Scan barcode
dommdy's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
This memoir was hard to listen to. I often don’t like when authors narrate their own books. This is one of those times. Her delivery is flat and lacks emotional nuance.
It’s a memoir about a mother who was sex and drug addicted and shockingly inappropriate with her daughters.
This daughter had to deal with her sex addiction passed down from her mother.
A difficult read reminiscent of “My Dark Vanessa”.
It’s a memoir about a mother who was sex and drug addicted and shockingly inappropriate with her daughters.
This daughter had to deal with her sex addiction passed down from her mother.
A difficult read reminiscent of “My Dark Vanessa”.
rachelj62's review
4.0
An interesting read about a very disturbing mother and the effects her upbringing has on her daughter Susanna. I think the author is brave for writing such an honest and open memoir. However, it is a very disturbing book. From the millions of things the mother does with/to her daughter to the fact that daughter becomes much like mother for an uncertain amount of time, it gives you a feeling of discomfort to read this book. I am sure that is the purpose, for us to truly understand what Susanna went through, but it was much more shocking than I had expected, which is what makes it intriguing. You want to know what Susanna decides about her mother's "last death" because as you read about Daphne you become more and more unsure what you would do yourself. Well written and intriguing, as long as you can rid yourself of that "icky feeling" you get from reading it.
simsarah79's review
5.0
I love those books that you haven't been reading about or pining after and then they usually fall under your expectations or maybe meet them but then there's no surprise because it's what you expected. Then there are the books that you stumbled on without any urging from other reviewers or barnes and noble lists or goodreads suggestions etc etc etc.
The books that jump out at you at the library or maybe you read something about a new book but the review mentions an old book and that's the one you look into and that's the one that charms you for the next day or two.
Her Last Death was just that book for me. I was looking at BookPage at the library where I work and it was, as usual, chock full of books for the new year and susanna sonnenberg was in it for her new book about friendship. This appealed to me (I don't have many friends, haha) but what got me glued was her old book, a memoir about her mother.
I am a sucker for memoirs by people with mommy issues.
This book was unreal. Not unbelievable but unreal in that a person such as Daphne proves that the head is independent of the body; as in as what a nutjob to be able to reproduce.
She is a liar, a slut, a selfish bitch of a woman and the daughter, Susanna and her sister, Penelope had to grow up in such a fucked up environment. There's a lot of sex in the book and I cringe at the thought of a mother constantly talking to her daughter about sex and how a boy/man is in bed. It's just crossing lines.
Then there's drugs and more sex,not graphic details because we all know it's about but the idea that it was a huge part of this writer's childhood and life.
I loved the writing. It skipped over parts and went back to different times but wasn't confusing. I felt for the writer and how powerful her words were; how truthful and raw she exposed herself (good and bad) and it wasn't looking for pity. I didn't get that; if someone comes across as pathetic i get annoyed and won't finish the book. This one I devoured. What a mother. I thought mine was ridiculous. Talk about perspective.
The books that jump out at you at the library or maybe you read something about a new book but the review mentions an old book and that's the one you look into and that's the one that charms you for the next day or two.
Her Last Death was just that book for me. I was looking at BookPage at the library where I work and it was, as usual, chock full of books for the new year and susanna sonnenberg was in it for her new book about friendship. This appealed to me (I don't have many friends, haha) but what got me glued was her old book, a memoir about her mother.
I am a sucker for memoirs by people with mommy issues.
This book was unreal. Not unbelievable but unreal in that a person such as Daphne proves that the head is independent of the body; as in as what a nutjob to be able to reproduce.
She is a liar, a slut, a selfish bitch of a woman and the daughter, Susanna and her sister, Penelope had to grow up in such a fucked up environment. There's a lot of sex in the book and I cringe at the thought of a mother constantly talking to her daughter about sex and how a boy/man is in bed. It's just crossing lines.
Then there's drugs and more sex,not graphic details because we all know it's about but the idea that it was a huge part of this writer's childhood and life.
I loved the writing. It skipped over parts and went back to different times but wasn't confusing. I felt for the writer and how powerful her words were; how truthful and raw she exposed herself (good and bad) and it wasn't looking for pity. I didn't get that; if someone comes across as pathetic i get annoyed and won't finish the book. This one I devoured. What a mother. I thought mine was ridiculous. Talk about perspective.
anniewill's review
1.0
I found this memoir to be very self-indulgent. I actually didn’t believe the majority of the “stories” that the author relayed about her life. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot while reading. The author complained (a LOT) about how her mother lied to her throughout her life. She complained about how her mother’s mania caused her to be choppy and hard to follow in conversations. I think both criticisms could be applied to the author herself.
The author had quite the high opinion of herself; very proud of her looks and her sexuality. I found myself wondering why she would write this memoir. And how believable is it that she suddenly transformed from a promiscuous, self-absorbed woman to a loving, indulgent mother who never would lie to her children? It would have been interesting to hear more about this transformation.
The author had quite the high opinion of herself; very proud of her looks and her sexuality. I found myself wondering why she would write this memoir. And how believable is it that she suddenly transformed from a promiscuous, self-absorbed woman to a loving, indulgent mother who never would lie to her children? It would have been interesting to hear more about this transformation.
katalia's review
2.0
I picked this up because I love memoirs. It was an interesting read in so far as her childhood was completely different from mine. Much of the book made me slightly uncomfortable, but I couldn't stop reading it ... it's like watching a train wreck -- horrifying and captivating.
I finished the book grateful for my parents and the way I was raised.
I finished the book grateful for my parents and the way I was raised.
tbrov's review
2.0
What I learned from this book: You can be an awful person as long as you have a horrible mother to blame it on. Also, I'm pretty sure she was proud of all her sexual exploits; it read like bragging to me. Bad mom, but there have been worse, and not much sympathy for daughter. Why do I read these trashy memoirs??
More...