Elizabeth R. (esjro) -
Without a doubt, Kathryn Bolkovac is a brave woman who did a lot of good for the women in Bosnia. However, this is a book review, not a review of her good deeds, and as a story this book falls short.
I expected this book to focus primarily on the author's work to fight sex trafficking. I also expected to learn more about the people involved (perpetrators and victims), and that the author would spend more than a paragraph sharing their stories. Instead, the focus of this book was the admittedly terrible treatment the author received by her employers.
This makes for a boring book. For example, two chapters are spent discussing an email she sent to many of the higher-ups at work, and the fallout from it. The reader is treated to excerpts of emails the author received in reply, anecdotes of people approaching her in the cafeteria and acting awkward, and her boss telling her it was inappropriate.
Other sections read more like a CV. When the author is demoted in retaliation for her whistle blowing, many pages are filled with quotes and excerpts of emails from people who believe she was treated unfairly. The author spends a lot of time defending herself and justifying her personal decisions (such as the decision to be away from her teenage daughter for two years). Anyone who wronged her is mentioned by name, and a detailed accounting of what each person did or said that was terrible is offered.
It is unfortunate that what should be a fascinating story of a courageous woman reads more like a deposition from a wrongful termination suit.
I expected this book to focus primarily on the author's work to fight sex trafficking. I also expected to learn more about the people involved (perpetrators and victims), and that the author would spend more than a paragraph sharing their stories. Instead, the focus of this book was the admittedly terrible treatment the author received by her employers.
This makes for a boring book. For example, two chapters are spent discussing an email she sent to many of the higher-ups at work, and the fallout from it. The reader is treated to excerpts of emails the author received in reply, anecdotes of people approaching her in the cafeteria and acting awkward, and her boss telling her it was inappropriate.
Other sections read more like a CV. When the author is demoted in retaliation for her whistle blowing, many pages are filled with quotes and excerpts of emails from people who believe she was treated unfairly. The author spends a lot of time defending herself and justifying her personal decisions (such as the decision to be away from her teenage daughter for two years). Anyone who wronged her is mentioned by name, and a detailed accounting of what each person did or said that was terrible is offered.
It is unfortunate that what should be a fascinating story of a courageous woman reads more like a deposition from a wrongful termination suit.
