Who's Afraid of the Dark?: A Forum of Truth, Support, and Assurance for Those Affected by Rape [Paperback]

Cynthia Carosella (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1995

In this powerful collection of writings, rape survivors openly discuss how they cope with the long term affects of rape, providing desperately needed support and reassurance to other rape survivors and those who care for them.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In this powerful collection of writings, rape survivors openly discuss how they cope with the long-term effects of rape, providing desperately needed support and reassurance to other rape survivors and those who care for them.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Perennial; 1st edition (January 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060950722
• ISBN-13: 978-0060950729
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,355,884 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Transformation, April 23, 2002

By 

Candy (Milwaukee, Wi, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who's Afraid of the Dark?: A Forum of Truth, Support, and Assurance for Those Affected by Rape (Paperback)

To anyone who's experienced the horror of rape, it's just that a horror. I had a messed up situation and denied what really happened for the better part of a year and half. When i came to terms with what happened to me i felt better, but there was still something wrong.
I used to get angry for no reason, forget anything sexual that was playful, i would freak out. Once my boyfriend was just tickling me but he held my wrist down and i flipped!
I had to read a book for pyschology class and i found this. It's become my new bible! It shows you that one, you aren't alone, and two; there are reasons why years after its happened to you that you still aren't your complete self. It helped me understand why i behaved certain ways. It gave me closure to the situation and a clear path to walk, so that i could continue to heal. I thank my lucky stars for this book, if i hadn't stumbled apon it i wouldn't be where i am today. And i still wouldn't be able to look in the mirror.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Honest but unfinished, April 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Who's Afraid of the Dark?: A Forum of Truth, Support, and Assurance for Those Affected by Rape (Paperback)

This book is a compilation of several women's and men's experiences of rape. Graphic and difficult to read in places, it can definitely help a survivor of rape feel not so alone. What the book lacked, however, was a sense of moving on...the idea that one can move beyond the trauma of rape to embrace a full and satisfying life and even thrive in that life. There were only one or two accounts that addressed building a life worth living. Survivors desperately need to know that there can and will be more to life than the consuming agony that sexual assault brings with it. Survivors need to know that with hard work and perseverence they can move beyond the pain. This book fails to deliver that message. It was incredibly depressing to read several accounts which focused solely on the misery of life , unbearable pain and hopelessness. While it is a gift to not feel alone, we need more than that. We all need to know that healing and leading a full life is possible...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to read, March 14, 2000

By 

M. Susan Marquart (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who's Afraid of the Dark?: A Forum of Truth, Support, and Assurance for Those Affected by Rape (Paperback)

This book is one of about 30 written by rape survivors that tell their own stories. I have tried to read this book twice now, and both times I've gotten so depressed halfway through that I've had to put it away. The 30 entries include poetry and personal essays, and though they are written with the idea of helping other victims, I find them too short to provide resolution. The result for me is a collection of 30 horror stories without much comfort. One contributor was raped eight times and other was raped five times -- I feel like I'd need to be tougher to finish this book. Yes, there were many things that I related to as a rape survivor; yes, the appendix has a lot of useful information that I haven't found elsewhere; and yes, it's one of the only times I've heard from male victims (two entries). However, overall, I recommend caution when approaching this collection.