My Story

By: Elizabeth Smart, Chris Stewart

Narrated by: Elizabeth Smart

Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

For the first time, 10 years after her abduction from her Salt Lake City bedroom, Elizabeth Smart reveals how she survived and the secret to forging a new life in the wake of a brutal crime.

On June 5, 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart, the daughter of a close-knit Mormon family, was taken from her home in the middle of the night by religious fanatic Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee. She was kept chained, dressed in disguise, repeatedly raped, and told she and her family would be killed if she tried to escape. After her rescue on March 12, 2003, she rejoined her family and worked to pick up the pieces of her life.

Now for the first time, in her memoir, My Story, she tells of the constant fear she endured every hour, her courageous determination to maintain hope, and how she devised a plan to manipulate her captors and convinced them to return to Utah, where she was rescued minutes after arriving. Smart explains how her faith helped her stay sane in the midst of a nightmare and how she found the strength to confront her captors at their trial and see that justice was served.

In the nine years after her rescue, Smart transformed from victim to advocate, traveling the country and working to educate, inspire and foster change. She has created a foundation to help prevent crimes against children and is a frequent public speaker. In 2012, she married Matthew Gilmour, whom she met doing mission work in Paris for her church, in a fairy tale wedding that made the cover of People magazine.

©2013 Elizabeth Smart (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Very moving

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes

What did you like best about this story?

Happy Ending

What does Elizabeth Smart bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

her voice and emotion that would would not get from just reading the book

compelling and inspiring

I enjoyed the story and was inspired by her courage. I know the author is not an actress but the reading was a little dull but I appreciated hearing her emotion in her own story.

I was afraid to read it....

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes... I would recommend this book! At first I was afraid to read it. I have a young daughter and I thought I would be quite disturbed and horrified to the point that I would be parnoid that something like this would happen to her. However knowing the outcome of her story, made reading it bearable.

What about Elizabeth Smart’s performance did you like?

I love that this audio book was read by Elizabeth herself! It gave the story so much more meaning. At first her voice seemed a little monotone, but I felt that she warmed up throughout the book. I like that she added emphasis where she would have wanted it. I love to hear the sarcasim is her voice when she talked about Mitchell.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The very end was fabulous. The book ends soon after she is rescued. Smart talks briefly about how she recovered from her trauma. It is so inspiring to hear how she understood the power of choice in her life!

Incredible

Amazing! Truly an inspiration. Elizabeth shows how to be grateful and exercise your faith in God and yourself.

Inspiring

Remarkable young lady with strength beyond her years. Must Read for anyone especially a young adult.

Captivating!

This story is unlike any other. Smart does such an incredible job of telling her story. I was joyful and filled with sorrow. What happened to her is unreal, but I’m thankful to hear her story and to see how her faith prevailed.

Inspiring

Although this memoir is troubling and so sad I found it inspiring and hopeful. We all have trials in life that seem bigger than anyone else's. Elizabeth exemplifies how to endure through even the most horrific trials and even progress during and after them as a person. Incredible women and I'm so thankful she shared her story.

One of the best books out there

I enjoyed listening to Elizabeth tell her story in her own words. The courage and strength she shows throughout her ordeal is inspiring.

Pure Strength!

What an incredibly strong and intelligent woman! I am grateful for her willingness to share and feel empowered by her example of gratitude. Truly amazing and love that she herself is the narrator.

empowering

couldnt put it down. well written and narrated. definitely 5 star read. would highly recommend