Jenny’s Blog

what i find disgusting is your lack of sympathy for someone who was molested, yes the author is gay but in no way does that make it ok for and adult to take advantage of a child. he was discribing his real life, in all of its pain, and sometimes real life is quite grapic and disturbing

Actually, I have quite a bit of sympathy for the author. If you read one of my previous posts, you will learn that I was raped 4 years ago. If anyone can feel his pain, I can. I do not, however, go and graphically describe what happened to me. I wrote about what hapened, but not in detail. Details such as that are not needed to adequately express the horror of what happened. I’m sorry you take pleasure in reading explicit and graphic depictions of molestations. I do not care if the boy is gay or not. It would be just as inappropriate to have that scene described as graphically if it was between a male and female.

Learning about life through the misfortune of others is an important lesson. I’m sure when you saw The Passion of the Christ you didn’t complain about the violence in that movie. This book is a hard hitting drama that plans to make a difference with the details that it brings to us. Imagining yourself in this writers place. The details that are described, are an important part of being thankful for what you have not had to suffer through yourself. I am not criticizing your ideals…Nor am I saying that I think it is wrong that you disagree with the writers choice of expression…I am simply saying that calling it useless “trash” is a bit much. If you disagree with his writing style, admit you dislike the book..but do not ever say that any piece of work no matter how terrible it is to you personally, is useless to the world as a whole. The story of Augustin has touched the world in a million ways, and I wouldn’t doubt that those specific scenes are the ones that really drove it home…

Hi “John,”
Thanks for your comments. Please see my above comment. I actually have had to suffer through a traumatic event (aggravated sexual assault). As a result of this, I feel I am qualified to make statements such as what I wrote above. I do not graphically describe EXACTLY what happened to me(you can read about it in my blog). There is no need for it. I do tell the story of what happened, to perhaps help other women through similar circumstances.

I fully defend calling the book trash because I feel it goes above and beyond what it should. Augustin could very well tell his story, and convey the horror of what happened to him without the details. The omission of details can hold a more powerful impact than writing exactly what happened. We all can understand he was molested without him describing exactly what happened, when, and how long it took.

It takes away from Burrow’s credibility as a writer when he has to graphically describe what happened rather than writing about the circumstances. I think it is important for him to tell his story, but it is not important to tell every disturbing detail.

If you think that those details are what “drove it home…” then you have some issues. I’m sorry for you that you need details such as that to comprehend the pain someone went through. If you read my story of what I went through, you would understand I have suffered a great deal as a result of my assault. If you don’t get it, then you need help.

“I think it is important for him to tell his story, but it is not important to tell every disturbing detail. ”

In order for others unexperienced to “bear witness” to the atrocities that you and I have both experienced, all of the details are necessary. Especially when writing a memoir.

I am sure Augustin Burrows was fully aware of the reactions he would receive from others when bravely putting his life into print.

However it is inconsiderate of anyone reading a memoir, to insist on the author not disclosing their reality for the “comfort” of others. You knowingly accepted the risk that comes with decision when you started to read the memoir.

Being a fellow survivor of assault I know you understand the need for disclosure in order to dispel any self-loathing we harbor regarding the experience. Again as you know, shame belongs with the assilant not with the survivor. Attack the pedophile and the fact such atrocities do exist. Attacking survivors only serves to reinforce self-loathing and the destruction of shame.

I am truly happy that you apparently did not need to disclose such detail on your blog to feel validated and begin your path to healing. Those who do not share our experience however do require such detail to grasp the emotional quality of the experience.

However, as you know everyone has their own path to with respect to enlightenment and healing. Pleasant or not, we should respect the fact the author has been brave enough to share their journey, instead of criticizing their path. The book was intended to be a memoir of the authors’ “path”, not a broadway play or work of fiction.

Your friends aware of your previous experience, should apologize to you for conveying it as such.

I do appreciate your candid blog, or I would not have taken the risk to read it. Therefore I am not personally offended by anyones thoughts, feelings etc…. you have a fundamental right to them and to share them as you see fit. So does Augustin.

Kara,

Thanks for your comments. I wish you all the best with your journey towards healing.

I do want to make one thing clear. I am not attacking Augustin, nor am I saying the book shouldn’t have been written. I just ask for disgretion on his part. I threw the book away because it was just too much, and too “over the top.” People understand what molestation is without having it graphically described. The problem is, though, that people can be told detail after detail about horrific events, but they will never, ever be able to understand or empathise with what happened without experiencing it for themselves. It is just not possible. That is why I feel those details are not needed - they do not strengthen Augustin’s story.

I wish you all the best on the road to recovery. I think something we can agree on is that Sexual Assault is not something to be hidden or covered up. The stories need to be told.

Jenny

boo..you’re all dumb- except john and shelby. And you’re all ugly…except john and shelby. boo to this blog. boo to Jenny’s being an evangelical christian. I’m smart and you’re all dumb (except john and shelby.)

Jenny,

you’re dumb.

Simone and whoever,

Thanks for your comments. For a person that dislikes my blog so much, you sure took a lot of time to read it. By your sad lack of interesting vocabulary (how many times did you say boo?) you sound like rather uneducated person - those are usually the ones that have to tell everyone that they’re “smart.”

Thanks for reading - I’m glad I was able to get under your skin today!

Have a great day!

LOL your an idiot…a BA in english means you know how to write…thats it…no creative bone or sympathetic bone in your body, i know several people who have master in english….they all thought the book was very well written and took notes from the original author…(shrug)

Hahaha…Thanks, Melisa! It’s pretty aparent that you weren’t an English major…try working on your spelling, and people might take what you have to say a bit more seriously. Best of luck to you!

PS I never said the book wasn’t well written - I just said it wasn’t worth reading. Nice one!