen with [Daddy's Girl:]. I think the reason for that is because the book just doesn't have much credibility.
It has to be very difficult to write about the horrendous abusive situations Charlotte Vale Allen describes since she claims these were personal experiences. The problem is that there are so many gaps and holes in her story, it's almost impossible to believe her. Had this book been published today rather than in the 1980's, I believe all kinds of comparisons would be made between Allen and James Frey. In Allen's case, the problem is not embellishments so much as it is setting up event after event that is unrealistic in the details, or outright impossible to believe because the description has no logic.
The subject matter contained in [Daddy's Girl:] is quite intense. I bought this book years ago, and at the time I believed I was simply picking up another Vale Allen book; I didn't realize this was her personal story in which she reveals the terrible offenses her father and her mother inflicted on her until I began reading it. I probably wouldn't have bought the book if I'd known the extent to which the subject matter was handled. However, I do think books like this one can be helpful to people who have suffered similar experiences in their lives. They also serve to educate people so we're more aware of what may be happening to our children. There was no element of connection on any scale I got from reading this story. The blurbs inside the book congratulate Vale Allen for having the courage to tell this story. I'd agree with that sentiment if any part of the book had been plausible.
It has to be very difficult to write about the horrendous abusive situations Charlotte Vale Allen describes since she claims these were personal experiences. The problem is that there are so many gaps and holes in her story, it's almost impossible to believe her. Had this book been published today rather than in the 1980's, I believe all kinds of comparisons would be made between Allen and James Frey. In Allen's case, the problem is not embellishments so much as it is setting up event after event that is unrealistic in the details, or outright impossible to believe because the description has no logic.
The subject matter contained in [Daddy's Girl:] is quite intense. I bought this book years ago, and at the time I believed I was simply picking up another Vale Allen book; I didn't realize this was her personal story in which she reveals the terrible offenses her father and her mother inflicted on her until I began reading it. I probably wouldn't have bought the book if I'd known the extent to which the subject matter was handled. However, I do think books like this one can be helpful to people who have suffered similar experiences in their lives. They also serve to educate people so we're more aware of what may be happening to our children. There was no element of connection on any scale I got from reading this story. The blurbs inside the book congratulate Vale Allen for having the courage to tell this story. I'd agree with that sentiment if any part of the book had been plausible.
April 4, 2009
The true and harrowing story of Ms. Allen's life of incest. Betrayed by her own father who told her to "keep the secret". The suffering and sadness her father placed upon her is totally unforgivable!
A great amount of courage and honesty on Ms. Allen's part for writing her true story is applauded for bringing to lite an all too often tragedy in our society.
A great amount of courage and honesty on Ms. Allen's part for writing her true story is applauded for bringing to lite an all too often tragedy in our society.
June 14, 2009
I am not sure how I came across this book, but I found an autographed copy at a bookstore many many years ago. I have read it and it breaks my heart to read anything that has to do with child abuse. It is good to be aware that not all is as it should be and makes me grateful for the great life I do have with my family and children.
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June 17, 2013Just finished this book, and I'm just so Meh about it. I honestly can't say I liked it, because who "likes" a book about child abuse. I just never developed a connection with the author, so, while I can't say the book was horrible, I can't really say it was good either.
September 24, 2008
I really felt the story deeply. A sad and very real tale of this woman's life.
January 11, 2009
Awful man this father. A must read if you are a fan of this sort of story.
August 12, 2011
Very well written. Explored more of the emotions and after effects than the acts themselves, which was less disturbing, but just disturbing enough.
September 21, 2014
I read this as a young teenager (I might have even been 11), and I have never forgotten the horror within its pages.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews