A chilling recollection of a child's experience with incest and an encouraging story of a woman's healing and forgiveness.
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My Father's House: a Memoir of Incest and of Healing
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From Publishers Weekly
In a memory breakthrough, Canadian novelist Fraser (Berlin Solstice, etc.) realized as she began her sixth novel, one dealing with incest, that she was recalling her own experience with her father, which amnesia had concealed for 40 years from her consciousness. The author recounts how her personality at the time split in two with the creation of a second self that assumed the repellent relationship with her father, although it surfaced in sudden rages and convulsions, and later, despite a happy marriage, in inexplicable depressions and sexual violence in her fiction. With compelling novelistic impact, Fraser relates through ever more portentous and specific dreams and mysterious forebodings the shattering moment of revelation 10 years after her father's death. Acknowledgment brought not only liberation of the other, long-suppressed self but forgiveness for her father and for herself. Major ad/promo; Literary Guild featured alternate; author tour.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
In this stunningly powerful memoir, Fraser, a successful Canadian journalist and novelist, recaptures a childhood that had been repressed for 40 years. She had no conscious memory of the incestuous sexual abuse to which she had been subjected. She was burdened, however, by emotional deadness and inexplicable depressions. Memories seeped through in dreams and in the sexual violence of her novels. Here, she tells her story with eloquence, compassion, and almost unbearable candor. Fraser's literary skill recaptures a child's understanding; contemplates her conflicted adolescence; and traces, finally, the healing process. A bestseller in Canada. Essential. Literary Guild alternate. Sally Mitchell, Temple Univ., Philadelphia
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By momo_4_ever
Format:Paperback
I work at an agency that provides services to women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, and I found this book in our library. I kept noticing the title and finally I started reading it. I could not put it down. I have heard some devastating and heartbreaking stories, but this one blew me away. I love Sylvia's style of writing and her authenticity. This book is real and powerful. It describes the horrible and common long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse. I can't imagine the pain and sorrow the author felt throughout her life. I highly recommend this book, especially to those who support someone who has been sexually abused and need to understand the devastating effects of childhood sexual abuse.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
4 reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Finely Crafted Novel
Oct 22 1999
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
The topic of incest might be enough to drive away many potential readers of Sylvia Fraser's book, but there is so much more to be discovered if the reader takes a chance. I find Ms. Fraser to be fearless in opening herself onto the pages, exposing the good and the bad within herself, her family, and society. The events of her life, her journey through marriage, the rediscovery of her self and the integration of all her memories was at once joyful, inspiring, sad, tragic, and true. The detailed imagery took me back to the 1950s, a decade before I was born, to experience it as if I had lived through those years with her. I can truly say this is one of the better written books I've had to pleasure to read and my admiration of it's technical construction and voice has inspired a wish that I might someday write that well. I reread this book at least once a year and I've looked long and hard for other books by Sylvia Fraser, as I know she's written one titled Pandora's Box, but, alas, have not found them in print anywhere. Since I know the author is from Canada, I'm hoping someone will comment here and let me know where I might get copies. Sylvia, if you're reading this, hope you are well, living life to the fullest, have a few cats in your life, and are still writing more novels for me to discover.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Vivid Memoir
Nov 13 2006
By wanderingkat
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Though I was often saddened or outraged by things happening in this memoir, I was never bored reading it. This tragic tale of a young girl coming of age under dire circumstances is written with the utmost skill and care. Reading this, I was often moved by Sylvia's experiences, but more than anything else, I was moved by her strength. This story is told with honesty and courage, but not with an attitude searching for sympathy. Despite everything, Ms. Fraser admits at the end of her memoir that she loved her father, which can be the most complicated emotion of all. I would unconditionally recommend this book to anyone with an interest in abnormality psychology or any related subject. This is a truly beautifully written memoir.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful and captivating work of art
Jun 16 2005
By Cathleen M. Walker
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Incest is a complicated topic even for those who have lived it. The author begins her story with the earliest memories that she has and back and forth, back and forth, they begin to unfold as they so often do.
Her awareness of her issues, of her family and of the times is uncanny; and her ability to spin them into words is a painful pleasure to read.
I learned nothing intellectual I didn't already know -- but I enjoyed sharing the journey with someone who understood so much about what she had been through, and who didn't mind sharing the healing.
Her awareness of her issues, of her family and of the times is uncanny; and her ability to spin them into words is a painful pleasure to read.
I learned nothing intellectual I didn't already know -- but I enjoyed sharing the journey with someone who understood so much about what she had been through, and who didn't mind sharing the healing.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 4 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
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