Book Review ; Girl In The Woods

Girl In The Woods : A Memoir
By: Aspen Matis

This book is about a rape victim who decided to find herself and her voice once again. The second night she was at college in Colorado she was raped and tried to struggle through her freshman year before deciding she needed to do something and have her fresh start. Her family hushed her attempts to reach out or speak up about the horrible thing that happened to her. She decided to hike the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada and recorded her journey.

I feel semi uncomfortable reviewing a memoir. Especially when something traumatic has happened to the author. Who am I to give a rating to a victims story? So first off I will applaud Aspen Matis' journey to reclaiming her life as her own and over coming the many feelings and scars that are left behind for the victim to deal with once the dust has settled. I applaud each of her accomplishments.

The only thing about this book that I didn't like was that she was so repetitive about the fact that she had been raped. AND IT'S WHY THIS BOOK CAME TO BE. And how insensitive, right?! No. Not that she kept talking about it but HOW she kept repeating it. Say it every day. Scream it every single day so everyone knows what kind of person that boy is that did this to you! Don't let it be forgotten. Unless you are ready for that in your own personal time and choice. Don't be silenced though. Say it as many times as you need to.

Usually when a book is written it is written solely for its readers, correct? But this was also written as her release. If you are going to say it over and over and write a book about it maybe change up the flow, the approach, or the presentation of the words on the page a little. To be brave enough to write this book is amazing. I probably would have given it 4 stars on Goodreads instead of 3 if it had been not so repetitive. But then again, when something like that happens it is what it is. And you are the one who has to repeat the details in your mind for the rest of your life because they are real and unchanging. See, awkward to review... and I hope this book leaves some people with hope that life will go on after the violation of some scum that found their way into their lives. 

"No one causes rape but rapists."

NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT TELEPHONE HOTLINE

1-800-656-HOPE (4673)