Interspersed with Martin's memories of her childhood are more recent memories of her adult life as a mother. She describes the way she is raising her own son, and how she has created a safe, nurturing place for him to grow, so very different from her own experience as a child.
Two qualities make this book different and well worth reading. The first is the sheer beauty and strength of the writing. Martin's style is almost poetic in form. She conveys events and emotions in simple, elegant images that imply, as much as state, what is happening. Considering the subject matter of the book, it is inappropriate to say that I "enjoyed" it. Yet, the beauty and power of the writing is remarkable and riveting. I read the book in a single sitting. Yes, I had to put it down at various times to recover emotionally; but I was driven by the quality of the writing to finish the book.
The second quality of the book that makes it a must-read is that Martin is not content just to describe what happened to her and her siblings. Rather, she seeks to inspire others who have endured a childhood as traumatic as hers. It has become a cliché of late to assume that adults who were abused as children will likely become either abusers or victims themselves. They may commit crimes; they may abuse drugs; they may be involved in a series of abusive relationships, either as the perpetrator or as the victim.
What Martin demonstrates in her book is that these are not inevitable consequences. We all have choices; we don't have to continue to be victims for the rest of our lives. The author says it best when she states "A person can pick just about any point in life and say 'This is the beginning. This is where I start'"
Juxtaposed with Martin's recollections of her childhood are vignettes of her parenting of her own son. There are such striking differences between the two. Where she learned fear, she teaches love. Where she learned cruelty, she teaches kindness. Where she learned that she was worthless, she teaches her own son that he is the center of her world.
One wonders where Martin developed the wisdom to become the kind of parent she is.
This is a book well worth reading, and I strongly recommend it.