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My father's house
a memoir of incest and of healing
First published 1987 · 279 pages
A harrowing but ultimately restorative journey through the fractured memories of childhood trauma.
What it feels like
Reading this memoir is a heavy, haunting, yet profoundly courageous experience. The narrative moves at a steady, deliberate pace, reflecting the arduous process of unearthing deeply buried memories. It immerses the reader in a somber atmosphere clouded by lingering pain, terror, and guilt, capturing the psychological reality of dissociation where a twin bears the brunt of unspeakable trauma. The prose is unflinching and introspective, guiding the reader through the dark corridors of family secrets and the long shadow of abuse. Ultimately, the emotional arc bends toward catharsis and integration. It is a vital read for those drawn to candid, powerful accounts of surviving childhood sexual abuse and the difficult, necessary journey toward healing and wholeness.
- Mood
- heavy
- haunting
- painful
- cathartic
- Tone
- reflective
- candid
- somber
- earnest
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- dissociation and memory · childhood trauma · the long shadow of abuse · healing and reclamation · family secrets
- The writing
- Introspective and unflinching, navigating the fractured landscape of memory with raw honesty.
- The arc
- Moves from the fragmented terror and buried guilt of childhood trauma toward a painful but necessary integration and healing.
- Who it's for
- Readers seeking profound, courageous memoirs about surviving severe childhood trauma and the complex psychology of dissociation.
Content notes
- incest
- child sexual abuse
- trauma and dissociation
- psychological distress
About the book
From the age of seven, Fraser shared her body with a "twin" who lived a separate life-- doing the things her father made her do. As an adult, she had no recollection of a sexual relationship with her father, yet some connection always remained-- pain, terror and guilt dulled the surface of her life.
Description from Open Library.
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