Book by Amber Gregory
This was a brutal read, but also full of light as it shows how much Amber has and is healing with the help of her faith.
What I appreciated most about this book was how Amber struggled to identify that she had been raped, but eventually came to the conclusion that it was not her fault, that she was too young to consent, and that even if she had given consent the first time (which she did not), it was a coercive, manipulative, pre-meditated and deliberate abuse. She does not use these exact words, but I think it is so important for women like myself and Amber to recognize how we have been taken advantage of, the times we have been groomed, the times we did the best we could with our limited understanding of what was happening to us.
Amber’s memoir is succinct, yet it also gives important detail and insight into how easy it is to be groomed, with no awareness that you are being groomed, especially for young girls. I wonder what age we should teach our children to watch out for this artful manipulation and to consult with parents when someone else behaves in a suspicious manner. I will be teaching my kids as young as I think they can understand because I have two girls/AFABs.
This kind of memoir serves as both a warning and a journey of reconciliation with one’s own trauma. It is appropriate and helpful in these times.