Title: How I Survived Physical, Emotional, Verbal, and Mental Abuse
Author: Starr
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-7283-7297-6
Pages: 50
Genre: Memoir/ Religion
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent
Pacific Book Review
How I Survived Physical, Emotional, Verbal, and Mental Abuse is a searing and emotional book about how faith can lead a person to overcome hardships. Author Starr has written a book that will inspire readers. This book tells the story of Starr’s surviving emotional trauma which started when she was a child. She witnessed the physical and emotional abuse of her mother by her father that greatly impacted her life. She also writes about how she overcame abuse herself in her relationships.
Starr writes eloquently about how she overcome her traumatic past through her faith in God. She writes movingly about how her mother instilled faith in her despite the difficulties in their lives as she writes in the book: ‘As often as I think back to, mom would send us to Sunday School. I believe it was during those times that I became aware that there is a God. I may not be able to recollect every single thing I learned there, but I do call to mind my mother personally reading to us children, bible stories every Sunday. I remember Mom relating to us the story of Daniel, who was thrown into the den of hungry lions. Nevertheless, none of those vicious creatures harmed him. God sent an angel to protect Daniel from the lions.’
Starr also blends her life story into her favorite Biblical stories that inspired her. She deftly blends her stories of strength with stories from the Bible like Joseph who went from being a prisoner to being a counselor to a Pharaoh. She also writes beautifully about how she forgave the abusive people in her life through her faith. Her life lessons from the Bible about forgiveness add a poignant message to the text.
Starr’s writing is a mixture of personal and spiritual. Her writing shows that perseverance and love can overcome any problem. How I Survived also stresses the importance of how forgiveness can help people heal from trauma.
How I Survived Physical, Emotional, Verbal, and Mental Abuse would be best for readers who want to learn about how to cope with difficult life events. The book would also be best for survivors of abuse or friends and family members that want to support abuse survivors. How I Survived would also be best for people who are spiritual and want to read stories about how God can help people. Even people who are not religious will be inspired by this powerful book. How I Survived Physical, Emotional, Verbal, and Mental Abuse is an unforgettable book about love, faith, and forgiveness.
