Customer Reviews

When Rabbit Howls

5 star:		(78)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This book is very gripping and very emotional. You will feel everything as you read The Troop's account of their lives: happiness, terror, revulsion, anger, joy. This is no easy read; the Troop's are hard to follow and the content is so striking. But it gave me a more complete understanding of this disorder, and how we cope with it. It caused me to feel a need for much more help for those who suffer with it, and possibly not just in the field of psychology. I gained a greater insight into my own personality, and while I am not a mutiple, I have been able to recognize several "selves" I created to cope with my own life. I believe every human does this. It is with the multiples, however, that it moves in much deeper levels. I also caught a glimpse of the divine in the Troop's story. I saw the activity of the soul and even the influence of those who have not incarnated. This is a wide, terrifying, exhilarating ride. You will cry with the injustice of what happened to these people, but you will also glow with their ability to survive. I thank each one of them and I send my blessings.

The Human Spirit is resilient and the mind of the child born as Truddi Chase and who became the Troops are pioneers for those who have until recently no voice ... she exposes poignantly the horror, the pain and the marvelous way a mind can protect itself through the creation of many to help cope with the devastation heaped on her by two very deranged people, who called themselves parents. The movie based on the book is Voices Within and does a good job ... but read this book if you or anyone you know is a multiple and/or a survivor of intense and long term abuse. Troops thank you all!

Truddi Chase has taken a chance (one that has paid off well) in her book "When Rabbit Howls". I personally have to tip my hat to her for examining a traumatical experience that is still kept (sorrowfully) in the back of mainstream society today.

Sad as it may be, too many people still misunderstand Multiple-Personality-Disorder (MPD). It is quite probably the least understood of all of the afflictions that are grouped under the banner of "Depression". Anyone who would stop for a minute and actually look into the number of Depression cases, and MPD in particular, would be shocked to learn the numbers that are medical fact.

Truddi Chase takes the reader along a roller-coaster ride that examines the creation and development of MPD. While there are as many different methods and reasons as to why this happens as there are people afflicted, Truddi examines this in such exquisite detail that is so realistic that it actually holds some fright for the reader. Fright in the manner of thoroughly explaining what goes on in the mind of someone suffering from this, and how it develops from something that too many people believe are events that aren't so terrible.

Mental illness in any form is a tragic thing for anyone to go through. At times, it is hard to determine on whom it is worse - the person suffering, or the person living and dealing with the sufferer. The best way to cope with either situation is to understand the affliction, and this is precisely what Truddi does here. She presents it in a manner that can be understood and appreciated. This is one book that I would recommend everyone read at least once so that at least some basic understanding of this disease can be made, without any of the conclusions that many (unfortunately so) reach when this subject is brought to bear.

As a young girl, Truddi Chase suffered horrors that only some can bear to even dream about. All her life, she remembered the horrors, and she was seemingly strangled by them. Her only escape was her mind, and she locked herself away in it. Years went by and slowly she created ninety-two different personalities, all with their own names and even features. Now, in the book When Rabbit Howls, she finally expresses the life of an abused child who suffered from something far beyond a mental illness.

This book was far, far beyond nice. It was beautifully written and was so powerful that you couldn't help but be drawn to certain characters and memories. While reading many books, people look to be drawn completely into the story. However, in When Rabbit Howls you need to rely on your mind to help you get through some of the more complex memories. This was a book that made you use your mind, not just solve out every problem for you. For instance, in chapter 17, page 173, she begins to describe her new memories as such, "Into the woman's half-awake mind fell an image of cylindrical rough stone walls and a quavering reflection in the water below. A sense of movement gripped her; she became dizzy. Long, thin, living shapes rushed at a downward angle past the periphery of her half awake mind.

Except that there wasn't one snake, there were many and they weren't on the bed now. They rained down on the tiny creature hanging in the well, the child who swayed back and forth in some contraption made by man, that only the devil himself could have contrived." This was, to me, one of the more complex memories and I pondered over it until, finally, after reading over more of the book, they explained it.

One of the parts I especially enjoyed about it was how, while reading it, and then explaining When Rabbit Howls to my friends and family, the idea of her mind is so surreal, almost impossible to believe, that I almost felt as though I was speaking of a fiction book. Each personality is so wonderfully formed and is so complete that some of the ones who have `died' in her mind due to especially traumatizing events give you an odd feeling of depression that made me feel like crying or running to some safe corner of my room. Another part that I enjoyed was the perfect feeling of frustration and helplessness that Truddi Chase depicts in her writing. In chapter 22, the last sentence is "...and sanity seemed a very fragile thing." This shows how her world is finally beginning it make sense and, while that is happening, it is also falling apart.

One of the parts I considered most frustrating about the book was the ending. I shall not reveal the specific part that frustrated me so but I must say that it was not an angry frustration but that of feeling incapable to fully grasp a subject clearly beyond your reach. No matter how much I consider it, the idea of Truddi Chase's mind is something I will never quite be able to comprehend. Like many, I'm sure, who have read this book I find it such a hard idea to hear or visualize and that really is quite frustrating for those of us who are used to books spelling out the answer for us. If you enjoy books like that, I can assure you that this is not the right one for you. An intellect is required during and after you read the book to at least partly process the information secretly given to you during the course of When Rabbit Howls. Reading this book for pure fun and no learning will get you no where, you must approach it with an intent to learn and think and, most defiantly, be confused beyond belief.

As a counsellor, I have encountered two individuals with Multiple Personality Disorder, a traumatic emotional affliction which is a result of a severe traumatic experience in childhood, generally extreme physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse. The mind has its own unique built-in defense system which has the potential to create other personalities to help absorb the pain, fear and humiliation.

"When Rabbit Howls" is the story of one such woman whose mind "split" and created 92 different personalities. The book gives the reader a clearer understanding of MPD, its's causes and effects, and explains how individuals with MPD can go on to live productive, fulfilling lives with the help of professional therapy.

For those interested in reading of similar cases of MPD, I also suggest reading, "Becoming One," by Sarah Olson, "Sybil" by Flora Rhets Schreiber, "First Person Plural" by Dr. Cameron West, and "Silencing the Voices. All of these are excellent books and each one is deserving of a five-star rating.

When Rabbit Howls is the most powerful emotional awakening I have ever experienced. I recalled many things from my own childhood and old emotions welled up inside me. Never before has a book come to life and wrapped itself around me as this one has. When Rabbit Howls snapped me to attention and awoke all of my senses. I could barely wait to visit the Troops every night when I left my world for theirs, in between the two covers of book. Now that I have finished reading the book, I realize that the Troops live on and there is more to their lives. At this very moment, I wonder what they are doing. The Troops have given me strength to face each new day and I have a better understanding of who I am. My heart is heavy with sorrow for the actual core self of the Troops, a little sleeping angel. This is, without a doubt, the saddest life story I have ever heard about. It's as though the book came to life and I, the reader, became very much a part of what was going on. I wish I knew how the troops are doing today and "Stanley". I never gave it much thought before about people having other selves to live for them because of a sleeping or dead core self. It all makes perfect sense to me now and it explains why I talk to myself sometimes..... I just want to give Truddi Chase and the Troops big hugs! I can not describe to you, the energy I felt, as I read each and every account of the Troops lives. This is one book that I believe everyone should read, there is something in it for everyone, including the outsider. Please let it be known that Truddi Chase and the Troops have accomplished what they have set out to do, they have helped me, a sexually/physically abused self. They will ALWAYS be in my daily thoughts.

I think the book gave me a new perspective on Dissociative Identity Disorder, however it can be a little tough to read and follow as it is written by Truddi Chase herself. In all honesty, I would have much preferred a professional writer to handle this, but I understand the reasoning behind Ms. Chase writing it herself. It can just be a bit confusing to read as it is written from the third-person objective and many passages are written about scenes that occurred when Truddi was not present, making one wonder how much input or writing her psychologist would have had to do himself.

Also, it can be a bit triggering for anyone who has had abuse. The passages and content discussed are very intimate and honest and those who have endured what Truddi has might struggle after reading it. I would definitely recommend reading it as there is still so much stigma and skepticism surrounding D.I.D. and it's worth taking the time to see it from the perspective of someone who has lived with it.

This book is written in a variety of styles. Nevertheless, to read it is to somehow be able to look inside the mind of one unique multiple and experience in a small way the horror she survived.
It is disturbing to the mind of one who has never experienced such a life, but at the same time, I can imagine that it would bring huge relief and confirm much, to the mind of one who has suffered some of the same types of abuse this woman has suffered.
DID is a process whereby the mind is able to split off, in order to protect the core person from the atrocities it has suffered. The alters do a great job of allowing the person to not only survive but function well in everyday life. The time comes though in adulthood when the desire to be normal overrides the desire to continue to function the old way.
With Trudi, she chose not to integrate and also chose to get to know all 90 plus alters, giving each one time. Her story is not over, in that I can find no mention of an update anywhere on the internet. She seems to have faded away.
Reading this book will help the multiple, the therapist and the friend. If you are newly diagnosed or have suffered sexual abuse, be forewarned, there is much graphic detail that will upset you.

Rabbit Howls takes the reader through the time during therapy to uncover the horrors the troops of Truddi Chase live with. It is a gripping story, at times difficult to follow so reading the Introduction, Authors' Note and Epilogue is very enlightening. It is amazing the author was able to create the story from the journal kept, recounting the flashes of memory that gradually lead to the discovery of the 92 different personalities within Truddi Chase. The accounts of traumatic events are shocking. One can understand how healing this effort must be. I can see why this was a NY Times #1 bestseller. A good read to expand your range of books. This book presents some nice thought challenges as you try to figure out what the author is referring to in the writing. Certainly a nice change of pace if you're in a boring reading rut.

Kind of confusing to read and follow, there are many names and things going on and changing frequently. A glossary or guide of some sort may have helped. Interesting journey (and a sad one too) for this lady. I never knew about MPD before and learned a lot about it after reading this book. Some of the abusive things were hard to read and I was/am completely full of anger and rage at her abuser and people like him. Kudos to her for being strong, whether she had MPD or not!