The descriptions of Renoir’s upbringing are heartrending. Routinely punished by her father (often with a wooden cane) for any perceived disobedience, Renoir eventually grew to hate him—and felt both pity and anger for her browbeaten mother, who did little to shield Renoir and her sisters from their father’s unrelenting abuse. As an adult, Renoir develops an admirable empathy toward her father’s shortcomings, believing them to be a product of his own abusive childhood. That empathy continues when she marries Andrew, also the product of a cruel childhood. The two create a happy marriage together that lasts decades until Andrew’s death, agreeing to not have children out of a belief their upbringings would prevent them from being good parents.
Readers will cheer for the sensitive, talented Renoir as she embraces her full potential, showcasing throughout her life that generational abuse can be overcome through awareness and accepting help. Renoir possesses strength and courage in spades, and prevailing over her past is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Just as her purpose transforms, so, too, does her spirituality, resulting in her “realization of the oneness of all reality” and view of herself as a “unique expression of that ultimate mystery.”
Takeaway: Heart-rending story of overcoming generational abuse.
Comparable Titles: Cameron Dezen Hammon’s This Is My Body, Michelle Stevens’s Scared Selfless.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
