Helpful Score: 8
I think this book was too over-hyped. It's full of dry writing and reads more like a woman relaying facts to a police detective and less like an emotional and true confession.
It was interesting in places, disgusting in others, but overall, I'd not recommend it simply because it's more boring than anything else.
It was interesting in places, disgusting in others, but overall, I'd not recommend it simply because it's more boring than anything else.
Helpful Score: 8
Very honest memoir of a girl's sexual molestation by her father and how that affected her life. It was hard to read in places but impossible to put down.
Helpful Score: 6
Whew! The dynamics in this family could keep several therapists busy for a long time. I mainly wanted to read this book because of several women I've known who had sex with their fathers. I wanted to get a clearer sense of what was going on psychologically. I'm glad the sex was never depicted in any detail whatsoever. Abandoned by her mother at a young age, Ms. Harrison's quest turns towards her father for love. Unfortunately, he exploits her needs and initiates her into having sex with him. Thus begins an affair that paralyzes her. This started at Age 20 for the author which left her no recourse with the courts. A moving, sad book that left me with a better insight into incest victims' suffering.
Helpful Score: 5
I thought this would be better than it was, overall it was rather dry & depressing. Quick read though.
Helpful Score: 4
The storyline intrigued be. Before I really understood what this was about, I made up many scenarios on how a daughter and her father could get together without all the implications of sin. But, to let you know, it is straight-forward and honest--and that's what happened. Good, though, and well-written. Worth a read.
Helpful Score: 4
Extremely creepy. How can anyone be brave enough to actually write about this and put it out there for the world to see? I guess I admire her for it... on the other hand, I felt like I needed a really hot shower after reading this...
Interesting yet quite odd - the true tory of a woman reunited with her father from whom she had been estranged. Includes incest.
Helpful Score: 2
Well written , But very creepy and disturbing.
Helpful Score: 2
A very rare glimpse into sexual abuse and incest. Gives one a whole new perspective on the matter. I feel so badly for this poor girl and then the next minute I am angry at her reactions. If you are interested in the phsycological aspects of the subject and want to enlarge your understanding of others, this is a great story. I have to wonder how much of it is true...but then, I wonder that about my own life sometimes. Could it really have happened like this?
Helpful Score: 1
Very well written but a disturbing story....
Helpful Score: 1
Harrowing but fascinating account of a young girl and the father who takes advantage of her unconditional love.
Helpful Score: 1
Not for the weak. I read it in one sitting. Great writing, disturbing story.
Helpful Score: 1
I read this book all in one sitting; I literally could not put it down. Harrison's writing style in her memoir is vaguely reminiscent of Joyce Carol Oates, poetic and evocative. Every moment described with a clarity that is frequently lacking in memoirs, bringing the reader into the mind of the author.
The Kiss is beautiful, and horrifying. Basically telling the story of a slow spiral dance of destruction circling around the author's mother whom she loves terribly, and the father she never knew.
A beautiful book, and an excellent read for anyone who has interest the psychology of abuse. . . but one I don't think I could bear to read again.
The Kiss is beautiful, and horrifying. Basically telling the story of a slow spiral dance of destruction circling around the author's mother whom she loves terribly, and the father she never knew.
A beautiful book, and an excellent read for anyone who has interest the psychology of abuse. . . but one I don't think I could bear to read again.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a very interesting novel about the author's romantic relationship with her biological father, which took place when she was an adult. A lot of issues come up in the reading, such as consent and of course the topic of incest is addressed. The book can be difficult because of the strong taboo most of us feel against incest, and it's uncomfortable hearing about her experiences. Nonetheless, it is a valuable book and well worth the read.
Helpful Score: 1
Erotic, Obsessive, Extremely Distructive. Words to describe the story and the characters. Every person in the story is part of the situation either by participation or as an enabler. I feel the Mother and Father were already on a slippery slope with their meetings...to satisfy the Mother's need?...even before the daughter grows up and becomes the obsession of her Father. Extended family seems to have known about this hopeless relationship and yet it persisted. Strangely I really enjoyed the story even though at times it left me feeling more than sad. The memoir is well written and to me believable.
Helpful Score: 1
This memoir is disturbing and sick.
Helpful Score: 1
I read this book because I thought I would have enjoyed the novel "Lolita" had it been told from her perspective. I was instead deeply disturbed. But I could not put it down.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a great book- a quick read. Shocking- but even more shocking because it is a memoir of a girl's experience. Read it!
Helpful Score: 1
Although this book is beautifully written, it made me queasy.
this is a memoir about a long lost daughter who has a love affair with her long lost daddy.
Honest and fierce memoir of how love can be bartered, conditional, bought.The people who call this book sensationalistic have either been blessed not to be aware of these things in their own family, or not had them happen in their own family.
I hated this book.
I read it cause a friend suggested it.
What is the author seek by telling this story?
None of us wants to be "judgmental", all behaviors -even the ones we call abhorrent and evil- have roots somewhere... that doesn't necessary makes you a victim.
The writer was in her 20s when she engaged in incest with her father. She was an adult,she had a choice,she consented.
If this book had a point other than blaming others for her behavior,I missed it.
I read it cause a friend suggested it.
What is the author seek by telling this story?
None of us wants to be "judgmental", all behaviors -even the ones we call abhorrent and evil- have roots somewhere... that doesn't necessary makes you a victim.
The writer was in her 20s when she engaged in incest with her father. She was an adult,she had a choice,she consented.
If this book had a point other than blaming others for her behavior,I missed it.
"Powerful... This sotry is about the soul of a young girl and the terrible injury inflicted by the man who should have been its protector"
-The New York Times Book Review
-The New York Times Book Review
This book was very well written that I've decided to read her other books. The content is not easy to take but the author didn't write it as a pity party. I admire her bravery and her ability to move on. This is not a light-hearted read but one that is hard to forget.
Started and finished this book in one day so its a quick read. I found the writing to be dry - more like I would expect from a professor or textbook. I didn't feel like there was alot of content to it. The author obviously had a very troubled childhood that everyone in her family attributed to. I'm just glad she was able to come out of it and have a family of her own who hopefully adores her.
A total train wreck. It's the supposedly true story of a girl who gets to know her father when she is a teenager/young adult and they develop a sexual relationship.
