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SPLINTERED: A True Story About Multiple Personalities
Splintered is a true story about Dissociative Identity Disorder (multiple personalities).
When six-year-old Lucinda suffers horrendous abuse, her mind splinters, and she dissociates so that she doesn't have to deal with the pain. For her, time moves not precisely as it ought but flickers in and out of her mind. Memories of her abuse were repressed for over thirty years, and when she remembers what happened, it happened not in the past but became a present terror. As memories appear, like flashes of lightening in a black sky, she writes them down, and realizes that she is broken. Like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces missing, she must put herself back together.
At age 81, LuWanda Cheney became obsessed with putting these memories in order. Lucinda's journals became this book.
"Rarely does one read the horrendous experience of a child and still feel the need to finish the story. This is a beautifully written story. The child's narration completely transforms our perception of childhood abuse.
---Gail Bobbin, Domestic Violence Task Force
When six-year-old Lucinda suffers horrendous abuse, her mind splinters, and she dissociates so that she doesn't have to deal with the pain. For her, time moves not precisely as it ought but flickers in and out of her mind. Memories of her abuse were repressed for over thirty years, and when she remembers what happened, it happened not in the past but became a present terror. As memories appear, like flashes of lightening in a black sky, she writes them down, and realizes that she is broken. Like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces missing, she must put herself back together.
At age 81, LuWanda Cheney became obsessed with putting these memories in order. Lucinda's journals became this book.
"Rarely does one read the horrendous experience of a child and still feel the need to finish the story. This is a beautifully written story. The child's narration completely transforms our perception of childhood abuse.
---Gail Bobbin, Domestic Violence Task Force
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2022
6 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
LuWanda M. Cheney
4 books6 followersLuWanda M. Cheney—an American author. She is an imaginative storyteller now living in New England. She was born on March 8, 1940. As a child, Cheney loved to read and write short stories. A high school dropout, she became the first in her family to attend college. A single parent, she attended several colleges while working full time before graduating from Long Beach city College in 1967. At age 38, she graduated from Worcester State College where she won 1st place in the Lenora Knight short story contest and received a Fellowship to UMass MFA Program. She left the program after a year, then attended law school for a year. Despite frequent moves, marriages and divorces, Cheney became one of few successful female stockbrokers in 1977. In her spare time, she wrote newspaper columns, ad copy, novels, and short stories. In 2005 she founded Carpe Stylum! a supportive critique writing group. She also wrote On Her Feet and Proud and Gentle Folk- a Family History.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 22, 2022
Great Book. Easy to read, good writing style.
June 22, 2022
"Splintered" by LuWanda M. Cheney is the evocative true story of the devastating effects of child abuse and how it manifests itself as a kind of monster, always lurking, as the main character matures and experiences life through that lens. There are moments where the reader's breath is taken away while feeling the full force of emotional darkness and the power of a fragmented, yet unexpectedly, self-protective mind.
This book is a fascinating memoir. The author’s characterizations are skillfully done and the reader is either drawn to or repulsed by each of their genuine descriptions and behavior. The language throughout the book is perfectly crafted and enhances the impact of this life story. Ms Cheney has a knack for character interactions throughout, but near the end of the book, she captures the nuances of her relationship with a therapist in an inexplicably authentic way. It is marked by a subtle unfolding into a deep and respectful understanding for both people; the rich details of the setting add to the emotional impact of that particular section of the book.
I commend the author for not overdramatizing the subject of multiple personalities; her writing style allows for a complex and difficult subject to be woven into the fabric of her challenging life story. I highly recommend this book because, in spite of what seems extremely tragic and unbearable, I personally felt a sense of hope at the end. I sent a copy to my sister as a gift and she also had a positive reaction.
This book is a fascinating memoir. The author’s characterizations are skillfully done and the reader is either drawn to or repulsed by each of their genuine descriptions and behavior. The language throughout the book is perfectly crafted and enhances the impact of this life story. Ms Cheney has a knack for character interactions throughout, but near the end of the book, she captures the nuances of her relationship with a therapist in an inexplicably authentic way. It is marked by a subtle unfolding into a deep and respectful understanding for both people; the rich details of the setting add to the emotional impact of that particular section of the book.
I commend the author for not overdramatizing the subject of multiple personalities; her writing style allows for a complex and difficult subject to be woven into the fabric of her challenging life story. I highly recommend this book because, in spite of what seems extremely tragic and unbearable, I personally felt a sense of hope at the end. I sent a copy to my sister as a gift and she also had a positive reaction.
February 16, 2022
Splintered by LuWanda M. Cheney is the story of fracture and survival. The fracture comes from a child needing to protect herself from the evils in her world. Living through physical and emotional abuse, Lucinda survives a world she did not ask to be a part of. This survival is aided by Dissociative Identity Disorder. DID protects the part of Lucinda who cannot deal with the horrors she is forced to endure. This "protection" lasts through childhood, adulthood, multiple moves and locations, marriages, children, and divorces. Once the missing pieces of her puzzle, which are her lost memories, are slowly put into place, Lucinda comes to terms with the her past and her present. It is a story of the things that could break us, and the resilience of the human spirit to survive. Blessings to LuWanda for being here to tell us her story.
February 16, 2022
An emotional journey that breaks your heart, but also shows the power behind surviving the worst moments of your life. A true story that covers child abuse and its perception during a time in which the world struggled with War by not only society but family as well. The apparent abuse and its commonplace amongst a family adds to the reader's frustration and creates a foundation where the author discusses one of the many mental illnesses that threaten victims of such grievous events. A well-written story from a child's perspective that really shines a light on how society sees childhood abuse and trauma from the outside in. A great representation of what Dissociative Identity Disorder is, its development, and how memories can come seeping out from every crevice, no longer wanting to be repressed.
February 11, 2022
Splintered by LuWanda M. Cheney is a story that broke my heart and at the same time lifted me up. Cheney writes about difficult topics such as child abuse and neglect that can lead to severe emotional disorders. Yet she presented them with insight and compassion that helped me understand and gave me hope. Cheney has a style of writing that is riveting and captivating. The topics are challenging, but I couldn’t put the book down. It made me more aware of things that are not always obvious. Splintered is a book I will remember, and I look to more books from LuWanda Cheney.
May 13, 2022
Surprisingly Effective Storytelling
I knew who LuWanda Cheney was before I read her book. I watched a podcast during which she read an excerpt from Splintered. It made me curious. I bought it and inhaled it. Her prose was spare and surprisingly effective in its relating horrific events through a tormented child’s eyes. The family that surrounded the child, particularly her Aunt Bony, lent enormous pathos to the tale and provided relief from the relentless cruelty Lucinda suffered. I would read it again. I think you should read it, too.
I knew who LuWanda Cheney was before I read her book. I watched a podcast during which she read an excerpt from Splintered. It made me curious. I bought it and inhaled it. Her prose was spare and surprisingly effective in its relating horrific events through a tormented child’s eyes. The family that surrounded the child, particularly her Aunt Bony, lent enormous pathos to the tale and provided relief from the relentless cruelty Lucinda suffered. I would read it again. I think you should read it, too.
February 20, 2022
This is a brave story of a girl who not only created places to hide in her brain to protect herself, but what it was like being a poor, abused young women in the 1950's. Although it may seem at times she had given up, she always fought for survival and took the first steps towards forgiveness and healing. Hearing the accurate behaviors of and strength despite Dissociative identity Disorder makes you want to give the author a sympathetic hug while knowing she will go conquer the world.
February 20, 2022
A page-turning true story that stirs emotions, uncovering the lifelong impacts of child abuse. I was left with the sobering reality that each person has a story of obstacles overcome, which may be taken for granted in daily interactions. LuWanda's incredible rehabilitation from a season of horror along with her vulnerability to share such a personal story leaves an impression not easily forgotten. This is not a feel-good read, yet beneficial for the reflecting soul.
February 26, 2022
The author certainly knows how to pull her audience in, causing her readers to become invested in the main character’s well-being. I was surprised at how easy it was to understand a complicated psychological phenomenon. I recommend this book to anyone interested in in-depth character development, psychology, and human-interest stories.
August 6, 2022
Powerful & Moving
This was difficult to read at times, but also cathartic for me….the writing is so descriptive and the characters are people you get to know deeply…..you just want to hug people you care about after reading….also if you are interested in DID and/or psychology….this is the perfect read for you….I am changed after reading this…thank you…
This was difficult to read at times, but also cathartic for me….the writing is so descriptive and the characters are people you get to know deeply…..you just want to hug people you care about after reading….also if you are interested in DID and/or psychology….this is the perfect read for you….I am changed after reading this…thank you…
November 23, 2022
This was an amazing story that grabbed me from the beginning and would not let go! I read it straight through. The narrative was easy flowing in style, but captured me with the unfolding drama of a young girl's experiences and how it shaped her life in surprising ways. It's story telling at its best, with a gripping conclusion!
March 10, 2022
OmG this book was sooo good. It started off a little slow to me but when I actually sat down and read it it was really good. Sharing your story I know had to be hard. Great work. I look forward to reading more books from you.
February 14, 2022
True story is important so that others will understand abuse in many forms, be able to recogonize the signs of abuse, and help stop it.
March 28, 2023
I couldn't put it down. For 12 hours I hung on every single word. Though sad, the hope and perseverance the author weaves into a childhood of terror is remarkable.
January 22, 2022
Well written book with great detail. Easy to read despite the intense subject matter. A true survivor story. I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading more from Ms. Cheney
January 15, 2022
This book is absolutely fantastic. The horror experienced by this child is well written and uncovers a variety of emotions as you are reading.
November 10, 2022
Excellent read...
My whole heart was in this book. The true story captured me at the very beginning. Heartbreaking moments but well worth the read.
My whole heart was in this book. The true story captured me at the very beginning. Heartbreaking moments but well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews