Người tù bé nhỏ

by Jane Elliott, Bùi Liên Thảo (translator)

Cuốn sách là sự thật quá phũ phàng, tàn nhẫn về cô gái 21 tuổi: bị bạo hành cả thể xác lẫn tinh thần, bị cha dượng lạm dụng tình dục trong 17 năm ròng rã. Bị lạm dụng và đày đọa trong những trận đòn tàn ác suốt 17 năm trời, Jane Elliot đã không ít lần nghĩ đến cái chết… Với câu chuyện đau đớn có thật của chính mình, Jane Elliot thực sự làm kinh hoàng nhiều thế hệ độc giả với cuốn tự truyện: Người tù bé nhỏ.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Abuse, True Crime, Autobiography, Crime

Paperback

First published January 17, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[MischaS_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to promise to myself that I'll stop reading books like this. Because seeing how many books are there on this topic, my spirit and soul breaks more and more. It's terrible world that these books are not a work of fiction...

[Lissa]

How is anyone supposed to rate a book like this?

It was an amazing book. So powerful, and incredibly emotional. It helped me personally, too, for reasons I won't go into it. But I did not like it. I can not bring myself to like it. There is not much to like, and the terrifying thing is that it's a true story.

When I say there is not much to like, I mean the writing itself is fine, it's the memories that are horrible.

Yet I think it is one of those memoirs that a lot of people need to read. Especially people in their safe little bubble where only first world problems apply. Especially people who have gone through similar things.

I reiterate: this book was amazing, and if you're ready to face real-world issues and accept that awful things happen, sometimes for no reason, maybe you're ready for this book.

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very hard book for me to read. At first I did not really understand why she let him do that to her even when she was an adult but then I started thinking of her family. Real white trash. They terrorized the neighborhood and everyone was scared of them.
We have families like that in The Netherlands too and people do not dare to complain cause they know they will be punished for it later.
What annoyed me mostly was that the mom got off free. No punishment at all while in truth it was mainly her fault. A mom is the one that should protect a child when there is no father or if a dad is abusive. if you cannot count on your mom, who can you trust?

[Loveliest Evaris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this book didn't make me sad or cry.

Instead.

It pissed me off to no end.

RICHARD YOU BASTARD!!

Urgh! He was a complete asshole to everyone and everyTHING around him. People like him should be tranquilized and put in a cage because they're nothing but belligerent pests to society.

He was a manipulative, sociopathic, sadistic, domineering, jealous, pedophilic, predatory, abusive, violent, belligerent, evil creature that I'm surprised was spawned from a mortal's womb.

The whole time I was reading this I was like



and



and



Richard made me so fucking mad at him I just wanted to, to , to--!




and



and




Fuck this man and fuck the family, too. For Jane Elliott to do what she did, despite being under Richard's thumb for pretty much two decades of her life...


"Family comes first"? Seriously? Anyone who shields their family members from being punished under the full extent of the law when they fucking deserve everything coming to them is only enabling the scum of the Earth to roam free and further fuck up the system. Her brothers and her mother and other family members sending death threats and threatening messages and intimidating them. What is this, Appalachia? This is CIVIL society you're living in, you English trailer trash and with your attitude everyone would prefer if you'd just fuck yourselves with a molten tire iron and die.

A very powerful and moving book. I rarely get this amped up over a book unless I find it very horrible and insane and this was just that. I recommend this to be read by anyone who like "success stories" like David Pelzer's A Child Called It saga.

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me angry cry several times at my commute to and from work. It's so heartbreaking to listen to Jane's story. SEVENTEEN YEARS of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. It's so brave of her to finally to go the police and also write a book of what she suffered through.

[Ruth Turner · Rating 1 out of 5]

In A Note from the Author, Jane says that she initially wanted to write this book in the hope of inspiring other abused children to speak out and end the cycle of abuse.

And then, about six paragraphs later, this...

"...it’s surprising how quickly we both got used to having a number one hit and started to feel disappointed when it got knocked down to number two or three!"

I should have stopped reading then.

I found the writing flat and emotionless, which made the characters flat and emotionless. It was difficult to relate to, or even feel any real sympathy for, Jane. I found I didn't particularly like her.

And the whole "names have been changed to hide their identities" made my eyes roll. Really, if you were so scared for your own safety, and that of your family and friends, wouldn't you do every thing in your power to live a quiet and discreet life, and attract as little notice as possible?

There is an abundance of these types of memoirs available, some good, some not so much. For me, this book ranks top of the list in latter.

I didn't like it, and I took the whole thing with a grain of salt.

[ღSophia {In the TARDIS} Winchesterღ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was extremely good, just in case you didn't know, this book is based on a REAL life story but the NAMES have been CHANGED so their identities are hidden. This book is basically about a girl, since the age of four who has been told to "please" her step-father in more ways than one, and her family do nothing about it. In fact, by the end of the book they all hate her and try to kill her, even her cousin Tom who says that he loved her a week before. This is heart breaking to think that someone could do that to a young girl, who doesn't know anything about the world. This book gives you an insight on life, and you need to read the prologue, it is horrendous about how scared she is and the threats Jane (that's the girls name) gets from her family and from her dad. Threats like: I'm going to slice your neck open and leave you for the whole village to see. What really made me upset though, I know it seems stupid, but the bar maid in the epilogue, she could've stopped Jane from getting beaten up, and it was HER fault, she could've let Jane stay in the safety in the bar, and when Jane comes into the bar after the beatings from her horrible FAMILY, the bar maid is in almost as big hysterics as Jane. She could've prevented it but she didn't. The bar maid needs to shut up!!!!
I recommend this book for everyone from the age 12+. You need to take a look in the real world, but it seems to horrible to be true. When Jane was looking at her step father behind the glass doors, and she was crying "He's going to kill me!" I cried, because it was so heart breaking. Why would anyone make someone feel like that?! And her step father got a kick out of beating her, (No pun intended). He enjoyed it and when she didn't "Play along" as in screaming for her to stop he hit her harder, when she did scream for him to stop he hit her harder. It was a win/ win for the step dad either way. I suggest you read it whenever you get the chance, and if any of this has ever happened to you, tell someone. Jane waited a little long to tell the police because she was frightened, but at least she did it, but it took her 17 years. 17 YEARS! All that time, and he sexually abused her. Tell someone.
This book is extraordinary, and a really good read.

[Hemn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The little prisoner by Jane Elliott
This book is not for everyone. It makes for uncomfortable reading, but the flat, sometimes disjointed style gives it the ring of truth, and there are times when we need to learn about the pain people have suffered, even if it is uncomfortable. I couldn’t stop crying but determined on keep reading it.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a heartbreaking story. It is horrifying to think what some people will do to children. The pain, both physical and emotional, inflicted on young Jane Elliot is beyond comprehension. One would not begrudge her a pity party and a lifetime of depression. However, Elliot shows a courage that is both admirable and humbling. It is always an eye-opening experience to read of such bravery and a good outcome coming out of such a horrid situation. As an adult, I can't believe that so many people refused to get involved in what they either knew or highly suspected was a toxic situation. Studies have been made that without intervention, the cycle of violencein families like this is never broken. Sadly, the epilogue of this book reaffirms that in no uncertain terms. Although these stories are terrible, writing them is most likely theraputic for the poor victims and reading them blows these incidents out into the open. Knowledge is power and people who abuse and control children thrive on keeping things secret. The more people know about these types of situations, the harder it is to keep them secret.

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

very emotional was crying most of the time so sad

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so shocking and heartbreaking. No one should ever go through what this woman has. She’s so strong and I’m really glad he was convicted. I just wish he got longer.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Without a doubt, it is a painful read to go through. However the story deeply lacked complexity and insight, although it is being narrated by the protagonist, I could not know what was really happening within her psyche. I could not quite understand the transformation that led Jane to eventually speak up. There was no space to invite the reader to relate. Sure the details were gripping and that’s what actually kept me reading but I didn’t want to be exposed to the extent of abuse Jane went through as much as being invited to her world and knowing what she was thinking and how it corresponds to her character and perception of the world. It’s unfortunate that I didn’t pick my pen to underline any lines that spoke to me. The story simply lacked depth on so many levels.

[Ashleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Poorly written and left me with more questions than answers. If you want a good child abuse book, with a heart warming end, I'd suggest you pick up a copy of "Punished" by Vanessa Steel. That is by far one of the best books of it's nature I've read, nothing has yet compared. Don't waste your time with this.

[Melissa (ladybug) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to rate a book like this. Ever since she was 4 years old, Jane has been abused by her stepfather. This book was raw and heartbreaking. I am upset with how even the community didn't help her. I found myself not being able to stop reading, crying for the little girl and cheering for the grown woman who has done everything she can to put her life back together again.

[Amanda Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t realize when I bought this book that it was a memoir. But I ended up reading it in a single night.

It was disturbing and tragic and inspiring all wrapped into one woman’s life.

[Lee Marney · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. A deeply disturbing and heartbreaking read, but I couldn’t put it down. All the time spent away reading this book, it was all I was thinking and speaking about. The book hits a little too close to home with some of Richard’s characteristics, which made it an all the more satisfying conclusion. As Jane says in the book, the twisted people that go about trying to control people’s lives through fear must have been made at the same school, because they follow the same prototype. At times it was like checking off squares on a bingo card. This book is one that will stick with me for right as well as wrong reasons.

[Laura Wheaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly difficult but critical read. The author's courage in sharing so many intimate details about her prolonged and horrific experiences of abuse is beyond admirable, and her intention in sharing her story even more so.

This is an important read for anyone in the social services, health care, policing, and mandated reporters of any kind.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not often I read true account books. I remember a few years ago I read A Child Called It and being both saddened and shocked at the amount of abuse that could be inflicted by an adult.

The Little Prisoner is the story of Jane (names have been changed to protect those involved) and how she was abused both physically and sexually by her step father. It's a sometimes harrowing and traumatic read but given the nature of what comes out in the media today, a story we're exposed to again and again. How awful is that?


The abuse began from a young age (which makes is terribly difficult as a read to stomach) and lasts for quite a number of years. It would be easy for me to sit here and ask questions as to 'why was something not done sooner or why couldn't she of gotten away any quicker, especially when she became a mother herself?' But hindsight is a powerful thing and sitting on the sidelines doesn't give reason for judgement - how would anyone react in such extreme circumstances? And 'extreme' doesn't even come close.

The book is a story of strength and courage overcoming horrific adversity and little more can be added to that. It was brave to write the book in the first place. Not sure why anyone would want to? Maybe in the hope to help others but I do hope as time has passed Jane and her family have found happiness after such unremitting darkness. Good luck to her.

I'm not sure how to rate a book on such a subject matter so will rate in how the book was written. A book on abuse is NEVER going to be an 'easy' read so thought is required before opening the cover.

[Fatuma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review ex-posted on my blog on Aug. 3, 2008:

I've recently read the SADDEST book of ALL time! You don't believe me? CHECK IT OUT YOURSELF, THEN!

The book responsible for aggressively pulling at my heart strings is titled THE LITTLE PRISONER. It comes out in August, but I was able to get an advanced copy because I'm a intern at HARPERCOLLINS, who are the publishers of the book.

This book is a written memoir of the horrors a woman went through for 17 years of her life. It traces the life of a girl who was dominated, bullied and abused both sexually and physically by her stepfather from when she was four years. She was able to escape at the age of 21 for the man she loved and her two daughters.

This isn't like other abuse stories, the step father in this story may be considered crueler and sicker than most.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book club selection; it spent a lot of time on the best seller list. One book club member said it was a truly awful read, a second refused to read it.

It is an easy read, like maybe three hours, easy to read in terms of quickness. It is hard to read in terms of content and style. The author is unlikable. Her story is awful, a story of abuse, physical, emotional and sexual, at the hands of her stepfather.

In my head, I know that kind of abuse does terrible things to a person, and probably that is why I have a problem liking the author or feeling sympathetic. I DO sympathize. And I still don't like the author. This will be an interesting discussion.

[Hannah Polley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is impossible not to feel horrified when you read this book and it is hard to believe that it is a true story.

Obviously the step father is sickening and although it should have been a lot sooner, is eventually imprisoned for his crimes.

I really feel like the mother should also be prosecuted.

[Claire]

I haven't read a book so quick in a while! This book cannot be judged, so I have not given it a star rating. It is written by a 'normal' person, not a professional author. A very sad story telling of her battles for freedom & justice.

[Valarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very powerful story of a child's triumph, but clearly written by an amateur. That isn't the author's fault, of course - she is incredibly brave for sharing her story - but the publishers should have hooked her up with a ghostwriter or co-writer to make the book more professional.

[Abigail T · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm going to be frank here, this girl went into adulthood still being abused. She mothered a child herself and I really struggled as to the reasons why she would let him anywhere near her after her horrific childhood

[Sara Weinhold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I continuously prayed for the end, I was unable to put it down. Her story is one that I wish no one had to write. No prison sentence could be long enough for her abuser.

[A.S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Marsha Doucette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t remember a time I have finished a chapter book in 24 hours! Couldn’t put I down.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard book to review. It was a well written narrative that pulls you in from the first chapter. The content is a horrific nightmare that I wish and hope no single person or child has to ever endure. I for some reason am drawn to these stories. My dislike of humanity further darkened. So grateful that Jane has told her story and I hope that others find strength from it.

Not for the faint of heart. Read in less than 2 days. A true example of owning your story and using it to strengthen and guide others.

[Paddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book in less than 4 hours. It completely sucked me in. Trigger warning - there are a lot of graphic details of the abuse suffered and I think anyone who has suffered physical and sexual abuse should be forewarned. The story is so incredibly heart-wrenching, you want to lock up the vast majority of the characters. It hurt my heart and the ending is not exactly happy, but gives some hope for life beyond such a terrible experience.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a traumatic and disturbing personal account of of torment. I admire the strength of the author.