Recognizing Beauty

by Cyndi Burrough

“For it is in suffering that one recognizes beauty.”This book is a child's diary and it is intriguing and offers insightful stories about family abuses. Little Cyndi is an overactive child exploring the world in the only way she knows how. While doing so she is the object of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Cyndi is stuck in a world where there is no way out. This abuse begins in infancy and she tells of it in her own language trying to understand what is happening to her and why.

Her parents are extremely young with their own abusive backgrounds. They just don't know what to do about Cyndi because she's into everything and is nothing like her older sister who is a hard act to
follow.

There is no end in sight for Cyndi since she is the object of their anger. Christian Fundamentalism is
thrown into the mix and little Cyndi carries all these things on her small little shoulders. One wonders
if she will make it out alive and psychologically sound. She looks to others for help but she is sworn
to silence.

This memoir is insightful and anything but boring. One wants to know what will happen to little Cyndi next. What goes on in the mind of an abused child becomes a wonderful discovery for the reader as the
book unfolds.

Recognizing Beauty is for those who have been abused or are interested in helping the abused.

246 pages, Paperback

First published August 12, 2021

Reviews

[Adrian Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who also went through childhood abuse, I found this book to be incredibly relatable and helpful in understanding my own experiences. The author does an excellent job of capturing the confusion, fear, and isolation that an abused child feels. The book is written from Cyndi's perspective and it was incredibly moving to read her thoughts and feelings as she tries to make sense of the abuse happening to her. One of the things that stood out to me about this book was how honest and raw it is. It doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of child abuse and it doesn't sugarcoat anything. I found that to be very relatable, as it gave me a sense of validation for my own experiences .Overall, I would highly recommend "Recognizing Beauty" to anyone who has been affected by child abuse. The book is insightful, moving, and provides a much-needed voice for the victims of abuse. It was a powerful reminder that I am not alone in my experiences and it gave me hope that there is a way to heal and move forward on this lifelong journey of recovery.