The Trauma Cleaner

By: Sarah Krasnostein

Narrated by: Rachael Tidd

Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Husband, father, drag queen, sex worker, wife. You've got to hear Sandra's incredible story.

Sarah Krasnostein's The Trauma Cleaner is a love letter to an extraordinary ordinary life. In Sandra Pankhurst she discovered a woman capable of taking a lifetime of hostility and transphobic abuse and using it to care for some of society's most in-need people. Audible's editors fell in love with Sandra because of her warmth, humour and grace, and we think you will, too. Here’s what we thought of The Trauma Cleaner:

"As an acquiring editor at Audible, I read a huge number of books but this one completely stopped me in my tracks. This is one of the most 'human' books I’ve ever read, with Sandra’s deep emotional empathy told with warmth and humour. Really though, it's incredibly hard to describe this book because it's truly original – you just have to listen to it!" - Harriet, Audible Editor

"Sarah's memoir of Sandra's extraordinary life is one of the most heartfelt, deeply moving and fundamentally human stories I've listened to in a long time. Much like Brian Reed did for John B McLemore in his remarkable S-Town, Sarah paints an incredibly intimate portrait of a woman whose empathy and will to survive shines through with incredible potency. Rarely have I come across a non-fiction story told with such poetic attention to detail." - Tom, Audible Editor

About the book

Sandra Pankhurst founded her trauma cleaning business to help people whose emotional scars are written on their houses. From the forgotten flat of a drug addict to the infested home of a hoarder, Sandra enters properties and lives at the same time. But few of the people she looks after know anything of the complexity of Sandra's own life. Raised in an uncaring home, Sandra's miraculous gift for warmth and humour in the face of unspeakable personal tragedy mark her out as a one-off and make this biography unmissable.

This is a truly unique book, taking the humanity of S-Town, the beauty of H Is for Hawk and the sensitivity of When Breath Becomes Air to create something of startling originality. Sarah gives listeners a window into a life in a way only unforgettable pieces of writing can.

Due to the nature of some of Sandra's life experiences there are parts of the book which some listeners may find upsetting.

About the author

Sarah Krasnostein is a writer and a lawyer with a doctorate in criminal law. A fourth generation American and a third generation Australian, she has lived and worked in both countries. She lives in Melbourne and spends part of the year working in New York City. The Trauma Cleaner (Text Publishing / St Martin's Press) is her first book.

©2017 Sarah Krasnostein (P)2018 Audible, Ltd

brilliant story

well written, beautifully spoken. I was emotionally involved and couldn't put it down. highly recommend!

The most extraordinary biography you'll ever read

Sandra's life story is beyond incredible - truly a must-listen. The descriptions and detailing are mostly overwritten, the only thing that detracts from the book. Quite irritating after a while, and a bit wanky.

confrontating and honest

so much more than just cleaning. this book tells parallel stories of the trauma she deals with in her business, and her own past.
compelling performance.

An Outstanding Read

I don't think I've ever read a book that has evoked so many different emotions. An absolutely brilliant read from the beginning right through to the end and I still can't stop thinking about it several books later.

Story to learn from.

A most beautifully written story. The author's captivating and empathetic account of a tragic set of circumstances that is someone's life. Captivating.

Recommended

The book reads like a long form love letter to Sandra. The language is lush and evocative, I kept finding myself turning the author’s phrases over in my mind. Simply wonderful.

Indescribable & Perfectly written

An amazingly well written recount of a life that is more valuable and lived than most. A woman who has experienced beyond what most can imagine, yet to say she picks herself up is wrong, as she doesn't tumble down.

Beautiful book

A gem of of a book ! Beautifully written and beautifully read . I didn’t know what it was about , i’m so glad i found this book .

Interesting ... thought consuming !

Brilliantly narrated! A book with a difference. A book sharing a world so unlike mine. it was both compelling and dreadfully sad but with so much hope for the future. in her own way Sandra was a wonderful role model of being driven to achieve her goals ! It took me 9 months to read this book. i would listen... I would think ... and be so personally wounded by the hurt and sadness of this womens life. Brilliantly wrritten ... an amazing author! Congratulations 💐

An unexpected delight

The title of this biographical work put me on edge, and so of course I started reading with some trepidation. But I need not have worried. The author has deftly, cleverly and beautifully woven the story of an extraordinary human being with contemporary themes of trauma and those left to pick up the pieces, so to speak; the search for one's true identity; and the need to belong.
Creative non-fiction at its best.
About the reviewer: My reviews may be critical but never unkind or malicious. I am a voracious reader who consumes books in print and audio -- fiction, non-fiction and professional reference -- in equal measure, and my reviews reflect this wide readership.