What do you think?
Rate this book
Saved from Silence: My Journey Back from a Childhood of Abuse
By all appearances we were the perfect family, but the secrets we contained were destroying my life. Though people knew that my father had a propensity to be hard on us, they had no idea the extent of physical, mental, and emotional torture he inflicted. Four years of sexual abuse left me an empty shell of a human being and hopeless of any future beyond the aspects of the bubble. As if that wasn't difficult enough, my desperate attempts at validation from my mother were unsuccessful. I would spend twelve years trying to get her to believe me, and each attempt was met with rejection, blame, and failure. Even my brother coming forward with the tape could not bring her out of her denial. As my secrets continued to torture my mind, I struggled to maintain the faade. I no longer felt an individual identity, and didn't know how, or if, I would ever be able to find myself again. Through years of therapy, love, support, and prayer from others, I was finally able to break free from my silence, confront my abuser, and make myself whole mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
ebook
First published December 30, 2008
239 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 5, 2009
UPDATE! JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED!
I thought everyone would like to hear an update about this story. While it is horrible that this story even exists, Amanda (the author) should be applauded for having the courage to tell it!
Amanda's Dad (Gregory Applegate) waived his right to a jury trial and plead GUILTY in open court on November 19, 2009. At the opening of his hearing, "Saved From Silence" was accepted into evidence by the Prosecution, AND the Defense Attorney, Tonda Curry, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
The Assistant D.A. questioned Amanda about the abuse she suffered from her Father, to which she answered in painful detail WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION AT ALL from Mr. Applegate's Defense. When given the opportunity to cross examine Amanda, Mr. Applegate's Attorney refused to do so. She didn't have ONE QUESTION for Amanda.
Now that I think about it, Mrs Curry NEVER disputed or questioned ANY of the evidence or testimony presented. NONE!
The judge affirmed that there was sufficient evidence to accept Mr. Applegate's guilty pleas, and sentenced him to 50 years in prison for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Plus 20 years for Sexual Assault of a Child. Both charges that he WILLINGLY plead guilty to!
For those of you who are interested in the facts, here is the article from the Tyler Morning Telegraph
Mineola Man Gets 50 Years For Abusing His Daughter
By DAYNA WORCHEL
Staff Writer
A 50-year-old Mineola man was sentenced to 50 years confinement on Thursday on two charges of sexually abusing his daughter in the 1990s.
Gregory Applegate sexually abused his now 27-year-old daughter Amanda Richardson from the time she was 10 until she reached the age of 14.
Applegate faced a range of punishment from two to 20 years and up to a $10,000 fine on the charge of sexual assault of a child, which occurred in 1996, and a possible five to 99 years or life sentence and up to a $10,000 fine on the charge of aggravated sexual assault, which occurred in 1992, Smith County District Attorney Jason Parrish said.
The sentencing took place in the 114th Smith County District Court, with Judge Christi Kennedy presiding.
Richardson, who filed the charges against Applegate in May, has written a book about her experiences called "Saved from Silence: My Journey Back from Childhood Abuse."
Parrish said there is no longer a statute of limitations on charges of child abuse. Applegate will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years, he said.
"She had dealt with a lot of physical and emotional abuse, and we argued for the maximum on both charges," said Parrish.
Defense Attorney Tonda Curry represented Applegate.
http://tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...
I thought everyone would like to hear an update about this story. While it is horrible that this story even exists, Amanda (the author) should be applauded for having the courage to tell it!
Amanda's Dad (Gregory Applegate) waived his right to a jury trial and plead GUILTY in open court on November 19, 2009. At the opening of his hearing, "Saved From Silence" was accepted into evidence by the Prosecution, AND the Defense Attorney, Tonda Curry, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
The Assistant D.A. questioned Amanda about the abuse she suffered from her Father, to which she answered in painful detail WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION AT ALL from Mr. Applegate's Defense. When given the opportunity to cross examine Amanda, Mr. Applegate's Attorney refused to do so. She didn't have ONE QUESTION for Amanda.
Now that I think about it, Mrs Curry NEVER disputed or questioned ANY of the evidence or testimony presented. NONE!
The judge affirmed that there was sufficient evidence to accept Mr. Applegate's guilty pleas, and sentenced him to 50 years in prison for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Plus 20 years for Sexual Assault of a Child. Both charges that he WILLINGLY plead guilty to!
For those of you who are interested in the facts, here is the article from the Tyler Morning Telegraph
Mineola Man Gets 50 Years For Abusing His Daughter
By DAYNA WORCHEL
Staff Writer
A 50-year-old Mineola man was sentenced to 50 years confinement on Thursday on two charges of sexually abusing his daughter in the 1990s.
Gregory Applegate sexually abused his now 27-year-old daughter Amanda Richardson from the time she was 10 until she reached the age of 14.
Applegate faced a range of punishment from two to 20 years and up to a $10,000 fine on the charge of sexual assault of a child, which occurred in 1996, and a possible five to 99 years or life sentence and up to a $10,000 fine on the charge of aggravated sexual assault, which occurred in 1992, Smith County District Attorney Jason Parrish said.
The sentencing took place in the 114th Smith County District Court, with Judge Christi Kennedy presiding.
Richardson, who filed the charges against Applegate in May, has written a book about her experiences called "Saved from Silence: My Journey Back from Childhood Abuse."
Parrish said there is no longer a statute of limitations on charges of child abuse. Applegate will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years, he said.
"She had dealt with a lot of physical and emotional abuse, and we argued for the maximum on both charges," said Parrish.
Defense Attorney Tonda Curry represented Applegate.
http://tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...
April 8, 2009
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Heartwrenching at times, but a definite must read nonetheless. I don't say that because this is the type of story to leave one with happy thoughts or because it's impossible to put down (which it is). I say it's a must read because it is an intense and powerful story. Amanda has taken a tragedy and described it in such a way that anyone can feel the terror the child had to endure as well as the pain the woman had to live through even after part of the abuse ended. This is a story that everyone should read, especially all parents so that if ever the day comes that our children come to us with a secret this devastating we can learn from the mistakes of others and protect them a parent should.
The writing was lovely and flowed easily. If not for mandatory breaks for work, eating and sleeping, I think I would have read this book in a single setting. It is organized in such a way that we really get to see the situation from its beginnings to its present form and all the thought processes in between.
I'm not one to read non-fiction and usually not memoirs either, but this book does and will continue to hold a special place in my heart. Thanks for writing it Amanda.
The writing was lovely and flowed easily. If not for mandatory breaks for work, eating and sleeping, I think I would have read this book in a single setting. It is organized in such a way that we really get to see the situation from its beginnings to its present form and all the thought processes in between.
I'm not one to read non-fiction and usually not memoirs either, but this book does and will continue to hold a special place in my heart. Thanks for writing it Amanda.
May 23, 2009
First I must applaud Amanda for having the strength and courage to tell her story. It's never easy for the victim of this kind of abuse to lay it out in front of the world. Amanda did so with grace and candor and you can't help but feel what she feels. The things in this book are hard to read but it's a story that other survivors can identify with and one that will help those that know a survivor to understand the long lasting effect this kind of abuse can have. One thing that made this book stand out to me from alot of other abuse stories is Amanda shared with us how it affects her as an adult and continues to affect her to this day.
To me that was a very important issue in this book. She explained very clearly how it affected her adult life and how hard it is to come to grips with the trauma she had suffered. So many people think it's easy to block out or "get over it". It's not and Amanda very clearly explains why. This book gives a voice to every child that has suffered at the hands of a parent,loved one or someone they trusted.
To me that was a very important issue in this book. She explained very clearly how it affected her adult life and how hard it is to come to grips with the trauma she had suffered. So many people think it's easy to block out or "get over it". It's not and Amanda very clearly explains why. This book gives a voice to every child that has suffered at the hands of a parent,loved one or someone they trusted.
April 16, 2009
This book is a very well written account of the abuse suffered by the author, Amanda Richardson. She gives examples of the severe physical, sexual, emotional and spiritual abuse she endured as a child at the hand of her father. She talks about her personal and very difficult journey to freedom.
At times it is very difficult to read. My heart broke for the author on many occasions throughout the book. No person should ever have to suffer through what she experienced.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has suffered any form of abuse or knows anybody who has. Amanda is a great example that there is always hope and freedom from the bondage of abuse.
At times it is very difficult to read. My heart broke for the author on many occasions throughout the book. No person should ever have to suffer through what she experienced.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has suffered any form of abuse or knows anybody who has. Amanda is a great example that there is always hope and freedom from the bondage of abuse.
April 3, 2009
The book is a fast read but not an easy read. It was really difficult for me to read through some events that the author described because of their 'heaviness'. Amanda is such a strong woman and I am sure it took her so much courage and strength to overcome all the things that happened to her and decide to write a memoir. It saddens me to think about how many children are abused by their parents and people that are close to them, but the outside world does not see any of the abuse. This is a must-read book for everyone to learn awareness about this issue.
May 10, 2009
As heart wrenching as this was to read, I can't begin to imagine how heard it was for Ms. Richardson to write. This was a very difficult book to read and my heart ached for the "little girl Amanda" keeping her secret.It made me want to go shake her mother and scream in her face- how can you not believe your child?- as much as castrate her "father". Thank God she was able to work through this and keep working through her ordeal with the help of counselors, friends, husband, Daniel, daughter, Grace, and the Lord. Very powerful book. I pray she continues to heal.
May 27, 2009
I won this book here on goodreads; I was very excited to read it and I was not disapointed. You have to give credit to someone who has lived through abuse and can move on to tell about it in order to help others understand. This was a very well written book that was deep but not too deep, its the kind of book you can give to a young adult to read and not worry its too much for them. Thank you Amanda for sharing your story.
May 18, 2017
I don't think its appropriate to give a review of someones story of abuse so I just review the writing. I found it easy to read which was nice but It seemed too quick. By the time i finished it I felt like I had just sat here and read an essay. It was a short had account of the events that had happened which leaves much of the big picture out and I felt it was kind of hard to feel any connection to the writer which is why find myself reading these type of stories. Makes me feel less alone. There was also alot about religion in there which is not my cup of tea but I am glad that the author had found something to help her cope. I'm curious on how the man who shall not be named came to the attention of the courts. Did someone turn him in? Also what happened to David. He suffered most of the same abuse, how did he turn out? In any case its good to hear they found a way to live beyond it.
October 4, 2010
This is a gripping, true account written by young woman of the sex and physical abuse she endured from her father as she grew up. It's difficult to read the trauma she went through, but difficult to stop reading. Her family was the perfect Christian family in a small Texas community. No one suspected anything was amiss. For years, Amanda told no one because of the psychological terror imposed by her dad. Finally she told her mother, who repeatedly ignored her pleas for help. That consigned her to years more of emotional and spiritual abuse. This book helps those who have been abused and those who haven't to understand them.
July 19, 2011
Not for me. I just couldn't really get into it. I think I'm just not one of those people who love to read about other people's abusive and abused lives. It was a heavy book, and just not what I was looking to pick up when I did. I'm sure others will really appreciate it though.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews