Unbroken

One Woman's Journey to Rebuild a Life Shattered by Violence: A True Story of Survival and Hope

By: Madeleine Black

Narrated by: Madeleine Black, Henrietta Meire

Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

Violently gang-raped when she was 13 years old, and raped three more times before the age of 18, Madeleine has experienced more trauma in her life than most ever will. 

Living in a state of shock and self-loathing, it took her years of struggle to confront the buried memories of that first attack and begin to undo the damage it wrought, as men continued to take advantage of her fragility in the worst possible way. Yet, after growing up with a burden no teenager should ever have to shoulder, she found the heart to carry out the best revenge plan of all: leading a fulfilling and happy life. 

But the road to piecing her life back together was long and painful. For Madeleine, forgiveness was the key. True forgiveness takes genuine effort. It takes a real desire to understand those who have done us so much harm. It is the ultimate act of courage. In Unbroken, Madeleine tells her deeply moving and empowering story, as she discovers that life is about how a person chooses to recover from adversity.

©2017 Madeleine Black (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Open and candid account of SA

An important topic that needs more awareness. I’ve been able to relate with some of this book and many other women will as well. This really had me seeing some of my experiences differently.

Madeleine’s experience is all too common, her healing isn’t as common. It may be difficult to read, but it gets better! She takes you through the life-long healing process, the lasting effects of SA.
Thank you Madeleine for being so vulnerable, open & candid.

Uplifting

I bought the ebook of Unbroken a while ago, but when I discovered that Ms Black was releasing an audio version, I held off reading it as I wanted to listen to it first. The first few chapters had me reeling. Ms Black and I were both 13 years old in 1979, we both lived in North London, we socialised in the same places. My father was also a holocaust survivor and I travelled to Israel in my late teens to 'get my head sorted'. What was clear that in those days, women had very little power against men. The rape and attempted murder of Ms Black was harrowing to hear. However, if she can live through it, the least I could do to honour her courage was listen to it. I didn't cry then, but I did when she moved on to the forgiveness element of her story. I was overcome emotionally by how she rebuilt her life, brick by brick and spent a great deal of last night and this morning, sobbing. Not from sadness, but from awe at this remarkable woman's bravery and her determination to recover and be whole again. We bandy the word 'inspirational' around far too easily today - but this is so deeply moving and so fulsome in its telling of healing that there is no other word for it. I don't believe I have the words to properly explain how shaken I was by Ms Black's story. This woman has risen like a phoenix from the flames to lead us, by her example, in how we humans should treat each other. She must have the most enormous heart, full of love and forgiveness. I am humbled by her grace, her generosity of spirit, her strength of character and her capacity to forgive. Listening to Unbroken may be extremely difficult in places but in comparison to Ms Black's achievements - it's really not; we should consider it a privilege and an honour to hear her story and to understand how vital forgiving those who trespass against us, really is. I must end this review by expressing my gratitude to Ms Black for her candour, her dedication to forgiveness and her solicitude of other survivors. This world is a richer place because people like her exist in it and demonstrate human kindness. Thank you for being you.

" Life Saver "

Amazing, I couldn't recommend this book enough, I got this book awhile back and still to this day when I struggle ,I read it and it reminds me of such hope that comes from trauma !

Inspiring

Never have I experienced such a range of emotion listening to or reading a book. Rage, anger, happiness, hope, despair, laughter all were felt within a few chapters. A difficult listen but one that everyone should do. The very best and the very worst of the human race. An exceptionally brave woman. Thank you for telling your story.

Powerful, heartbreaking and very, very brave

This book is an intense, difficult listen that is no less necessary, particularly in a society and era that is marred by rampant gender-based violence. The strength and resilience of this woman, who has fought and been through so much, is evident in the very fact of her writing this book (and narrating it!) in the frank, candid way of someone who is finally unafraid to expose the truth. The horror of rape and pain of trauma is balanced with hope as the author describes a journey marked by strength courage, love, support, and ultimately deep fulfilment. A must read for anyone and everyone, really.

Not as good as expected…..

I usually love this kind of book but really struggled with this one.
I found from the middle of the book I lost interest and actually skipped several chapters to get to the end.
I also found the voice of the narrator very grating in the end. She sounded very wooden to me and like she was reading from a book and not telling the tale like a conversation as some narrators do.
It definitely wasn’t as good as I expected it to be.

Honest. Heartbreaking. Human.

The author is incredibly brave and strong. I feel incredibly moved and privileged to have been able to listen to her story. Thank you for sharing your journey Madeline Black.

Not for me

This book was recommended to me but definitely not for me. I found it traumatic. The story haunted me.
I regretted ordering.

just WOW!

Madeleine has shown such bravery, what an amazing Lady, her words will inspire so many

Amazing

although it was tough read, it was an important to read.
Thank yo for sharing this great Story, i really hope it inspires move victims to come forward and share light to this

Wow!! What a story of courage and triumph.

I loved this book filled with inspiration. We are not what happens to us. It's a must read/listen. Madeline Black you are amazing. Thank you for sharing your journey.