The Sound of Her Voice by Sara Gelbard is a memoir of the author and her experience growing up in unusual and dysfunctional circumstances.

Sara was born in Western Galil near the Lebanon border, her Polish parents had barely escaped the horrors of war in Europe and as a consequence became extremely loyal to the kibbutzim. Sara grew up in a children’s home where she received barely any affection and was forced to repress her emotions or signs of individuality. She soon enrolled into the Israeli army where she excelled in combat and strategy and eventually became a Navy Officer. This however, wasn’t enough for her as she suffered from the loneliness of living without human connection. With the help of her friends, she moved to New York where she studied dance, got a BA in economics, sold real estate, and married her beloved Uruguayan husband. At seventy years old as she walked the beautiful beaches of Punta del Este, Sara had an epiphany, as she came to terms with the sadness of her upbringing, confusion at being left by her mother, and discovered the repressed voice of the child she used to be so many years past.

The Sound of Her Voice is an evocative memoir following the personal story of a remarkable woman. Someone who was born and raised in the harshest of environments and who has overcome countless obstacles unimaginable to most. The inspiring story of Sara Gelbard alludes to the sensitivity of dealing with emotional trauma and overcoming the anger and frustration of being raised in the harshest of circumstances.

Beautifully written in a combination of simple prose and a series of haikus, The Sound of Her Voice is unconventional in the best possible way. This is a unique memoir that is a must read for anyone on their own journey of healing and self-discovery.

This is definitely one of the most inspiring and eye-opening books I have ever read so far this year. Going through an emotional awakening and dealing with childhood trauma myself, I was able to closely relate to the author’s views and to extract life changing lessons to apply in my daily life. However, it’s not necessarily for people with undealt emotions of hard upbringings, anyone who picks this book up will experience a shift in the mindset to start viewing life as it is.

The Sound of Her Voice is a beautiful story with a profound message. I highly recommend this emotionally charged memoir to anyone looking for a substantive life story that is awe-inspiring.

Pages: 157 | ASIN: B08P5H4ZK7