Kimberley > Recent Status Updates

“The human brain is finite […] but the mind within the brain is infinite. Its storage capacity is colossal, its imaginative reach beyond our ability to comprehend. I think when a man or woman dies, a whole world falls to ruin—the world that person knew and believed in. [B]illions of people on earth, and each one of those billions with a world inside. The earth their minds have conceived.“ (p. 39)

Going back to Shari‘s recount of her being sexually groomed and sexually abused by a respected member of the LDS church, it is beyond me to understand how there were no consequences for the perpetrator. It seems that Shari, to this day, stands loyal to the very church that enabled and later on excused the abuse.

Having read Ruby Franke‘s journals and having seen the evidence released by the Washington County Attorney‘s Office of Utah, one can only imagine the horrors Shari had to endure reading and seeing the evidence of her siblings‘ abuse. The trauma these kids have to live with their whole lives is unimaginable and atrocious. Their father who let this happen deserves to rot in jail for life, next to Ruby.

Revisiting the chapter in which Shari describes being sexually abused by her older mentor, who was a respected member of the LDS church and abused his position and authority but especially instrumentalized Shari‘s powerlessness in her already weakened mental state to prey on her while she was suffering a panic attack and further descending into the fawning response. This part is incredibly hard to read.

Writing had its flaws, but all in all captivating story with a plot twist that makes your head spin and is quite enjoyable. Not gonna lie—part one was kind of triggering for someone who has worked in that sort of entitled, rich people environment.

Another amazing story by Fredrik Backman. His writing perfectly captures today‘s Society and its quirks in a humorous way that makes you stop and think.

Better than the first one; still not convinced.

Through intricately constructed narration, the reader can observe how Shari‘s mental health already suffered under her mother’s tyranny in her early childhood; only amplified by the impact that the family business as influencers on “8 Passengers” had. Her anxiety had already developed before she was 5; and later resulted in anxiety attacks, depression, OCD in form of skin picking, and suicidal thoughts.

This is not an easy read. Shari Franke‘s writing is incredibly good and listening to her narrate the story of her early childhood to young teenage years while her mother constructed the very successful business of her mommy vlog that ended up ruining Shari‘s as well as her siblings‘ lives is hard to digest.

“Losing my mom was the worst, most devastating thing that had ever happened to me. When I lost her, I didn’t just lose my mom. I lost my hero. My biggest fan. My fiercest protector and my wisest, most patient teacher, who taught me everything from my first ballet lessons to honesty, to not being defined by my circumstances […]“ (p. 149)

I just love these books. The author manages to incorporate so many current issues that teenagers and young adults are dealing with. There’s so much awareness for mental health issues and aspects that the LGBTQ+ community is struggling with. I hold so much love and respect for the author and this series. Very sad that Vol. 6 will conclude it.