Cover Image: Truth and Repair

Truth and Repair

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Member Reviews

I respect some of the points made here but it feels like we're missing so much of the full picture about the need for recovery and a true sense of justice for abuse survivors. Many discussions are brief and hardly touched on, there are very few survivor experiences referenced for all it intends to cover, and much of it focuses on forms of justice seeking which feel as if they decenter the victims and,of all things, centered on how to make justice fair to the perpetrators while underlining how society already favors them. Some more time and expansion would do this book and it's ideas some good.

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I've been wanting to read more about restorative justice, so I picked this up. It's an interesting companion to Know My Name by Chanel Miller. Very academic, but I learned a lot. I'm not sure how much I can dig through it and say I agree or I disagree, but I thought it was an interesting experience.

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If anyone knows about trauma recovery it should be Dr. Judith L Herman she has written multiple book books on trauma from incest sexual assault and more and then this one she focuses on the victim. I always believe if people sexual crimes were worn on the outside we would have an epidemic of sexual abusers and even more sexual victims. I think warnings of abuse should start when you’re little and although not everyone will be abused everyone should be informed on what to do when it happens and how sometimes just telling one person isn’t enough. This book is so needed thanks to Dr. Herman and others like her we will slowly but surely make talking about sexual abuse not as taboo as it was and it won’t just be blown off as boys will be boys. I am so thankful for the activists that stand up for the voiceless and I believe the author is one of those people and highly recommend this book. I won’t say it was entertaining but it certainly was educational and definitely needed. I received this book from NetGalley and basic books but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

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Truth and Repair's "full name" has the following tag, "How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice". This is exactly what one will learn about from Judith L. Herman, MD, the authoress. The trauma survivors' perspectives rather than the perpetrators. This is very necessary instruction for one and all, I'd say.

This book has broadened my understanding of victims of violence and what they wish could be done for them so that they are not repeatedly violated, by the "so-called," justice system post the time of trauma, should they wish to sue for justice through the courts. Key terms are "Survivors' Justice" and "Survivors' Agenda". Details of active and potential ways to put the focus on the victims and their healing, rather than on pampering the perpetrators, are so much more helpful and reduce re-victimization of the already deeply and traumatically injured party, I learned. Makes good sense to me.

The range aspects for the Survivors' Agenda appear to be comprehensive, covering such areas of the why's and wherefore's of the tyranny of dominance (male) over subordination (female); acknowledgement of the act of tyranny, accountability, healing, restitution, prevention and more.

I believe this is a well thought out, log of survivors' concrete wishes and hopes, and how bystanders, who also have responsibility, can be instumental in making or breaking the victims in achieving some modicum or more, of justice and healing.

People who have been violated, know there is help and hope for you, you can find out more through reading this book. If you are someone who knows someone who has been violated, read this book and help your loved one or friend. If you are the perpetrator of violence, read and find out how one of your victims feels. Spend time in their shoes. See what you have done. Also, know how you can make a huge difference if learning to live a life of accountablity for your actions. If you are a bystander who would like to 'do something' to help the sufferer, educate yourself by reading this book towards attaining greater truth and repair work that you could act upon for the good and benefit of those who have been sexually violated and in more ways than one; catch the trauma survivor's vision for justice.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

September 2022

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by NetGalley and Basic Books publisher.

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This is my new replacement for the body keeps the score because van der kolk was horrible to women. I cannot wait to own a physical copy of this book so that I can mark it up and highlight everything! A beautiful and must have companion for fellow survivors.

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I thought this was an intriguing book about a tough subject. I was more interested in reading about the victims’ thoughts and feelings than I was in the first part of the book about patriarchy. Overall, I think this book will be a useful resource to survivors of violence.

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