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The Committed Professor, A Memoir: My Fall From the Lectern to the Psych Ward
At 40, Professor Kathi Miner believed she was living the perfect life. A loving marriage, two wonderful children, and a career teaching a subject she was passionate about. Her life seemed idyllic. However, beneath the surface, cracks were forming. Kathi soon uncovered the devastating truth: her husband was an adulterer. This revelation sent her seemingly perfect world into a tailspin. As her marriage crumbled, she found herself trapped in a cycle of psychological abuse, and her once-stable life spiraled into chaos. Filing for divorce was just the beginning of her journey through emotional turmoil, leading to a stay in a psychiatric ward as she grappled with the loss of her identity and the frightening uncertainty of what lay ahead.
The Committed Professor: A Memoir is a powerful and unflinching account of one woman’s descent from contentment to emotional devastation. What begins as a story of fulfillment and happiness takes a sudden and dramatic turn, with Miner candidly detailing how her seemingly secure world unraveled after the shocking discovery of her husband’s betrayal. It reads like the plot of a dramatic film, but this is no work of fiction. These events are real, and Miner’s retelling is raw and honest.
The second half of the memoir, where Kathi recounts her time in the psych ward, stands out to me for its mix of dark humor and pain. While her situation is often bewildering, Miner’s narrative injects moments of levity, though the suffering beneath is unmistakable. Through her deeply personal journey, two crucial lessons emerge. 1. The higher we climb in life, the harder we can fall, and 2. no matter how close we are to someone, we can never truly know them.
Writing this memoir took immense bravery. By sharing her experience, she sheds light on the devastating effects of manipulation and betrayal, offering a cautionary tale that may resonate with others facing similar emotional abuse. The Committed Professor is a difficult but ultimately rewarding read, marked by Miner’s courage to confront her trauma head-on and share her story with unflinching honesty.
Pages: 300 | ASIN : B0D3ZXDMFW
Shattered Dreams: A Story of Addiction and Recovery: Drug Addiction and Rehabilitation
Shattered Dreams: A Story of Addiction and Recovery is a powerful exploration of the devastating toll addiction takes on both individuals and their loved ones. Eddie Clark masterfully intertwines fictional elements with authentic testimonies from those entangled in the world of drug dependency, vividly portraying the grip of addiction and its far-reaching consequences. The book delves deep into the lives of those who have hit their lowest point, yet find a path toward recovery. Through intimate stories and heartfelt insights, Clark uncovers the underlying causes of addiction, the daily battles faced by those in its grasp, and the moments of victory that come with rehabilitation. More than just a narrative, this work doubles as a guide for anyone confronting addiction.
The author delivers a raw and emotional portrayal of addiction, unflinchingly revealing both its darkest moments and the glimmers of hope that accompany recovery. Clark’s storytelling immerses readers in the people’s struggles, making their experiences feel strikingly real. I found Clark’s portrayal of addiction to be raw and deeply unsettling at times, especially with Zephyr’s downfall from a promising football career. His story is tragic yet compelling, capturing how easily potential can be derailed by drugs. Seraphina’s story was both heartbreaking and frustrating. Her transition from a social media icon to a person manipulated by her friends into drug abuse felt like a stark warning about the toxic pressures of online fame. Clark does an excellent job showing the vicious circle she falls into, including the social humiliation she suffers. Aurora’s storyline, on the other hand, added depth to the book, focusing on prescription drug abuse, which is often overlooked. Her marriage to a manipulative doctor and her descent into addiction paint a nuanced picture of how even the most successful people can crumble under pressure.
Shattered Dreams is a heartfelt and gritty depiction of addiction, perfect for anyone who wants to understand the struggles behind drug dependency. This book would be especially valuable for young adults facing similar pressures or anyone in the recovery community. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from the painful truths of addiction while offering hope for redemption.
Pages: 63 | ASIN : B0D3BRYRKM
Amidst the Darkness
The Hate Game: Screaming in the Silence is your memoir sharing the experiences you underwent at the Knoll School for Boys in Hove, Sussex, back in the 1970s and the bullying that was inflicted on you for your beliefs. Why was this an important book for you to write?
To clarify. I wasn’t bullied for my beliefs. I was bullied because I was young, an ‘outsider,’ and was a late developer. Any pupils in that category were labelled as “Jews,” by the “superior” bullies.
I had shared stories with numerous people and had pushed memories to the back of my mind. PTSD does that. Later in life, as a social worker in child protection, I came face to face with my past on several occasions. I had a “Eureka” moment interviewing a young teen who had (thankfully) failed to take her own life: her story was my story, and I started to come to terms with the horrors that had transpired during my adolescence. My extended (British) family were very resistant to me sharing truths with the world as it wasn’t the “British” way to be transparent about the past. The school and personal experiences were shocking, and rather than bury them, I chose to tell my story. The writing of The Hate Game was cathartic, albeit painful.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Everything. I felt ashamed about the bullying and abuse at school. I hadn’t told my wife and children about the historical sexual assault, so that was a challenge (despite working in a field where I encourage transparency). The death of my father and later writing about my mum brought up feelings and emotions that I had buried. I also felt shame about laughing through the dark times but understood that it is (and still is) a coping mechanism. One of the hardest things about writing a memoir is the judgment that may emanate from others. However, the overwhelming gratitude that my story could be told outweighed the negatives by a country mile.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
It is crucial to share one’s feelings with a trusted adult. Unfortunately, I did not know any adults I could trust. The teachers were more abusive than the students, and I couldn’t rely on anyone in authority. Even today, children and young people tend to keep their distress to themselves, a concerning trend I’ve observed in my work in child protection. It is imperative for adults, particularly parents, to build a strong, trusting relationship with children. Despite my love for my family, they were not the safe haven I needed to confide in.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Amidst the darkness, pain, and feelings of utter hopelessness, there is a beacon of light at the end of the tunnel. I was determined to survive and, somehow, thrive. It’s imperative to foster open communication with your children rather than hastily judging them for their acting-out behaviours. There is often a deep-rooted cause, and dismissing it as merely ‘hormones’ will cause further isolation for the child or youth. My own experiences have instilled in me resilience and a profound sense of empathy for those in need, whether they belong to minority groups or are families and children in crisis. As a result of my adverse childhood experiences, I have been able to help and empower numerous vulnerable young people. My transformation from trauma to triumph, guided by a profound encounter with God, has equipped me to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon
At school, survival wasn’t just about fitting in—it was about making it through the day with his dignity intact. The first time they shoved Gary’s head into the toilet bowl, he questioned how much more he could take. By the time they drew a swastika on his forehead, he stopped wondering.
In the backdrop of 1970s England, Gary navigates the chaotic seas of adolescence in the English coastal town of Hove. With humour and a delicious sense of naivety, he steers through a life marked by a blend of love and dysfunction, anchored by his loving and quirky mother and his deeply cherished father. But beyond the warmth of home, school is a much darker and crueller reality. At Knoll Boys, Gary confronts a relentless and vicious bullying that pushes his spirit and resilience to the brink. The horrors he endures are not just physical—they are ritualistic and dehumanizing, the cruelty seemingly unending. Yet, Gary’s resilience shines through, a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to endure.
Despite the bruises and hate-filled taunts, Gary discovers moments of unexpected joy, like the awkward thrills of first love and the surprising strength that begins to grow within him. As he navigates his family’s unpredictable antics and the dark corridors of his school, Gary’s journey becomes one of ultimate transformation—a testament to his unbreakable spirit and a beacon of hope for all who face similar challenges.
The Hate Game is a raw and profoundly moving coming-of-age memoir that explores the power of laughter and love. It’s a story that will leave you rooting for Gary, laughing with him, and inspired by his indomitable will to rise above the pain and become the change he longed for.
The Only Thing Stopping You is YOU!
The Long Way Around details your experiences growing up in a Mormon household marked by abuse and addiction and the challenges you have overcome over the course of your life. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Writing requires a clear mind, so I would spend some time meditating before I wrote. Since I was in my late 60’s when I began writing, I had to regress decades to remember some of the events and specifics, and more importantly the feelings associated with the events. I had shared some of my stories briefly with a friend or two and they would say, “You need to write about that”, so I did.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
As I began writing, I decided that I should focus on the positive nature and write a motivational and inspirational piece that might help others with the challenges of life. As I have said, it took me four years and a bucket of tears to write this book.It was basically facing and dealing with the depression I had experienced over the years.
What is a misconception you believe many people have about growing up in a Mormon household?
Tara Westover wrote “Educated”, a memoir. Whe shares her Mormon story as well. I think that there is a lot of abusive households in every religion and Mormonism is no exception. Typically when I think of organized religion I think of the Sunday teachings of forgiveness and brotherly love that seems only to apply to Sunday. Monday through Saturday those philosophies are forgotten, as well as the ten commandments.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from The Long Way Around?
You can become the person you want to be, just as I have. The only thing stopping you is YOU!
Bruce Lee said the most important thing in life is to know yourself. Meditation is critical to do that!
Author Links: Facebook | X | Website
The Long Way Around
The Long Way Around, authored by Leon Mecham, is a deeply moving memoir that delves into the author’s experiences growing up as a Mormon, grappling with poverty, and navigating the complexities of a challenging family life. Through vivid storytelling, Mecham takes readers on a journey through his tumultuous childhood, marked by abuse from drug-addicted parents and the harsh realities of a loveless household. At the tender age of 18, he was sent away to support his family, yet he remained steadfast and true to himself, overcoming the adversities that life threw his way.
Mecham’s narrative style is both engaging and evocative, drawing readers into the vivid landscapes of his early life. His ability to describe intricate situations and daily struggles with graphic detail creates a profound connection with the audience, allowing them to experience his hardships and triumphs firsthand. The memoir is set against the backdrop of farm life, highlighting the strong influence of the Mormon religion and the rural environment on his upbringing.
The content of The Long Way Around is nothing short of inspirational. Mecham’s life story is a testament to resilience and determination. His accounts of enduring poverty, dealing with his parents’ addictions, and the absence of affection offer readers a powerful role model who exemplifies staying true to oneself despite overwhelming obstacles.
This memoir is particularly impactful for those who may be facing similar struggles, providing not only a sense of companionship but also a beacon of hope and optimism. Mecham’s courage in sharing his story is commendable, and his survival tale is one from which we can all draw valuable lessons. The Long Way Around is a remarkable narrative of perseverance that leaves a lasting impression on its readers.
Pages: 276 | ISBN : 978-1667869292
True Mental Illness
You’ll See is a raw and poignant memoir that delves into your experiences with narcissistic abuse, survival, and the arduous journey to understanding. What inspired you to share your story with others?
I began writing my book shortly after both of my parents died – within two months of one another. I was trying to make sense of all I had experienced with my father and, to a degree, my mother, and the only way I could do it was to pour everything onto paper…I guess, it was my way of trying to determine if I was really crazy, or if these things really happened to me. With every remembered vignette I described, I began to see a pattern that my therapist helped me understand was my father’s narcissistic personality disorder. I grew up thinking everything was my fault, that nothing I did would ever be good enough…it was an emotional torture chamber that still haunts me. I realized if this was my experience, surely, it was other people’s experience, too…and I decided that giving voice to one’s truth is one of the bravest things a person can do. I want to normalize discussions about narcissistic abuse, among other things, so those of us who were manipulated into believing false narratives can actually rehabilitate ourselves and recover…eventually.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Thank you…I decided if I was going to tell my story, I was going to tell ALL of it. As an adult with a grown child, I ached for “Little Suzanne”…the innocent, curious, sweet-natured child who only wanted to be Daddy’s girl and was rebuffed at every turn. The hardest part of writing this memoir was first, coming directly to terms with how my father put himself and his desires above his own family, and second, recounting the agonizing years of watching my mother succumb to Alzheimer’s disease while my father continued his dalliances.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about living with narcissistic abuse and getting away from it?
First, narcissistic abuse is just that: abuse, and it definitely leaves deep emotional scars that can affect every other relationship in the victim’s life. Second, the narcissist’s family becomes another tool for the narcissist to display their superiority to the outside world…our job is to make the narcissist look good, no matter what. That means you don’t air the family’s dirty laundry, as it were…and because the narcissist insists their way is the only way, you become conditioned to that…to protect the family image. To do anything else and you’d be labeled as “crazy” or “melodramatic.” I believe there’s a semblance of Stockholm Syndrome at work, too…you feel you must align yourself to your captors as a form of survival. Finally, it’s easy for people to say, “Establish some boundaries! Cut off the relationship!” and the like, but it’s not that easy because especially with a narcissistic parent, you’ve been conditioned your whole life to believe YOU have the problem, and YOU are at fault. It took a really long time (and years of therapy) for me to see that I never deserved any of the treatment I received and that I was dealing with someone with a true mental illness.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I think they key takeaway I tried to impart in my memoir is that narcissistic abuse is real AND it’s insidious…the narcissist will make you think YOU’RE the one with the problem and over time, you become scarred with feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, and longing for a relationship you’ll never be able to fix. Being able to give voice to these feelings, telling your stories to someone you trust, is absolutely the first step to taking charge of your life and defining boundaries to protect yourself. Resilience comes at a high price because it means you had to suffer along the way, but it also means you survived it, and that’s what counts.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Learning that the threats came from within-that the threats were in the form of his personality disorder and addiction-came long after I had been damaged. Make no mistake-I never lacked for food, clothing, or shelter. We took family vacations. I received a wonderful education. I enjoyed numerous achievements, academically, professionally, and personally.
To an outsider, my life probably looked normal, even privileged.
The truth is the permanent scars resulting from narcissistic abuse are every bit as devastating and traumatic as those borne from physical and sexual abuse. Narcissistic abuse is insidious and challenging to survive. And the effects can outlive the abuser, almost in perpetuity. This is my story… possibly yours.
Manipulative Brainwashing
In Hello Flower, you share with readers your experience as a victim of narcissistic abuse and give them the tools necessary for breaking free from abusive relationships. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I never imagined this could happen to me. Not in a million years. The shocking realisation that I wasn’t alone, that this was a textbook pattern of abusive behaviour carried out by so many made me want to help identify the signs, write in stark personal detail something which people might recognise and realise that their feeling of ‘ something off’ isn’t imagined but all too real. It was also important to dispel the myth that this is yet another ‘label’ and to demonstrate the horrific reality of living with a monster disguised as the person you trust the most.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
I think my initial instinctive answer to this question was remembering and writing about my Dad, his hope, belief, and optimism for me and my happiness, then I realised that writing about him was relatively easy. The hardest thing was writing about the original ‘love stories’ going back over and reliving how love-struck and naive I was each time, it made me really angry to see how I had been conned but it was necessary so I could help the reader understand why I fell for him and how that manipulative brainwashing starts. Writing that was sickening but key to unlocking the entire narrative.
What is one misconception you believe many people have about leaving an abusive relationship?
Please let me have two! The first is thinking it is easy to leave, to walk away from something which hurts you seems so straightforward to the uninitiated, I’ve often been asked ‘How come you put up with it for so long?’ a painful but understandable question. The trouble is when you are wrapped up in this sort of relationship you don’t believe you should walk away, you want to try harder, do more which simply results in a deeper entrapment. The other misconception is that once you are out you are fine, it’s over, time to just carry on and ‘let it all go’, if only. It takes a long long time to unravel all that damage, you improve, you do move on, but you are never quite the same.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your experience?
If any of it relates if even a tiny part of my book is familiar I hope, going forward, they raise their boundaries because in doing so it is the first step in saying what is and isn’t acceptable. It’s quite the game changer when you had none in place before.
Author Links: GoodReads | Substack | Amazon
Self-deprecating, heartbreaking, and sometimes funny, this is ultimately a realistic and revealing insight into how even the strongest person can be susceptible to the most insidious form of abuse—and yet find the courage to walk away and shine again.
Hello Flower
Hello Flower: A Real Life Story of Narcissistic Love and Invisible Abuse, by Martina Gruppo, is a compelling and insightful non-fiction biographical account that delves into the pervasive and insidious nature of narcissistic abuse. Gruppo’s narrative is a stark reminder that narcissism, an often unseen and underestimated form of abuse, can ensnare even the most resilient individuals. The subtlety and unpredictability of this psychological manipulation make it a particularly dangerous form of harm.
In Hello Flower, Gruppo provides victims and readers with the tools to recognize and recover from narcissistic abuse, offering practical advice for those currently in abusive relationships or those who have managed to break free. Her writing is raw and genuine, showcasing her talent as a storyteller and her bravery in recounting her own harrowing experiences of manipulation, humiliation, and mental abuse at the hands of a narcissist. Gruppo’s candid reflection on her youthful naivety adds a poignant layer of vulnerability to her story. Gruppo’s publicized recounting of her experiences is both urgent and captivating, making the book a gripping read. Her words serve as a soothing balm for those who have endured similar trauma, helping them to identify and understand the disorder. She encapsulates the despair of dealing with a narcissist in a powerful statement: “It doesn’t matter what you do, say, how you dress, or how hard you try—you simply aren’t there. You don’t matter.” This painful truth, especially when the narcissist is a close family member or partner, is the first step toward healing.
This book is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand narcissism and its effects. Gruppo’s work is not only an educational tool but also a guide for those looking to reclaim their lives and self-worth after enduring narcissistic abuse. Her insights and encouragement help readers emerge stronger and ready to live life to the fullest.
I highly recommend Hello Flower to anyone seeking to learn about narcissistic abuse or to find solace and guidance on their path to recovery. Martina Gruppo’s book is a testament to resilience and a beacon of hope for those striving to heal from invisible wounds.
Pages: 258 | ASIN : B0D4VTQLDK
LITERARY TITAN 