Customer Reviews

I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As always when I read non-fiction, I look for a glimpse into the lives of others, to discover facets of life I have not experienced. And, thank heaven, I have not had to go through what this gallant woman endured. And endure she has! She came back from the most hideous abuses a woman can suffer, and then had to deal with a long physical recovery and the public's insistance on politicizing her violation -- which would have seemed to me to be yet another violation, and added pressure I certainly didn't need when fighting to recover from my physical and mental faculties. Yet Trisha managed to focus on the positive, to take strength from love and support from family and friends (many she'll never meet) and was nourished by her spiritual side. If Trisha profits from my purchase of this book, I am glad. For I feel I profited from her story, her strength and her honesty. And I'm sure that there are countless women all across the country who do not feel that the brutalization of another woman is "yesterday's news," and will also feel inspired by this wonderful story. Trisha is living proof that the human spirit can rise above anything!

I am only 20 years old, So I do not remember hearing about the Central Park Jogger until recently. I was in shock to hear that someone would have the power to survive such a brutal attack. I am now motivated to live my life to the fullest. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks they have nothing worth living for or to anyone who needs a reality check! Awesome read! Awesome Book!

Trisha Meili's account of her life and ordeal is moving and touching, but in a surprising way. Trisha does not make herself out to be a hero, nor does she overly dramatize her close encounter with death and the slow and painful recovery process she went through. In the expression of who she is before she was violently attacked and who she after, she is humble and shows her own vulnerabilities. True to her own personality, she shows her strength by showing her healing process in hopes that others will learn from her own discoveries; it succeeds at being both an emotional and an intellectual account.

Trisha's very personal account of her ability to find happiness in a world that is often cruel is interesting and insightful and solidifies that she is a great a role model and teacher to others. Her ability to love and give has not been hindered by her misfortune, instead it has been strengthened. Perhaps this observation is something we all should pay attention to, as Trisha's great attitutde and happiness seem to be directly related to her view that it is essential that she uses her talents and gifts to continue to add value and meaning to her own life.

Aside from the sheer miracle of her physical recovery, I am most amazed by her emotional and mental recovery. Trisha never wanted anyone to feel sorry for her and wanted to earn everything she got. She is a brave and inspiring woman, and I am happy she has found her soulmate to share her amazing life. This book is a must read for anyone who needs a figurative kick in the pants to get motivated to do . . . anything!

I've found this book to be very moving and inspiring. To read what Ms. Meili has overcome puts life's troubles in perspective. I wish her much happiness and success.

PS- to "A Reader" from NYC - your review is truly tasteless. Perhaps you should re-read the book - I don't think you get it.

I was too young to know what was going on around Trisha's brutal attack in 1989 but felt compelled to read her book 14 years later. I can't read it fast enough. I have never met her but I feel so proud of her - like she is a personal friend. Trisha writes many horrific details of what happend to her, how she has struggled to become the woman she is today and what is means to be a survivor. I find myself praying for her and thanking God for taking care of her. I am amazed by her strength, perseverance, and openess. It is a gift from God that she does not remember what happened to her. She knows what it is to be a survivor and we can all learn from her!!

I listened to the audio version of the Central Park Jogger, and my heart went out to her. My only negative thought was, she should have had someone else do the reading of her audio version. Her experience, survival, and eventual support of other victims was very interesting. I admire her courage. I would have liked to learn more about the trial and the person who was eventally caught and convicted. And I would have liked to know more about the original group of boys who were put on trial. In any event,it was an okay book and I hope it brings some peace to Trish for having written it, and to other victims.

Yes, this book is courageous and inspiring. Many reviewers have already said that & they are accurate. I, like many others, wondered who "the jogger" was. She has come forward in this honest autobiography and revealed herself to be a person of exceptional strength. One would think a story like hers would be filled with sadness and fear. There is not one ounce of self pity in her tale of recovery. Instead this book is very positive. Full of hope. Brimming with gratitude for those who helped her along the way. Ms. Meili does not for one moment dwell on the depravity and cruelty that led to her attack. Instead she focuses on humanity's goodness. Unbelievable for someone who has endured such suffering at the hands of her fellow human beings! I was especially heartened by her tales celebrating the kindness of strangers. People she never even met who wrote to her, sent her gifts and prayed for her recovery. All in all, a very positive and hopeful story of an amazing recovery.

Way to Go, Trisha! And a long, long way it has been at that. As a jogger and someone at the time employed by a venerated financial firm, I was horrified in 1989 to learn of your vicious assault. O the sorrow and the rage! Reading this book answers many of the questions about you and presents the tremendous obstacles you had to hurtle -- physically, mentally, and spiritually. A good read for the sincere manner of its presentation.

Heard I AM THE CENTRAL PARK JOGGER, written and read
by Trisha Meili . . . it is the true story of the author who on April
19, 1989, went out for a solo jog near 102nd Street in New York
City's Central Park . . . as you may recall, she was attacked,
raped, savagely beaten and left for dead.

Somehow, she managed to survive . . . and this book is the inspiring
story of how she did so.

How she fought back from not even being able to do such
simple things as read time and walk made me feel blessed for
all that I do have (and often take for granted) . . . I was especially
moved about how she even resumed her career as a runner . . . and
gained greater insight into what make folks do that activity . . . the
key, at least according to Meili, is to set a goal and work toward
accomplishing it.