Rape, Incest, Battery: Women Writing Out the Pain

"Rape, Incest, Battery" by Miriam Kalman Harris is a book of enormouscompelling force, and its contents make for riveting reading. Thestories Dr. Harris has compiled and edited -- as well as her ownintroductory materials -- pack a wallop as well as open up a view into aworld of domestic trauma and violence against women that many of us knowonly second-hand. But the personal accounts she's assembled, the poems,letters, etc., really bring us into that world very directly, and I'msure many of those stories have not only helped those who wrote them butwill help and inspire those who read them, particularly women, of course. This is a very important book demonstrating the courage that women candiscover in themselves when confronting vicious forms of mistreatment andthe heroic actions that they can take, not just in their own defense, butin creating new lives for themselves and their families. Everyone withan interest in this subject -- and not just women -- should read thiseye-opener of a book. -- Kenneth Ring, Ph.D. Author of "Lessons from the Light" and "Heading TowardOmega."

The voices of those who suffer are no longer silenced in this book. Stories like this need to come out so everyone will know what women go through so we can end the violence against women.

Ninety-nine per cent of what I read is fiction: One book at a time, frequently in one sitting (or lying in bed). Not so with Rape, Incest, Battery by Dr. Miriam Kalman Harris (now Friedman). It may be the most intense, graphic and disturbing book I've ever read, and I can only process a chapter or so at one time.Years ago, we lived very near a battering family. The husband was the batterer. The wife was a professional, and there were two adult children still living at home. Thus, it was always a shock when screams and shouts erupted from their house. The police came frequently. Dr. Harris makes it clear that battery, rape and incest occur on all ethnic, racial and economic strata.This book is fascinating not only because of what the women had to say. Dr. Harris's literary approach is wonderful! A lesser writer might have included just the women's stories. This author's juxtaposition of therapy, poetry and comments has made R.I.B. an engrossing and gut-wrenching read.This book is a must-read for all women. Those who have been raped, incest victims or battered will nod and perhaps be encouraged knowing they are not alone. Those who have not been in these situations will be grateful they haven't.

Rape, Incest, Battery" by Miriam Kalman Harris is a book of enormous compelling force, and its contents make for riveting reading. The stories Dr. Harris has compiled and edited -- as well as her own introductory materials -- pack a wallop as well as open up a view into a world of domestic trauma and violence against women that many of us know only second-hand. But the personal accounts she's assembled, the poems, letters, etc., really bring us into that world very directly, and I'm sure many of those stories have not only helped those who wrote them but will help and inspire those who read them, particularly women, of course. This is a very important book demonstrating the courage that women can discover in themselves when confronting vicious forms of mistreatment and the heroic actions that they can take, not just in their own defense, but in creating new lives for themselves and their families. Everyone with an interest in this subject -- and not just women -- should read this eye-opener of a book.-- Kenneth Ring, Ph.D. Author of "Lessons from the Light" and "Heading Toward Omega."