Customer Reviews

My Father's House: A Memoir of Incest and of Healing

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I loved this book and read every word but I gave it a 3 because I was confused with some of the other person accounts. The Other Self. I am very well aware that the author was probably a multiple personality but i found the other confusing at times. this is the only book I have read by Frazer and am not sure I will seek out another. I felt sorry for Danny who deserved better. But then I don't think I was sexually abused as a child so how can I condemn one who was? [...]