Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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...

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.

If you are searching for comfort and understanding in a book -- buy this immediately. This is the book you've been looking for. Written entirely by survivors of sexual assault (both male and female) this book will help you get past the emotional isolation you feel. A great first book for someone dealing with the trauma of sexual violence.

This book will help many, will astound a few and will effect each person that reads it.
An interesting anecdote about the publication of this book: Cynthia Carosella, the author, invited all of us who wrote a chapter out to dinner to celebrate its publishing. She told us the Oprah Winfrey was interested in possibly featuring us, the authors, on her show. Well, to make a long story short, her interest died when O. J. made headlines w/ his bad behavior.
It seems that this subject refuses to bring any comfort to its victims ...
I am grateful to have written my chapter. I am grateful to review this book years later.
Look me up if you want proof of fabulous living post rape trauma. Karen Ford LaVigne

More than any other book, therapist, or group counseling session, this book communicates the difficulties of surviving a rape. To hear such a range of stories, but see how survivors are all affected so similarly was hugely helpful.