I almost stop buying this book because of the awful reviews from people who could not stand the novel because the detailed description of the rape. It is sad that they miss this wonderful story because of that. It is just not fair. Life is life, with beauty and ugliness, with good and bad, even if we avoid reading about it, it is just is. I rather read this novel, with the rape and everything than lose my time reading “The fifty shades of grey”, that is only garbage.
Additionally, the reader is amazing. Is one of the best one I recommend this book specially to mothers who prefer to close the eyes instead of standing up.
By the way, regarding the last chapter, the writer does not need to apologize for anything.

Ordinarily, I dislike reviewers who don't finish the book but feel O.K. about writing reviews. This time, I have to make an exception in the hopes of sparing others. I simply could not finish this book. The graphic descriptions of the sexual molestation of a small child, the physical abuse, the deeply disturbing recounting of the child's masturbation were all too horrifying. The narration was fine, but the story itself left me feeling sick to my stomach. I did not get the sense of this book from the publisher's summary or the sample, and I think I am much too squeamish (hopefully read human) to get through this feeling even a little O.K. Maybe it gets better later, and the girl grows up to overcome her childhood trauma and there's some kind of good and positive ending that would make this less monsterous, but I couldn't get there to find it over the overwhelming awful of the first half.

I know some people were turned off by the child molestation in this book, but the fact is that it happens so often to kids, maybe if we could read the signs of the child and the adults around them, more of it could be prevented. For these reasons, I found the story interesting, believable, and sadly informative. I felt such empathy for the protagonist, for almost more than the physical abuse, the mental abuse she endured. And FYI, the mom sucks..

this is a story all should must read. It is haunting, memorable and inspiring. the truth of child abuser and take must be confronted head on. it is not pretty and this book is masterful.

I was sometimes overwhelmed with Ruth Anne’s story, enraged at other times and downright broken-hearted for her. This is a story that needs telling, but the subject matter makes you feel helpless. Spoiler alert - this does not have a Hollywood happy ending...the ending makes you mad at it’s injustice.

it's a shame that jealousy and abuse exists in our families.....much food for thought, I remember watching the tv movie of this and it disturbed me so much I thought about it for days.

This was a powerful story that is not for the faint of heart. It gives a voice to the powerless abused children of the world

At first I didn't think I would like it, but soon I couldn't stop listening to the story.

I put off listening to this book, but so glad I finally did. It's rare I would call a novel 'profound,' but this one fills the bill. It is a 'novel,' as the author reminds us in the Afterward. However, I felt as if I were living the real life of a southern family and the abused child of one of their members. Mamma dearly loved her baby girl, born out of wedlock at a time and place where that was not generally accepted by society. Illegitimate was stamped on her child's birth certificate. Mamma later married and had another baby girl. Things were idyllic for a while until tragedy struck and she lost her husband. A few years later she remarried and the stepfather entered the picture. Life was good for this new family for a while, but gradually began to unravel as difficulties came along. This is a story that echos the real life struggles and cruelty and frailties of too many of us. As one man told the author years later ...You told my story. I'm sure many of us could say the same thing. Moving and profound in its message.

Read Hillbilly Eligy, then read this novel, then ask yourself how we as a society can support positive change.