Customer Reviews

The Truth about Malarkey

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Dee Miller's Book, "The Truth About Malarkey" is excellent. Many people do not understand the issues surrounding the often devastating impact of clergy sexual abuse on victims and their families, and on the churches in which this happens. This book gives a very realistic "inside look" into the dymanics -- the denial, ignorance, and minimization that tends to harm victims even further. It is a wake-up call for churches. I consider this worthwhile reading for all church members and leaders, even if they have never thought about these issues before.

Kevin Gourley, President & Founder, AdvocateWeb.org

The Truth about Malarkey by Dee Ann Miller First Books 2000

Dee Miller has written a novel about the devastation caused by clergy sexual abuse, not only to adult women and adolescents betrayed by their pastors, but also to congregations, other pastors, and even children conceived in abusive relationships. Very cleverly Ms. Miller uses a 92 year old grandmother as the narrator and letters to her grandson to be read someday when he is older as the vehicle to tell her story.

A pastor is invited to return to a mega-church he served years before as a guest speaker for the 35th anniversary celebration. At first all seem pleased, but the new young assistant pastor notices one woman's pain and inspires the trust of her confidence. Once he knows, he takes her story to the pastor, who tells him to forget it, but he cannot. Ms. Miller uses her extensive communication with survivors to weave a story of the denial and blaming the victim and blaming the messenger in one nondenominational congregation that could be most churches anywhere.

As a survivor myself, I found the book less than fun to read. I was relieved it is short. But I am glad I read it. I left my church before I could experience all of the pain characters in The Truth about Malarkey feel. This book is fiction, but I know Dee Miller did not invent the responses to news that a trusted professional has misused his power. I hope many will read this book and ponder it's message.

Mary Isabel Steele