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Ordeal: An Autobiography by Linda Lovelace Hardcover – November 18, 1987

by Mike McGrady (Author), Linda Lovelace (Author)

4.1 1,139 ratings

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Former porno movie star tells the true story of the brutality and horror behind her rise in the business from turning tricks in Florida to starring in "Deep Throat," all under the pressure of her sadistic boyfriend

Print length

253 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Bell Publishing Company
Publication date

November 18, 1987
ISBN-10

0517427915
ISBN-13

978-0517427910
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Linda Lovelace
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Mass Market Paperback
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bell Publishing Company (November 18, 1987)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 253 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0517427915
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0517427910
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds

Best Sellers Rank: #2,230,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,724 in Rich & Famous Biographies
- #22,863 in Women's Biographies

Customer Reviews:
4.1 1,139 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5

1,139 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers find the book very readable and detailed. They also describe the content as excellently told, gritty, and uncomfortable. Opinions are mixed on the story, with some finding it captivating and worth a read, while others say it's questionable. Readers also have mixed feelings about the graphic content, with others finding it shocking and offensive at times.

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Readability Content Story Graphic content Emotional resonance

105 customers mention "Readability"75 positive30 negative

Customers find the book compelling, well written, and a quick read. They also say the story seems plausible.

"...The book is easy to read, but some parts are graphic enough to be hard to understand how anyone could treat another this way." Read more

"...It is an eye opening read and a real look behind the curtain of the porn industry--at least as it was then." Read more

"...Overall the writing was ok and she was pretty blunt about some things...." Read more

"Although this is not the most well written book, I was horrified while reading what this woman faced and had to overcome...." Read more

15 customers mention "Content"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the content excellently told, honest, and open. They also say the writing is blunt about some things, gritty, uncomfortable, and unwavering. Customers also mention the ordeals Linda survived are unbelievable and amazing.

"...Overall the writing was ok and she was pretty blunt about some things...." Read more

"A gritty, uncomfortable but unwavering account of a horrific life endured by Linda...." Read more

"...It was very explicit...and described every detail of her life...." Read more

"This book was so honest and open. Linda told her story and did not hold back...." Read more

38 customers mention "Story"24 positive14 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the story. Some find it captivating and worth a read, while others say that it's questionable, shocking, and sad.

"...Well this was shocking for me. Anyway, I think it is worth a read, but be warned it is very graphic!" Read more

"...Her right to be so. Some of the stories just lack a ring of truth that I can't explain...." Read more

"This was an interesting story that I read from Kindle to Kindle...." Read more

"...I was completely captivated by Linda's words -- although, at times, definitely seemed to be written by an uneducated, almost juvenile pen...." Read more

26 customers mention "Graphic content"13 positive13 negative

Customers are mixed about the graphic content. Some find it very graphic, eye opening, shocking, and scary. Others say it's pretty graphic at times, has some very erotic, vulgar scenes, and is violent.

"...Some of the things that she has done and seen are unbelievable. Very eye opening... makes me view the porn industry in a completely new light...." Read more

"...The book is easy to read, but some parts are graphic enough to be hard to understand how anyone could treat another this way." Read more

"this book is an easy read. Very detailed and graphic. I was sad for what had happened to this poor woman...." Read more

"...Anyway, I think it is worth a read, but be warned it is very graphic!" Read more

15 customers mention "Emotional resonance"10 positive5 negative

Customers find the book very telling, disturbing, and lacking a personal feeling. They also say it's not for the faint of heart and cringe-worthy at times.

"...I have to admit I found this read very disturbing." Read more

"This is a great, detailed book. Sad story actually and I found myself feeling bad for her but happy that she got away from that creep. Good book." Read more

"...to current books with co authors this book seems rushed & lacking a personal feeling to some of the passages but I'm sure for the times it was very,..." Read more

"This is a sad but very intense deep story that I could not stop reading. I highly recommend it though." Read more

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Warren A. Lewis

Sad Situation

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2023

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I've read some of the bad reviews on this book and I find it amazing that in this day with all the biographical movies and television shows where people are held against their will and threatened with death if they attempt to escape, that some readers show no empathy for this woman's situation. I don't doubt some of it may be embellished, but I believe a large part of it. Chuck Trayner should have gone to jail, and I find it truly amazing that some smart lawyer didn't find a way to put him there and recover a large part of the money he had stolen from her. The book is easy to read, but some parts are graphic enough to be hard to understand how anyone could treat another this way.

8 people found this helpful

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Margaret Jett

Your side, their side, and the truth

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2022

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I believe that Linda went through a hellishly awful experience, I don't deny or question that. The facts make sense to a point. I say this as a survivor of domestic abuse myself, that I can 'feel' how true most of this story really is. However, you have to take into consideration the 'your side, their side, and the truth' part of the story. Linda comes across as very pious and judgmental throughout most of the book. Her right to be so. Some of the stories just lack a ring of truth that I can't explain. I think that if you have lived it you can feel what's real and what is...embellished. I'm not trying to diminish what she went through, I am just saying that it's a case of the three faces of the truth. No one tells the whole truth all the time, myself included. We don't like to expose our faults and failures, which is totally human. It is an eye opening read and a real look behind the curtain of the porn industry--at least as it was then.

7 people found this helpful

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tlwillingm

You never know what someone else is going through…

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2023

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Although this is not the most well written book, I was horrified while reading what this woman faced and had to overcome. I hope she’s resting in peace and her son benefits from the books proceeds.

2 people found this helpful

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Brandy

Amazing book.

Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2024

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I thought it was great. I felt so much if not all of her emotions. I'm thankful she wrote this book. I'm thankful she found a new journey. May she RIP

2 people found this helpful

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Kimberlie L.

Raw, graphic, and shocking.

Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2022

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The horrors this woman went through are indescribable, though she does it well. The fact that she came out of this nightmare alive, able to have a family and a somewhat normal life speaks for her incredible strength. I myself cannot begin to imagine what brainwashing or Stockholm Syndrome is like. I've been lucky enough in life to never be in a situation where I would find out, but I do know that they are real and every single day countless young women are victims of it.

Those of us that have young women in our lives need to teach them the signs, the red flags, what to look for, what to do, and how to get out ... to do our best to give them the knowledge that will keep them away from the deviant and depraved men that treat women this way. This is a book I would recommend, to let them learn from others just how bad it can get, instead of them learning for themselves. The Chuck Traynors of the world will always be there to exploit and destroy, because so often there are no repercussions for their actions. Changing that is the only way to make it stop.

11 people found this helpful

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Cathey Dalton

Enlightenment

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2024

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This is enlightening. How could something like this happen in the USA?

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M F

A first hand look of sex-slavery

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2012

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What can one person, who only knows Linda Lovelace by name really say about her? Porn star. You will think twice of labeling her after reading this book. The book takes you on a wild ride re-telling what happened to her (the span of 3 years) after her first encounter Chuck Traynor through a mutual friend. Granted, she was quite naive, but the slow progression of Chuck Traynor slowly starting to groom her is quite frightening. If one ever reads or hears from first account tales of sexually abused childred discribing how their offender preyed upon them, then groomed them to go fo the attack, this was no different for Linda even though she was young adult when it happened. I'm quite sadden how her mother acted towards her, before Chuck Traynor and after Linda married him. Talk about being stuck in 1800s mentality. It also scared me to know how many sick and demented people are out there, even famous people if one can imagine that. Enter crazy explotation things I'm quite embarassed to say but I'm sure she was equally embarassed to hash up those memories. I will certainly never be able to think of a certain named celebrity the same again. Then again, he seemed to have inadvertanly help her without her knowing. It's also without a doubt that sex-slavery/trafficking has always existed, nothing new since the first reports in the 2000s and we have to really realize how huge of a problem it is. I"m glad she found the courage in herself to finally leave Traynor and uncover the horrible tales of her life with him. As she put it, if this happened to a girl from Florida with having a small dream of opening a store in NY, it could certainly happen to any of us.

13 people found this helpful

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Jenni

eh

Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2013

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I wanted to read her book due to her movie coming out. While it seems she led a tragic life, she made some fairly bad decisions. Overall the writing was ok and she was pretty blunt about some things. However, it was slightly annoying that she would say she couldn't or wouldn't talk about something, then turn around and say ok maybe just one example- IN THE BOOK! That is so annoying. All of that should have been taken out because it gives the impression that she is not in control and somebody was trying to convince her to disclose things. Which they most likely were, but it also made me wonder how much was embellished for the sake of publishing. I like books about real-life people, but this one made me wonder how much was what really happened and how much was exaggerated. Now I understand what all the other reviews were talking about when they said she made some of the stuff up. She presents it that way in the book. So if it really happened the way it is in the book, it should have had an honest feel to it.

10 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Gabriel Lemes

Uma história muito triste mas que ensina algumas lições como sempre desconfie.

Reviewed in Brazil on February 23, 2024

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É quase uma tragédia a vida dessa moça e tudo pelo que um ser humano consegue passar e sobreviver pra contar

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Inmaro

What an ordeal

Reviewed in Germany on January 25, 2024

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I got aware of Linda Lovelace because of the movie with Amanda Seyfried. When I realised there is a biography as well, I decided to read it. Well, the movie is good but it doesn't show what happened to Linda in such detail.

Today you would say she fell victim to a pimp, Chuck Traynor: charming at first, but cruel as soon as he held her in his claws and abused her physically, sexually and emotionally. He forced her to work as a hooker and then brought her into the porn industry, where she was the star Linda Lovelace. The film in which she starred is still known today.

She really had to endure an ordeal and it's really impressive that she didn't go nuts by all this. What she describes is often emotionally hard to read as there was so much violence going on. But she must have been a strong person to finally find the strength to free herself from Chuck and not to lose faith in humanity in general. It's not uncommon to be traumatised after such experiences.

As Chuck Traynor published a book portraying her as a sex-driven whatever, it was wise of her to tell her side of the story as well. In my opinion she tells her story matter-of-factly, but not without a touch of irony towards Chuck from time to time.

It's really sad for her not to have gotten help, not to have been heard, when she needed it. Her story is not unique, because it still happens to other girls today.

Unfortunately Linda has already died. I truly hope she's better off wherever she is now.

Nora Estrada

Catching

Reviewed in Mexico on November 5, 2018

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The images that this novel describes are strong, but catching. Once you start reading you can't stop. Is light, continuous, well organised, with clean writing.

L Ruggles

Sad journey

Reviewed in Australia on September 3, 2018

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I had heard of her but never thought this book would reveal her true life ...very sad...not a good life

Pauline

À LIRE !!

Reviewed in France on April 28, 2016

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Livre très intéressant !!!
Un bon complémentaire au film Lovelace avec Amanda Seyfried sorti en 2013 (il me semble). Cependant celui ci est beaucoup plus explicite et nous fait réellement comprendre les motivations ainsi que le milieu de porno en général.

Avant toutes choses il est important de savoir que certains passages pourraient choquer certaines personnes après si vous pensez que vous en faite partie réfléchissez quand même avant de le lire.
De plus, ce livre est écrit en anglais (en tout cas je l'ai reçu en anglais) mais il n'est pas difficile à comprendre si l'on a les bases et ce lit même assez rapidement.

BONNE LECTURE !!!

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