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Reviewed by C.R. Hurst for Readers' Favorite
Ironing Out My Life: Child Abuse and How It Affected Everything Thereafter is a difficult book to read and I mean that in the best possible way. In it, Kate Russell shares harrowing stories of her childhood that not only provide emotional impact but also made me understand how abuse will besiege those abused with self-doubt and anxiety in their adult lives. In a very real way, the book forces readers to “fall down the rabbit hole” with the author, making reading visceral and inspirational. Those who have not experienced such abuses will better understand their profound impact; those who have will find inspiration in knowing that the author’s continual personal growth may be possible for them too.
What I appreciated the most about Ironing Out My Life is Kate Russell’s remarkable honesty when dealing with her troubled past. So many memoirs avoid revealing disturbing details, perhaps for fear of upsetting family members and friends, or for fear of triggering distress from those who suffered similar abuses. However, Russell never reveals those details for their shock value. Instead, she reveals them so that we might better understand them and her. I also found the insights that she has gathered as an adult especially affecting. For instance, Russell wonders why she cannot move forward in her career as an actress, but realizes that “fear stifles creativity” and she is “imprisoned by the past.” Yet she keeps going, keeps moving forward to a better future. I wish her well.
