Finding Me

A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed

By: Michelle Knight, Michelle Burford

Narrated by: Maria Cabezas

Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Michelle was a young single mother when she was kidnapped by a local school bus driver named Ariel Castro. For more than a decade afterward, she endured unimaginable torture at the hand of her abductor. In 2003 Amanda Berry joined her in captivity, followed by Gina DeJesus in 2004. Their escape on May 6, 2013, made headlines around the world.

Barely out of her own tumultuous childhood, Michelle was estranged from her family and fighting for custody of her young son when she disappeared. Local police believed she had run away, so they removed her from the missing persons lists fifteen months after she vanished. Castro tormented her with these facts, reminding her that no one was looking for her, that the outside world had forgotten her. But Michelle would not be broken.

©2014 Lillian Rose Lee (P)2014 Recorded Books

A True House of Horrors!

Having read the horrifying experiences of Amanda Smart and Jayce Dupree, I really didn't think that anything would surprise me that much. I was so wrong. Finding Me is the story of Michelle Knight's abduction and captivity at the hands of a true madman. What makes this story stand out is the author's ability to count her blessings and find joy in a life that has been so incredibly cruel. The life that was interrupted was not the idyllic world of Amanda Smart, or even the less than perfect (but stable) world of Jayce Dupree. Michelle's childhood was one that was marred by neglect and brutal sexual abuse at the hands of her own family members. The only light in her dark life was her son, who had been taken from her after the child was attacked and injured by a family member. This young woman had suffered enough for a lifetime even before she was was taken by Ariel Castro.
It's hard to imagine how she could have survived the eleven years that followed.
Michelle was trying in earnest to get to a visitation with her son, when she took a ride from the father of her friend. The next eleven years was a horror movie more terrifying than anything Hollywood could produce.
In the Dupree story, where the girl was held captive from age eleven to 29 years old, the abductor had an occasional bout of conscience which only brought on an almost (but not quite) Stockholm Syndrome situation. Ariel Castro was only capable of brief interludes of humanity but, sadly, even those stopped coming after he kidnapped his next victim.
The most heart wrenching piece of this story is that the happy ending for Michelle wasn't like it was for the other girls in Castro's prison, nor was it anything like Dupree or Amanda Smart experienced. Michelle had no homecoming because she had no home. Her younger twin brothers were the only ones she saw or cared to see and after seeing them, she was left, at 31, to recover the pieces of a stolen life, alone. And her son, the one thing that kept her alive, was no longer hers.
Incredibly, this woman shows a remarkable resilience and strength that almost anyone would have to admire. Life dealt her one hell of a bad hand, but she doesn't complain-in fact, she possesses incredible selflessness and maturity as the reader will see in the end.
This story simply broke my heart. It was so difficult to listen to at times, yet, I learned something from this remarkable young woman by the end. Life isn't fair, and she never really expected it to be. This monster stole so much more than time from this woman and yet she has accepted her lot with grace. I can only pray that the rest of her life is full of joy and beauty because I am pretty sure she had her fair share of suffering.
This is truly one of the most uncomfortable yet inspiring reads ever. Not for the faint of heart,'

Compelling and Vivid Narrative.

Well done, although it was very difficult to listen to because of the repulsive nature of the story. It is truly hard to imagine someone as vile as Castro. Knight's endurance was also unimaginable.

Couldn't stop listening

Where does Finding Me rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This one is in my top 5.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Michelle

What about Maria Cabezas’s performance did you like?

I felt like she embodied Michelle very truthfully. She felt real and sincere, and you forgot it wasn't actually Michelle reading her own story to us.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I felt very sad for Michelle and her experiences. I understand why she chose to write her own story. At times, it was difficult to continue but I wanted to know what happened (from her perspective).

The bravery of this writer/character is inspiring

What made the experience of listening to Finding Me the most enjoyable?

The ending and her rescue

What did you like best about this story?

She kept hope alive

Which scene was your favorite?

The rescue

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

Her relationship with her son

Any additional comments?

The bravery of this writer is inspiring and something I can hold onto.

a testament in never giving up

Who was your favorite character and why?

Michelle is the focus

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

read very well, felt as if Michelle was reading it

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

very touching,

Any additional comments?

Being a true story of unbelievable torture for so many years, leaves one speechless. Admire Michelle for being able to continue under such conditions

She becomes your hero.

Love her. Michelle. Our loved Michelle...dear.. my heart and prayers will never let go of you. I adore you. Thank you for sharing such a huge piece of yourself with us. I am so glad you are married & taken care of and happy now. You are so strong Michelle. You’re an inspiration & you are a light in this world that I can only imagine to aspire to one day. All of my love to you- forever and always Michelle.

Very interesting and compelling story

Michelle does an amazing job of telling her story. I found this more engaging then and Amanda and Gina's book as Michelle detailed it from her perspective and hers alone. I felt Gina and Amanda would have benifited from writing two seperate books.

Terrifying and Tragic, with a Dash of Hope

Finding me by Michelle Knight is both terrifying and tragic, and delivered with a dash of hope. The author reads her own memoir, which in some ways adds to it, but in others detracts (as is often the case when authors read their own work). The book is definitely worth the listen if you're interested in hearing about the horrors of true crime. I have not yet listened to the book by the other two who were kidnapped. #horror #truecrime #readbyauthor #memoir #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Sad story, but happy she is free

This is a well written horror story of a real fighter! I don’t know how she survived the hell she endured, but I pray all of the women are living healthy and happy lives. Shame on all of the people who abused this young lady. As for her not speaking to her mother, I hope someday her mother admits the horrible things that made her daughter’s childhood hell! No child deserves that.

Story of Strength

This was a good read for anyone wanting to know more about the ordeal of the 3 victims of the Cleveland kidnappings. It also gives us insight into Michelle's journey once her freedom is reclaimed. I'm not sure anyone can ever recover from so long in captivity at the hands of a monster but Michelle seems a work in progress who knows the road ahead is long. I won't spoil the book but I will say the ending left me in tears for her pain. She is a strong and selfless woman who deserves happiness. I hope. she continues to heal and finds peace.