Review: What a powerful novel!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 4, 2013
It is hard to believe that this is Ms. Lee's first novel; and it is incredibly admirable for her to take on the very sensitive subject of domestic violence on top of that. Yes, this book is violent at times; however, is domestic violence ever warm and cuddly? Does real life ever censor itself? As a reader it can be hard to digest, but it also gives us a glimpse into what a victim/survivor has to deal with on a daily basis. If you've never been in an abusive relationship, it could be easy to discount the decisions made by Elleny (our heroine) in her fight for not only her survival, but for her children as well.I love how Ms. Lee wove the back story and history throughout the novel. You could really get a sense of the depth of the relationships that each of the characters have with each other. Even though we had flashbacks throughout the book, it was easy to follow along. The dual POV was very effective. In the past I have not been much of a fan of having more than one voice in a book, but the relationship and storyline is so complex in Personal Experiences that I think the addition of a viewpoint really adds to the story. Yes, there were some grammatical/spelling errors, but guess what? Even mass marketed authors have things that make it past editing every once in awhile. Spell check does not find the difference between then/than or you're/your, and often times spell check is the closest thing to a copy editor that an indie/self-published author has. I am in awe of anyone that can sit down and craft words into a cohesive story. Not just anyone can do that.Elleny's evolution throughout the book from victim to survivor was inspiring. It was fraught with emotion and if rape and domestic violence are triggers for you it would best be wise to steer clear of this book. And while the book is chock full of pain and heartache, we do get a HEA at the end, that makes the pain all the more tolerable.Again, this was incredible for a freshman effort and I'm very much looking forward to the next installment of the Personal series! (Please keep us updated on TJ and Elleny too!)