As The Sycamore Grows
Sep 16, 2011
Author: Jennie Miller Helderman
Genre: Nonfiction Narrative/Biography
Publisher: The Summers Bridgewater Press
Publication Date: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-9827732-0-8
Rarely have I heard of a true life book where even the “bad guys” are more than open to discussing and sharing portions of the story. This is just such a book - a very unusual book telling the story of abuse.. from the point of the abused AND the abuser. Not only that, but Jennie goes far and above the usual storytelling, digging into the history of the involved individuals to see how they were raised and how that affected their actions as adults. A completely comprehensive look at the why’s and how’s of an abusive marriage.
Warning up front… while it has an ending that can lead to hope for other abused women, this book will spend a good part of it’s pages making you cringe. The casual, yet intensely detailed descriptions of what Ginger went through – both from Mike’s point of view and her own – are chilling.
The fact that the way Ginger and Mike were both raised by their own parents must be taken into account when learning of their actions. It leads you to become so much more introspective of how even the little ways we act with our children can affect them in later years.
You will stand up and cheer when Ginger finally begins to think of breaking free from the nearly prison-like existence she endured for so many years. You’ll read open mouthed when Mike describes in a matter of fact manner the way she was treated by him.
This is an important book in that it not only tells a story of abuse and the rising above it, but gives information on what to do and what actions to take to overcome this type of situation, should you be in it.
In the end, when Ginger sits in a coffee shop in a business suit with her degree behind her, taking on the work that will help countless other women in similar situations as she had…………you can only cheer.
