I gave this book a 4 out of 5 star review. It was an enjoyable and I would recommend. to others. Generously provided to me through NetGalley

What an amazing book! It kept you entertained and unable to put it down. Along with that it ran you through every emotion possible, and then you sit and think "Oh my, this was really her life!". You won't regret picking up this book...well unless you have to be to work early tomorrow!

Hard book to read with the subject mostly about the author getting molested over and over by her father,from an early age,with her mother's knowledge.
It is mostly a taboo subject,but seemed to happen to a lot of girls born in 40's and 50's.
It took a lot to carry on with her life and she never wanted to call attention to her body,as she didn't want the wrong kind of attention.
The three siblings weren't especially close,as the attention each recv'd was totally different.
I'm sorry,but it was not a book that I would recommend to my friends.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to Read in exchange for a chance to review it.

Christine U Cowin's book My Secret Self is the story of her childhood and schooldays with a hint of her spiritual beliefs. After initially wondering quite what kind of book I was reading I soon got into it and found myself engrossed. Ms Cowin can certainly write and the story switches from her childhood memories to some quite beautiful descriptions of the nature around her family home then back again quite seamlessly.
Her family were certainly dysfunctional by anyone's standards but I think many readers will,as I did,identify with at least some of the familial interaction and maybe my views are skewed by my own experience but I'm not sure the "perfect family" exists. As Ms Cowin shows plenty of her friends and relatives were also living in less than ideal situations. It's written very much in a stream . of consciousness style and the abuse she suffers is written in a "that's just the way it was" manner as part of the greater story rather than going down the "misery memoir " route.
This is a very honest book, Ms Cowin doesn't flinch from relating some of her own behaviour that many might have kept to themselves but it's all relevant and part of her story.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started the book and initially it seemed to be jumping back and forth between subjects and timelines but it does all fall into place and I was truly hooked by the end wanting to know more. There will be more and I can't wait to read the rest of Ms Cowin's journey.
Not the kind of book I usually read but I'm glad I gave it a try and I'd say it's one of the best books I've read in 2018.