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From under a Rock
In this compelling memoir, author Tam MacPhee bares her soul and shares her deepest memories. As a little girl she battles through abuse, with her innocence betrayed by the males closest to her. Becoming a single parent at the age of eighteen, she is determined to work hard to create a better future for herself and her child.
Soon after turning nineteen, she meets a man whom she believed to be the man of her dreams. But she had no idea that the toughest lessons in her life were still to be learned. Secrets are revealed and a piece of her heart is broken off forever.
Realizing she deserves more, Tam finds her path set out by the universe that brings her love and success. But the journey also includes a new heartbreaking diagnosis and many challenges. Join Tam as she recounts her story, sharing her experiences and life's lessons.
Soon after turning nineteen, she meets a man whom she believed to be the man of her dreams. But she had no idea that the toughest lessons in her life were still to be learned. Secrets are revealed and a piece of her heart is broken off forever.
Realizing she deserves more, Tam finds her path set out by the universe that brings her love and success. But the journey also includes a new heartbreaking diagnosis and many challenges. Join Tam as she recounts her story, sharing her experiences and life's lessons.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 21, 2022
1 person is currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 19, 2023
This book was extremely frustrating. I have read many memoirs of abuse, and they were nothing like this one. They were so much better. Educated comes to mind. As well as Pilgrims Wilderness.
First of all, she should fire her editor. I lost track of the amount of grammatical and punctuation errors. Inexcusable.
After she recounts the abuse and their escape, her thoughts seem disjointed. And the abuse part of the story only takes up less than the first hundred pages. Then we are off to the story of her unrequited love with the man of a very important and well respected family in our community. And the illegitimate child she had with a man from this family. After we get this business out of the way (and the subsequent gossip/slander of this family and the gossip/slander of the “Mean Girls” ) we are off on her vacations for the next 200 pages or so. Yes, it becomes a Travelogue. Where she recounts in excruciating detail all the places she’s travelled to. I’m not sure what this has to do with the theme of the book, but it sure was frustrating. And boring.
And the book was written as if there were cloud thought bubbles floating around above her head and she would randomly grab one and write it down. Sometimes with no connection to the previous paragraph.
The only saving grace of this book were the final chapters about her mother Norma. She talks about her struggles to find proper care for her mother. About the broken health care system in Nova Scotia. About the atrocities and indignities inflicted upon our aging population. About her advocacy for all seniors in this province. She should keep on fighting for their rights and write books about that ( with a new editor ) instead of wasting time writing her Workbook and other books based on this initial story. ☺️ All the best to you Tam.
First of all, she should fire her editor. I lost track of the amount of grammatical and punctuation errors. Inexcusable.
After she recounts the abuse and their escape, her thoughts seem disjointed. And the abuse part of the story only takes up less than the first hundred pages. Then we are off to the story of her unrequited love with the man of a very important and well respected family in our community. And the illegitimate child she had with a man from this family. After we get this business out of the way (and the subsequent gossip/slander of this family and the gossip/slander of the “Mean Girls” ) we are off on her vacations for the next 200 pages or so. Yes, it becomes a Travelogue. Where she recounts in excruciating detail all the places she’s travelled to. I’m not sure what this has to do with the theme of the book, but it sure was frustrating. And boring.
And the book was written as if there were cloud thought bubbles floating around above her head and she would randomly grab one and write it down. Sometimes with no connection to the previous paragraph.
The only saving grace of this book were the final chapters about her mother Norma. She talks about her struggles to find proper care for her mother. About the broken health care system in Nova Scotia. About the atrocities and indignities inflicted upon our aging population. About her advocacy for all seniors in this province. She should keep on fighting for their rights and write books about that ( with a new editor ) instead of wasting time writing her Workbook and other books based on this initial story. ☺️ All the best to you Tam.
March 19, 2023
The diary-style narrative was somber and heartfelt as it illustrated one woman’s life journey “from under a rock.” It all began with her impoverished childhood with her abusive parents.
“At one point I even thought that he must be some sort of alien from another world because no real father would ever hurt his children like he did. Day after day.”
Living under the fear and control of a man she had to call her father was tough. From there, she had to move on to a foster home, where she didn’t fit in and couldn’t understand the family dynamics. The abuse continued at the hands of some mean girls. As she grew older, she continued to make her choices, which resulted in an unexpected pregnancy. The people in her life still tried to control her.
The narrative was so enriching and deep, describing certain key moments in her life with emotions being so candid and raw. At times, certain areas seemed trivial, which added some lag to the prose. The pace was rather slow and the length was long.
What was most impressive was the author’s “strong will to survive and conquer the world.”
This is not just a memoir, but it is an inspiration to help others who are overwhelmed with devastation, depression, and despair.
“You will never live your life to its fullest potential until you take these steps. You do not have to do it alone, as it is a dark place you must go to. But the other side—once you let go of the hate, resentment, blame, confusion, shame, and embarrassment—is extremely peaceful. Letting go doesn’t mean you will ever forget, nor does it mean you forgive, but it will bring you to a place of solitude, where your energies can thrive. I know because I have accomplished that part of my journey. But without doubt I have lots more healing to go through.”
As you continue reading through the book, you get the strong sense that this is more memoir than anything else. It basically details every segment of her life.
A thoroughly thought-provoking and well-versed book. Full of honesty, strength, and heart. It’s sure to be an inspiration to us all.
“At one point I even thought that he must be some sort of alien from another world because no real father would ever hurt his children like he did. Day after day.”
Living under the fear and control of a man she had to call her father was tough. From there, she had to move on to a foster home, where she didn’t fit in and couldn’t understand the family dynamics. The abuse continued at the hands of some mean girls. As she grew older, she continued to make her choices, which resulted in an unexpected pregnancy. The people in her life still tried to control her.
The narrative was so enriching and deep, describing certain key moments in her life with emotions being so candid and raw. At times, certain areas seemed trivial, which added some lag to the prose. The pace was rather slow and the length was long.
What was most impressive was the author’s “strong will to survive and conquer the world.”
This is not just a memoir, but it is an inspiration to help others who are overwhelmed with devastation, depression, and despair.
“You will never live your life to its fullest potential until you take these steps. You do not have to do it alone, as it is a dark place you must go to. But the other side—once you let go of the hate, resentment, blame, confusion, shame, and embarrassment—is extremely peaceful. Letting go doesn’t mean you will ever forget, nor does it mean you forgive, but it will bring you to a place of solitude, where your energies can thrive. I know because I have accomplished that part of my journey. But without doubt I have lots more healing to go through.”
As you continue reading through the book, you get the strong sense that this is more memoir than anything else. It basically details every segment of her life.
A thoroughly thought-provoking and well-versed book. Full of honesty, strength, and heart. It’s sure to be an inspiration to us all.
March 18, 2023
Ms. MacPhee is to be commended for her honesty in telling her story so frankly. The book begins with her birth in 1974 (from what she has been told and from what she remembers as a child) and continues through Covid and her care of her mom during her final days. The book is written just as the author remembers things – very stream-of-conscious writing. Because of this it can come across as a bit disjointed at times, but the authenticity of her life shines through.
The author includes a large section of pictures and letters from various parts of her life, which also lead the reader to get to know Tam and her family members.
However, the book would have been easier to read had it been edited better. There were several issues with punctuation and areas where the writing could have been a little tighter and not so rambly. Details were duplicated, and there were times when less would have been more.
I do think that the book is a good way for Tam’s family and friends to learn more about her, though, and that’s a good thing. She also includes a chapter of advice she has learned across the years, which is helpful, as well as a chapter on the importance of the number 22 to her life.
All in all, I enjoyed reading the book and learning more about this woman and the life she has led.
The author includes a large section of pictures and letters from various parts of her life, which also lead the reader to get to know Tam and her family members.
However, the book would have been easier to read had it been edited better. There were several issues with punctuation and areas where the writing could have been a little tighter and not so rambly. Details were duplicated, and there were times when less would have been more.
I do think that the book is a good way for Tam’s family and friends to learn more about her, though, and that’s a good thing. She also includes a chapter of advice she has learned across the years, which is helpful, as well as a chapter on the importance of the number 22 to her life.
All in all, I enjoyed reading the book and learning more about this woman and the life she has led.
July 16, 2023
This is the memoir of a woman I went to elementary school with. I remember Sharon and Tam on the bus, and talked with Sharon a few times. Tamara always seemed shy and sad, but I didn’t know why until now. They had a miserable home life (just a couple miles from where I live) with a father who was abusive in many ways. Tam struggled a lot during her youth, but worked hard and eventually did very well with her life and has had a good marriage and seems to have raised her sons well. The last part of the book is about the challenges of taking care of her mother who had Alzheimer’s.
The book was very interesting, but as others have noted, the writing is somewhat disjointed and the editing could have been better. Heads-up for whom it may concern: there is some coarse language.
The book was very interesting, but as others have noted, the writing is somewhat disjointed and the editing could have been better. Heads-up for whom it may concern: there is some coarse language.
March 18, 2023
Wow, what a read! An amazing story that could only make me think of a Phoenix rising from the ashes. Tam writes in such a way that I felt as though I was right there through the ups and downs, trials and tribulations as she experienced them. My heart broke with each turn of the page in the beginning. Then, a ray of hope. The light came through, and it was wonderful to see things go up, up, and up. Of course, no life is perfect, and even with happiness found, the past can still leave scars on our hearts. I could feel that in Tam's words as she healed from her trauma. I'd like to recommend this book to my readers, because it's a true marathon in someone else's shoes.
March 20, 2023
This captivating memoir will take you on a journey through heartbreaking and uplifting moments alike. Tam hasn't had an easy life, but she has a lot of heart and inner strength. She shares not only what she's gone through, but what she's learned, although this isn't meant to be a self-help book. It's a memoir in the truest sense of the word, spanning her entire life and not focusing on one time period or theme. It can feel a bit disjointed in places, but overall the message flows through. (Although if you aren't a fan of stream-of-consciousness style, this might not be for you). Overall, a wonderfully emotional read, and a peek into an interesting life.
March 21, 2023
Tam drew me in immediately with her childhood story. I had to buy the book. She spoke of her troubles throughout her whole life, her heartaches, her pain, as well as her many accomplishments. I hope she reaches her goal and inspires many others on her healing journey! Congrats and good luck Tam.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews