Damaris C. (Erinyes) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 279 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Extremely compelling! Once I started this I could not put it down. This is the most harrowing tale of chid abuse i've ever read. From the outside it looks normal or even loving. But inside it is just horrible. Julie is a survivor in the truest sense of the world. This is a good read. It will remind you that you are able to overcome!
Jennifer C. (JustJen) -
Helpful Score: 3
Interesting story that brings to light a differant kind of child abuse.
I thought it was well written.
I thought it was well written.
Helen K. (Billie-K) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 459 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I found this book to be a fascinating, though sad, story of a mental illness I knew very little about.
Mary W. (lilmizace) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 48 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Oh what a wonderful girl. I am always astonished at books like this, and people like Julie. How do they rise above? Really, really good book.
Laura W. (Crazy4books) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 88 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
To be honest, I'm not sure what I thought of this book. The horrific subject matter was difficult for me to overcome. I was impressed that this young woman was able to move forward after such a sickening experience.
Helpful Score: 2
A very interesting book about a mother who deliberatly creates illness in her daughter over the course of several years in order to gain attention and care from doctors. A true story.
Helpful Score: 2
This was a very difficult book to read. In parts it dealt with child abuse, spousal abuse, elder abuse, and animal abuse. Just one of these subjects can be traumatic enough, all at once is very trying even just to read. Books like this always make me marvel at the human spirit. This person was able to survive such an atrocious childhood and come out standing on the other side. I think Julie's account of her life is important to read simply because this kind of thing is common. And there are surely adults out there who survived childhoods like this that aren't gifted writers, who are silent in their pain and their recuperation. And some probably did not live to tell about it. Munchhausen by proxy is a terrible illness and is made even more horrifying by the fact that the children often don't realize what is happening and also doctors rarely realize what is happening. Life is what you make it, that is true here. Julie chose to move on with her life and to take back her power from her mother and that is clear with her courage in writing this book. An amazing accomplishment.
Lori O. (libertybellepa) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 35 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book was pretty good - it was not what I expected but it was a good documentation of the authors mother leading Miss Gregory to believe she truly was sick.
Leah V. (leahv) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 11 more book reviews
I agree with others that the subject matter in this book was painful to read, however I am glad the author was able to overcome her horrific childhood and share her story with the world.
I could not put this book down. I thought it was well written for the most part and hope that many will read it and learn from it. It is scary what goes on behind closed doors.
I could not put this book down. I thought it was well written for the most part and hope that many will read it and learn from it. It is scary what goes on behind closed doors.
Larissa T. (leogrrrlll) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 6 more book reviews
A personal and descriptive tale of abuse and neglect by very dysfunctional, twisted parents with their own childhood scars and misfortunes. What struck me most was the author's voice and resilience. What tremendous courage to survive, heal, and say "no more."
I thought the book was amazing, I couldn't put it down.
Sharon C. (sierrastar) -
This was a good book because it is about a subject most people don't want to mention but it happens everyday to some child somewhere. It is hard to beleive that someone whould go to such measures to get attention for themselves while harming a child in doing so they have a reason for taking the child for treament
Nancy A. (Chocoholic) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 291 more book reviews
A young girl endures countless medical exams, invasive tests, and surgical procedures as a result of her mother's Munchausen by Proxy. She also details years of abuse at the hands of both of her parents. As a child, she thought this behavior was normal, but realizes as an adult that this is clearly not normal. A fast and scary read.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 1726 more book reviews
Good read into the odd and twisted world of a MSP survivor. The story didn't really follow a timeline, things jumped around abit and the ending was really strange but then truth is stranger than fiction. Very engaging and important things to know.
Michelle W. (Loupgaru82) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 15 more book reviews
This was very scary for me.
BARBARA D. (TINKER) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 354 more book reviews
GREAT READ,TERRIBLE THAT THIS CHILD HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS
Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 2527 more book reviews
This was an intriguing read and I applaud the author for trying to raise awareness of Munchausen by Proxy and how unrecognized it is as a form of child abuse.
The book itself was okay. There is a lot of excellent description in here; the copies of medical records and photos of the author really drove home that this was real and added a lot to this memoir. This memoir touches on a lot more than just the main topic of Munchausen by Proxy; there are many other forms of abuse in here. This is not a comfortable and happy read; it is a disturbing read. However, it was a pretty quick read.
The author jumps around in time a bit, so at points it was hard to figure out how old she was during certain incidents. The ending seemed rushed and unfinished; I do understand this is a memoir and isn't a complete story, but I wish the lessons and themes had been brought together a bit better at the end.
I did learn a lot about Munchausen by Proxy; I knew some about this mental illness going in. However, it was an eye opener how the offending parent draws the affected child into complacency. I never fully realized how much kids will try to please their parents even though what their parents are doing is incredibly damaging to them. It also really drove home the helplessness of children in our society as a whole.
Overall this was an intriguing read and I applaud the author for writing this. The book itself is mediocre in writing quality and organization but it does paint an eye-opening picture and educate about Munchausen by Proxy.
The book itself was okay. There is a lot of excellent description in here; the copies of medical records and photos of the author really drove home that this was real and added a lot to this memoir. This memoir touches on a lot more than just the main topic of Munchausen by Proxy; there are many other forms of abuse in here. This is not a comfortable and happy read; it is a disturbing read. However, it was a pretty quick read.
The author jumps around in time a bit, so at points it was hard to figure out how old she was during certain incidents. The ending seemed rushed and unfinished; I do understand this is a memoir and isn't a complete story, but I wish the lessons and themes had been brought together a bit better at the end.
I did learn a lot about Munchausen by Proxy; I knew some about this mental illness going in. However, it was an eye opener how the offending parent draws the affected child into complacency. I never fully realized how much kids will try to please their parents even though what their parents are doing is incredibly damaging to them. It also really drove home the helplessness of children in our society as a whole.
Overall this was an intriguing read and I applaud the author for writing this. The book itself is mediocre in writing quality and organization but it does paint an eye-opening picture and educate about Munchausen by Proxy.
C.M P. (selkie) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 418 more book reviews
Not since Sybil have I read such a horrible case of child abuse. One wonders how someone can treat a child that way, & wonders why the other parent does not stop it.
Most of the abuse consisted of her [Julie's] mother poisoning her mind as well as her body by brainwashing her into believing she was ill. But there was more still: constant threats & verbal abuse, mind games, & false accusations with beatings as a result. All the while the mother playing the victim to gain pity from anyone that would listen.
It is amazing that the writer was able to escape such abuse.
Most of the abuse consisted of her [Julie's] mother poisoning her mind as well as her body by brainwashing her into believing she was ill. But there was more still: constant threats & verbal abuse, mind games, & false accusations with beatings as a result. All the while the mother playing the victim to gain pity from anyone that would listen.
It is amazing that the writer was able to escape such abuse.
Kristen K. (adoptedgirl) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 7 more book reviews
Well written and, fascinating read. The author is a true survivor!
Ann S. (annstahl) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 17 more book reviews
Riveting! absolutely fascinating, couldn't put it down. It stays with you
very interesting and sad.
C.M P. (selkie) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 418 more book reviews
Not since Sybil have I read such a horrible case of child abuse. One wonders how someone can treat a child that way, & wonders why the other parent does not stop it.
Most of the abuse consisted of her [Julie's] mother poisoning her mind as well as her body by brainwashing her into believing she was ill. But there was more still: constant threats & verbal abuse, mind games, & false accusations with beatings as a result. All the while the mother playing the victim to gain pity from anyone that would listen.
It is amazing that the writer was able to escape such abuse.
Most of the abuse consisted of her [Julie's] mother poisoning her mind as well as her body by brainwashing her into believing she was ill. But there was more still: constant threats & verbal abuse, mind games, & false accusations with beatings as a result. All the while the mother playing the victim to gain pity from anyone that would listen.
It is amazing that the writer was able to escape such abuse.
Susan W. (scaddybo) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 130 more book reviews
Great book!!
C.M P. (selkie) reviewed Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood on + 418 more book reviews
Not since Sybil have I read such a horrible case of child abuse. One wonders how someone can treat a child that way, & wonders why the other parent does not stop it.
Most of the abuse consisted of her [Julie's] mother poisoning her mind as well as her body by brainwashing her into believing she was ill. But there was more still: constant threats & verbal abuse, mind games, & false accusations with beatings as a result. All the while the mother playing the victim to gain pity from anyone that would listen.
It is amazing that the writer was able to escape such abuse.
Most of the abuse consisted of her [Julie's] mother poisoning her mind as well as her body by brainwashing her into believing she was ill. But there was more still: constant threats & verbal abuse, mind games, & false accusations with beatings as a result. All the while the mother playing the victim to gain pity from anyone that would listen.
It is amazing that the writer was able to escape such abuse.
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