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Wrong Family: For Every Secret, There Is A Family
Charisse always felt like she was born into the wrong family and at fourteen finds out that she has a different father than her four sisters. In order to break the dysfunctional cycle, Charisse needs to overcome the chaos caused by generations of family secrets, extreme poverty, fanatical religion and sexual abuse all of which leaves her ill equipped to make her own adult decisions. Can she overcome a legacy of lies?
208 pages, Paperback
Published January 14, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
May 27, 2022
Good Writing, But...
I am an avid reader as well as a writer. However, this is the first book I've read in a while that just ...lacked something but I am not exactly sure what the "something" is.
Yes, there were a few spelling and other errors such as "steel" rather than "steal" and a song reference to "My Shiroma" rather than the correct "My Sharona" by The Knack" but it is more then that. The book dragged for me, I got bored with it and it didn't really hold my attention!
I'm sure to the author, it was an interesting and at times even exciting life. We would all likely feel the same when writing about our own lives. But my suggestion would be, to try and view our life objectively rather than subjectively! We might ask ourselves BEFORE putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, WHO is my target audience? If it's simply to "vent" or tell my story, I might consider journaling or a diary instead. If it's to "people who enjoy non fiction" we could ask: "ANY person or WOMEN who enjoy non fiction or maybe teens..." Do we have important information that could possibly help someone else? Perhaps tell the reader that early on. Tell them a bit about who you are NOW, WHY you feel your story needs to be told and maybe some things you've learned along the way. Capture our attention and include some compelling or active scenes or events.
Just my thoughts. I would say this book COULD have potential ... Or also very possible, maybe others rave about how good it is but it just didn't do much for ME or, more accurately, TO me. However I wish the author well!
I am an avid reader as well as a writer. However, this is the first book I've read in a while that just ...lacked something but I am not exactly sure what the "something" is.
Yes, there were a few spelling and other errors such as "steel" rather than "steal" and a song reference to "My Shiroma" rather than the correct "My Sharona" by The Knack" but it is more then that. The book dragged for me, I got bored with it and it didn't really hold my attention!
I'm sure to the author, it was an interesting and at times even exciting life. We would all likely feel the same when writing about our own lives. But my suggestion would be, to try and view our life objectively rather than subjectively! We might ask ourselves BEFORE putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, WHO is my target audience? If it's simply to "vent" or tell my story, I might consider journaling or a diary instead. If it's to "people who enjoy non fiction" we could ask: "ANY person or WOMEN who enjoy non fiction or maybe teens..." Do we have important information that could possibly help someone else? Perhaps tell the reader that early on. Tell them a bit about who you are NOW, WHY you feel your story needs to be told and maybe some things you've learned along the way. Capture our attention and include some compelling or active scenes or events.
Just my thoughts. I would say this book COULD have potential ... Or also very possible, maybe others rave about how good it is but it just didn't do much for ME or, more accurately, TO me. However I wish the author well!
April 9, 2018
Underwhelming
The story did not seem to be edited. I saw many errors and found the whole story to be underwhelming and quite confusing to follow. The characters were not likable. Abrupt ending was not satisfying.
The story did not seem to be edited. I saw many errors and found the whole story to be underwhelming and quite confusing to follow. The characters were not likable. Abrupt ending was not satisfying.
December 19, 2019
Could be better
The vignettes did not contribute to the story as one might expect. They were actually a distraction. The main story seemed to wander and have no real purpose will ill defined characters and relationships. It was an interesting concept, just poorly executed.
The vignettes did not contribute to the story as one might expect. They were actually a distraction. The main story seemed to wander and have no real purpose will ill defined characters and relationships. It was an interesting concept, just poorly executed.
January 16, 2018
Poignant and thought provoking
I absolutely love this work. And I can identify with her--she confirmed some of my questions and suspicions of where and how I fit! Congratulations to you Charisse for a job well done--P/
I absolutely love this work. And I can identify with her--she confirmed some of my questions and suspicions of where and how I fit! Congratulations to you Charisse for a job well done--P/
December 4, 2020
Good but confusing
This was good enough to keep my interest and quickly read through. It was confusing because the timeline jumps around and at times makes no sense. Toward the end,her future husband's 6 weeks of boot camp somehow takes as long as the authors 12-18 weeks of job training. This is a crucial part of the story that sets up the abrupt ending thus leaving the reader confused. A good copy editor could of helped in many ways.
This was good enough to keep my interest and quickly read through. It was confusing because the timeline jumps around and at times makes no sense. Toward the end,her future husband's 6 weeks of boot camp somehow takes as long as the authors 12-18 weeks of job training. This is a crucial part of the story that sets up the abrupt ending thus leaving the reader confused. A good copy editor could of helped in many ways.
July 26, 2024
Interesting but disjointed and confusing
The parts of the book that are the author's personal experiences are interesting but the memoir does end rather abruptly. The sections interspersed throughout, written in italics about various (ancestors?) jumped about abruptly seemingly disconnected from the main focus of the book. The only real contribution of these sections was an establishment of generational trauma, but had no resolution to any of them, and no transition into or out of the sections. At most an okay read and look at poverty, resilience, and generations of trauma and abuses. At worst a gathering of random journal entries, with poor spelling, grammar, and tenses, randomly split up by unnecessary information about the authors ancestors.
The parts of the book that are the author's personal experiences are interesting but the memoir does end rather abruptly. The sections interspersed throughout, written in italics about various (ancestors?) jumped about abruptly seemingly disconnected from the main focus of the book. The only real contribution of these sections was an establishment of generational trauma, but had no resolution to any of them, and no transition into or out of the sections. At most an okay read and look at poverty, resilience, and generations of trauma and abuses. At worst a gathering of random journal entries, with poor spelling, grammar, and tenses, randomly split up by unnecessary information about the authors ancestors.
November 21, 2018
First off, I want to say that I loved how blatantly the author tells her story, without judgement or placing blame, she just states the facts, telling it like it was. I was ready to give this book 4 stars until I read the very last line and realized in her effort not to repeat her parent's mistakes, Charisse made many different ones of her own.
Memoir writing it therapeutic but I think Charisse missed the real point of her story. She had a good family. It's great she finally met her biological father and that side of her family, but the father that raised her was the real hero of this story. I've read quite a few memoirs where the fathers are either absent or terribly abusive. Not so in this case. I think her parents did the best they could for their girls.
I loved the cover photo and would have enjoyed a small photo section included. All in all, I think Charisse has a good heart and well illustrates just how naive young girls can be. Great memory and descriptive writing.
Memoir writing it therapeutic but I think Charisse missed the real point of her story. She had a good family. It's great she finally met her biological father and that side of her family, but the father that raised her was the real hero of this story. I've read quite a few memoirs where the fathers are either absent or terribly abusive. Not so in this case. I think her parents did the best they could for their girls.
I loved the cover photo and would have enjoyed a small photo section included. All in all, I think Charisse has a good heart and well illustrates just how naive young girls can be. Great memory and descriptive writing.
September 14, 2020
Just ok. Bad ending.
I gave the book 3 stars because I've always enjoyed reading and hearing about others lives. The author is several years older than myself and lived in the same area.
There aren't a lot of good segues from one chapter to the next. Some of the spelling is appalling, and is easy to edit, so feels like a lazy effort at times. The ending just dropped off...like walking off a cliff! No wrap up, no epilogue, no clue it was even getting to the end. Strange. For a free book it was ok. If I'd paid for it I wouldn't be too happy.
I would like to know what happened in her life after the drop off.
I gave the book 3 stars because I've always enjoyed reading and hearing about others lives. The author is several years older than myself and lived in the same area.
There aren't a lot of good segues from one chapter to the next. Some of the spelling is appalling, and is easy to edit, so feels like a lazy effort at times. The ending just dropped off...like walking off a cliff! No wrap up, no epilogue, no clue it was even getting to the end. Strange. For a free book it was ok. If I'd paid for it I wouldn't be too happy.
I would like to know what happened in her life after the drop off.
December 12, 2020
Sounds a lot like my life.
I enjoyed reading this woman's story. I'm so happy she was able to find her dad. I eventually found mine also. I was 50 years old and he had dementia. Found out I have 5 brothers. One died before I got to meet him. Out of all his kids, two out or six was all he had a relationship with as kids. The rest of us never knew him. I to believe if it wasn't for my efforts I still wouldn't know him....actually I never will.. Its to late...he knew he had sons, but never a daughter. Now he can't speck or anything, but when his wife introduced me, a tear went down his cheek
I enjoyed reading this woman's story. I'm so happy she was able to find her dad. I eventually found mine also. I was 50 years old and he had dementia. Found out I have 5 brothers. One died before I got to meet him. Out of all his kids, two out or six was all he had a relationship with as kids. The rest of us never knew him. I to believe if it wasn't for my efforts I still wouldn't know him....actually I never will.. Its to late...he knew he had sons, but never a daughter. Now he can't speck or anything, but when his wife introduced me, a tear went down his cheek
April 10, 2022
Very disjointed story!!
I really wanted to like this book! I really did. But, the book was so disjointed! Just a transition sentence or two would have made such a difference going from chapter to chapter!! I liked the main character, but, there often wasn't much substance to whatever situation she was in, it was incomplete! And, then she would be on to the next journey in her life. The second story, written in italics, made no sense to me at all as l read through the book!!
I really wanted to stop reading the book, but, once l commit to a book l almost always finish it. Unfortunately, this story did not flow at all making it frustrating for this reader!!
I really wanted to like this book! I really did. But, the book was so disjointed! Just a transition sentence or two would have made such a difference going from chapter to chapter!! I liked the main character, but, there often wasn't much substance to whatever situation she was in, it was incomplete! And, then she would be on to the next journey in her life. The second story, written in italics, made no sense to me at all as l read through the book!!
I really wanted to stop reading the book, but, once l commit to a book l almost always finish it. Unfortunately, this story did not flow at all making it frustrating for this reader!!
January 21, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It is quite lighthearted about her life from a young age into her 20’s. If you were born in the 50-60’s you should enjoy comparing your life to her life and if you are younger it would be great fun to see how us old folks grew up. It definitely made me think of things in my life and how differently we look at them as kids—doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor and it is amazing to see how people cope and make the best of things. I recommend this book, Oh yeah, the ending is a cliff hanger!!
March 1, 2020
Charissse had a fascinating life story to tell and in many ways she succeeded in telling it but the book was badly in need of editing. It jumped back and forth and there were many spelling errors. So many things she touched on needed further explanation. In fact, when Mike, her husband appeared I had to look back and see who on earth he was. I never did find out. That said, I was gripped by her story and inspired by her drive, determination and brains. I just wish her narrative was a bit easier to follow.
December 15, 2020
I love biographies, I’ve read a ton of them. This is no exception. From the moment I started reading it, I was hooked. As an aside, one thing is crystal clear: our country needs to change its mindset. Women HAVE to be able to be in charge of their reproductive rights. There are so many good bios I’ve read where the woman hasn’t the same right to sexual intercourse without worry of a baby that men have. We owe it to ourselves and to every human in the generations to come the opportunity to be not just an “accident”.
March 21, 2018
Compulsively readable
This book is written by a woman who grew up feeling that she didn't fit into her family and like an outsider. She learns of her real past and heritage at a young age and is understandably devastated. Her life is really quite interesting and full. I very much recommend reading this to anyone who enjoys memoirs and especially those about women and girls (like me).
This book is written by a woman who grew up feeling that she didn't fit into her family and like an outsider. She learns of her real past and heritage at a young age and is understandably devastated. Her life is really quite interesting and full. I very much recommend reading this to anyone who enjoys memoirs and especially those about women and girls (like me).
June 13, 2020
Good read about a very dysfunctional family
After finding out as a teen the man she calls her father isn't Charisse tries to find him. She gets very little information. Even her Mother won't tell her anything.She even hires a detective But as the search continues she is told she is too young. However Clarke's never gives up. This is an enjoyable book. My major complaint is that it ends too abruptly. Only about1% of the book is about meeting her family that and his family
After finding out as a teen the man she calls her father isn't Charisse tries to find him. She gets very little information. Even her Mother won't tell her anything.She even hires a detective But as the search continues she is told she is too young. However Clarke's never gives up. This is an enjoyable book. My major complaint is that it ends too abruptly. Only about1% of the book is about meeting her family that and his family
December 14, 2020
Good book but the changing to a different person's story confused me because I couldn't figure out who they were talking about or how they connected with Charrisse. Plus the ending seemed anticlimactic, she finally meets her father but its not really that big of a deal. So all those years of waiting to meet him seemed like a waste somehow. Then it ended I felt cheated or something like I had been expecting more to the story...
August 13, 2023
If this was written and edited better I may have enjoyed it more. The author writes about a childhood fraught with poverty, incest, and lots of moving. She manages to grow up in a family with 4 sister who are all 'darker' than her and a Mexican father. It's not until her early teens she's told her dad isn't really her father. In her early 20s she finally finds her birth father and a family that morre resembles her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2023
I kept waiting for that twist that would reveal the dark secret that the little of the memoir implies. It never came. Despite finding out in her late teens that she has a different father, Dahlke still has a loving family. The family definitely struggled early in Dahlke's childhood. However, their station in life did improve. I also felt that there were some gaps in the narrative that disrupted its flow. Overall, it's a decent memoir of one woman's path to adulthood.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 11, 2025Due to this being a memoir, I will not be rating it for the respect do the amazing author who took the time to share her and her mother story. The characters went through so much throughout life however always persevered. I struggled with knowing what character belo mg ed to who and the flipping between people which I don’t usually have a hard time with. The formatting I feel like may have contributed. I did enjoy the imagery the story portrayed. Thank you for sharing your story
February 26, 2018
Good
Written first hand this author has an interesting upbringing. Living in an old cabin with no running water, her family goes thru a lot of struggles. Then she learns that her father is not her real father she goes on a quest to find him.
The author write of life from childhood to parenthood.
Written first hand this author has an interesting upbringing. Living in an old cabin with no running water, her family goes thru a lot of struggles. Then she learns that her father is not her real father she goes on a quest to find him.
The author write of life from childhood to parenthood.
April 18, 2019
An okay read.
I struggled with parts of this book. It seemed a bit disjointed at times. Maybe I didn't enjoy it like I should because I have recently been reading a lot of WW2 memoirs by women writers. War writing is so much about fear, sacrifice, fear and loneliness mixed with bravery and heroism. At any rate not a bad book; just not one of the best.
I struggled with parts of this book. It seemed a bit disjointed at times. Maybe I didn't enjoy it like I should because I have recently been reading a lot of WW2 memoirs by women writers. War writing is so much about fear, sacrifice, fear and loneliness mixed with bravery and heroism. At any rate not a bad book; just not one of the best.
April 20, 2020
Generational mistakes
I took great interest in this book since it did happen in the Pacific Northwest where I live. I can definitely relate being in a dysfunctional family. There were parts of the book that were confusing because you'd have to go back and re-read them to remember the order of things. But by the end of the book your seeing the pattern.
I took great interest in this book since it did happen in the Pacific Northwest where I live. I can definitely relate being in a dysfunctional family. There were parts of the book that were confusing because you'd have to go back and re-read them to remember the order of things. But by the end of the book your seeing the pattern.
March 7, 2021
Dysfunction
This was one of those books I didn't want to put down, not because it was sweet and wonderful, but because it was raw, honest, and full of human flaws and feelings. The author definitely has suspense, love, hate, and redemption through the book. A book you need to read!
This was one of those books I didn't want to put down, not because it was sweet and wonderful, but because it was raw, honest, and full of human flaws and feelings. The author definitely has suspense, love, hate, and redemption through the book. A book you need to read!
May 15, 2022
Families
There is admirably you are Normandy family made up for you by others. It is up to an individual to accept that fact and be happy or carry a grudge. The writer's description of Charisse and her interactions and her way of whatever comes her way keeps one engrossed in her story.
There is admirably you are Normandy family made up for you by others. It is up to an individual to accept that fact and be happy or carry a grudge. The writer's description of Charisse and her interactions and her way of whatever comes her way keeps one engrossed in her story.
November 10, 2022
Skip It
Author would have been more successful writing a series of essays instead of a book. The beginning and middle are completely overloaded with characters and details that don't add anything of value and the end is rushed and lacking detail. Its almost like she got bored of writing and just ended it.
Author would have been more successful writing a series of essays instead of a book. The beginning and middle are completely overloaded with characters and details that don't add anything of value and the end is rushed and lacking detail. Its almost like she got bored of writing and just ended it.
May 18, 2023
Wrong Family: For Every Secret, There is a Family.
Some parts of Charisse, early life sounds very fabricated. Much like it was written in a different time era. After she ente4ed her teens it rings truer to life of a girl living in the 1970's. Some parts dragged and were too drawn out. All in all it was a good story.
Some parts of Charisse, early life sounds very fabricated. Much like it was written in a different time era. After she ente4ed her teens it rings truer to life of a girl living in the 1970's. Some parts dragged and were too drawn out. All in all it was a good story.
July 28, 2023
Punctuation counts - and did anyone edit this??
Seriously, I couldn’t finish this book because the spelling and punctuation were so distracting. Learn how to use apostrophes - they show possession not plurals. Google people like Laura Ingalls Wilder and Casey Kasem - they deserve to have their names spelled correctly. Basically, get an editor.
Seriously, I couldn’t finish this book because the spelling and punctuation were so distracting. Learn how to use apostrophes - they show possession not plurals. Google people like Laura Ingalls Wilder and Casey Kasem - they deserve to have their names spelled correctly. Basically, get an editor.
July 30, 2020
Good book
Found myself relating to some of the family dynamics. It was a page turner for me! I have lived in the Seattle area my whole life so that was fun to read mentions of some of the land marks. I just wish the ending wasn’t so abrupt. I wanted to hear more
Found myself relating to some of the family dynamics. It was a page turner for me! I have lived in the Seattle area my whole life so that was fun to read mentions of some of the land marks. I just wish the ending wasn’t so abrupt. I wanted to hear more
August 7, 2020
Lovely coming of age memoir
I loved this book! Past it up many times but glad I finally gave it a try. The ending was rather abrupt but overall is was an awesome read. I relate to this book so much because I’m a 70’s kid. I totally recommend this memoir!
I loved this book! Past it up many times but glad I finally gave it a try. The ending was rather abrupt but overall is was an awesome read. I relate to this book so much because I’m a 70’s kid. I totally recommend this memoir!
January 30, 2021
Disappointing
Nice memoir, interesting story but ending disappointing. Lack of what felt like resolution, one vague sentence of sentiment. Ended abruptly. Felt like the story had more potential than was exhibited.
Nice memoir, interesting story but ending disappointing. Lack of what felt like resolution, one vague sentence of sentiment. Ended abruptly. Felt like the story had more potential than was exhibited.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews