Beneath the surface of the protective parts of trauma survivors there exists an undamaged Essence, a Self that is confident, curious, and calm...
A Self that has been sheltered from destruction by the various protectors that have emerged in their efforts to ensure survival.
Once those protectors trust that it is safe to separate, the Self will spontaneously emerge, and the parts can be enlisted in the healing process.
pickHow awesome to have another Charmaine Wilkerson! I did get confused a few times about the timeline but overall, really enjoyed this. Wilkerson writes beautiful characters and moving stories.
pickI really enjoyed the way this story is told, something a little different with a lot of layers. It‘s about a major family tragedy and life afterwards. It‘s also historical fiction as we learn the story behind a piece of pottery that has been with a family for generations, from slave days to the present. I liked how everything was interwoven and how the reader gets different perspectives from various characters.
pickI sat on this review for a while,mainly because there were many voices in this book,some I wasn‘t sure were necessary.In this evocative book the past informs the present. When Ebby was 10, she witnessed her brother‘s murder, & the shattering of a several hundred years old clay jar, representing legacy & family connections.A decade or so later Ebby is stood up at the altar & she fleas to France, where she heals from her trauma.
…We came from the sea, we eat from the sea, we travel across the seas. We seek out salt water to soothe our bodies and worries. The sea is part of us…(188).
#preorderbookclubchallenge #Riverbendbookshop
pickGood content… needs better editing, lots of little words (article adjectives & prepositions) omitted which disrupts the flow of the text.
I am challenging myself this summer to begin reading my pre-order bookclub books from my local indie bookstore. Pictured are 4 of the books (I did read February‘s choice, Memorial Days).
January: Good Dirt
March: The Story She Left Behind
April: Last Twilight in Paris
May: Austen at Sea.
My June choice will be Amy Bloom‘s I‘ll Be Right Here
#preorderbookclubchallenge
pickWhat a powerful read!
This memoir is about experiencing trauma, unlearning it, and breaking cycles. It is extremely personal and heartfelt. I loved how the author portrayed trauma as complex, which it is.
Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/05/20/review-girl-unlearned/
