Review of Misunderstood
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Jaituni Sanghavi
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Review of Misunderstood
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Misunderstood" by Laura Rosek.]
I have read a lot of true stories, and the reason I enjoy reading such stories is that they feel raw and authentic, and most of all, they bring within me a sense of growth and a feeling of gratitude for the life I live. Misunderstood by Laura Rosek is one such story (which feels more like a memoir) that touched me deeply, and I had tears in my eyes by the end of it. It is not that I haven't read stories that involve struggles and talk about how tough life can get, but Laura's story crossed that bar and made me question: can life really be this brutal?
To begin with, Laura’s account starts off by contemplating her childhood and how, from the tender age of four, Laura's mother harbored a feeling of disgust and dislike towards her. Laura’s upbringing was, without any exaggeration, cruel! She yearned for her mother's love but was always endowed with the opposite, to the extent that her mother called her ‘the Devil's daughter.’ Imagine your own mother calling you a devil; how tragic!
Ahead in the book, we see Laura's school years and the troubles she faced there, where she gained a reputation as a troublemaker. On the lighter side, her teacher, Mr. Claydon, offers her good support and even recognizes her potential.
Moving on, at the young age of nearly 16, we see Laura working in a factory and being given the job of stitching coats, wherein a patient woman named Kathy trained her. Laura's friend Sylvia also worked there, and soon both of them started earning their own income and later enjoyed their weekends at a club named ‘Savoy Night Club,’ where Laura also met Tom, an American soldier, and formed an instant connection with him. This relationship was the beginning of Laura's devastation, as what followed next only shattered her further. Without giving away any spoilers, Laura raised her daughter Tomisha all by herself. Between all of this, we see how Laura and Tom's relationship is always on the rocks, sometimes good and other times bad. Did Tom stay in Laura's life? Why did Laura raise Tomisha alone?
The worst part, however, was when Brad entered Laura's life and literally ruined it. He was violent, abusive, a womanizer, a rapist, and whatnot. Laura survived all of this with all the might she had. Brad was basically one of those people you wish was never born on this planet. Yes, he was that bad!
Then, Eddie, another man who was six and a half years younger than Laura, entered her life. He was no good for her either. Sweet at first, Eddie turned out to be a big-time womanizer as well, and their relationship faced innumerable troubles and infidelity issues. What did Eddie do? To what extent did he hurt Laura?
I do not wish to spill out all the details of Laura's life in this review; however, her life was tough, brutal, and tragic. What I liked the most was how, despite so many hardships, Laura remained strong throughout. Yes, she was traumatized, she was hurt, she cried her heart out, and she fell miserably ill, but despite all of this, she kept on a strong face. I absolutely adored her friendship with Sylvia, which lived on through the years and was probably the only good thing or a good relationship in Laura's life. Her friendship with Peggy was also good; however, that friendship also suffered a troubled phase towards the end.
I liked how raw the story was, with Laura pouring out every little detail of her life without any filter. The writing style was impressive and connecting. The way Rosek has bought out all the relationships on paper is astonishing. I felt a sense of relief when Laura's relationship with her father improved over the years, and also after knowing how Tomisha raised her two children beautifully. Laura's life was a living hell and a roller coaster of tragic and traumatizing emotions; however, it was an inspiration to read, and because of these reasons, I would give this book a rating of five out of five stars. I did not dislike anything about this book.
There were times when I felt as to why Laura always fell into the same trap despite knowing what was in store for her; however, I got an answer for this question in the epilogue and a solid one at that. All in all, this book is a must-read for anyone who wishes to get inspired and motivated and, at the same time, be grateful for the lives they live.
******
Misunderstood
View: on Bookshelves
I have read a lot of true stories, and the reason I enjoy reading such stories is that they feel raw and authentic, and most of all, they bring within me a sense of growth and a feeling of gratitude for the life I live. Misunderstood by Laura Rosek is one such story (which feels more like a memoir) that touched me deeply, and I had tears in my eyes by the end of it. It is not that I haven't read stories that involve struggles and talk about how tough life can get, but Laura's story crossed that bar and made me question: can life really be this brutal?
To begin with, Laura’s account starts off by contemplating her childhood and how, from the tender age of four, Laura's mother harbored a feeling of disgust and dislike towards her. Laura’s upbringing was, without any exaggeration, cruel! She yearned for her mother's love but was always endowed with the opposite, to the extent that her mother called her ‘the Devil's daughter.’ Imagine your own mother calling you a devil; how tragic!
Ahead in the book, we see Laura's school years and the troubles she faced there, where she gained a reputation as a troublemaker. On the lighter side, her teacher, Mr. Claydon, offers her good support and even recognizes her potential.
Moving on, at the young age of nearly 16, we see Laura working in a factory and being given the job of stitching coats, wherein a patient woman named Kathy trained her. Laura's friend Sylvia also worked there, and soon both of them started earning their own income and later enjoyed their weekends at a club named ‘Savoy Night Club,’ where Laura also met Tom, an American soldier, and formed an instant connection with him. This relationship was the beginning of Laura's devastation, as what followed next only shattered her further. Without giving away any spoilers, Laura raised her daughter Tomisha all by herself. Between all of this, we see how Laura and Tom's relationship is always on the rocks, sometimes good and other times bad. Did Tom stay in Laura's life? Why did Laura raise Tomisha alone?
The worst part, however, was when Brad entered Laura's life and literally ruined it. He was violent, abusive, a womanizer, a rapist, and whatnot. Laura survived all of this with all the might she had. Brad was basically one of those people you wish was never born on this planet. Yes, he was that bad!
Then, Eddie, another man who was six and a half years younger than Laura, entered her life. He was no good for her either. Sweet at first, Eddie turned out to be a big-time womanizer as well, and their relationship faced innumerable troubles and infidelity issues. What did Eddie do? To what extent did he hurt Laura?
I do not wish to spill out all the details of Laura's life in this review; however, her life was tough, brutal, and tragic. What I liked the most was how, despite so many hardships, Laura remained strong throughout. Yes, she was traumatized, she was hurt, she cried her heart out, and she fell miserably ill, but despite all of this, she kept on a strong face. I absolutely adored her friendship with Sylvia, which lived on through the years and was probably the only good thing or a good relationship in Laura's life. Her friendship with Peggy was also good; however, that friendship also suffered a troubled phase towards the end.
I liked how raw the story was, with Laura pouring out every little detail of her life without any filter. The writing style was impressive and connecting. The way Rosek has bought out all the relationships on paper is astonishing. I felt a sense of relief when Laura's relationship with her father improved over the years, and also after knowing how Tomisha raised her two children beautifully. Laura's life was a living hell and a roller coaster of tragic and traumatizing emotions; however, it was an inspiration to read, and because of these reasons, I would give this book a rating of five out of five stars. I did not dislike anything about this book.
There were times when I felt as to why Laura always fell into the same trap despite knowing what was in store for her; however, I got an answer for this question in the epilogue and a solid one at that. All in all, this book is a must-read for anyone who wishes to get inspired and motivated and, at the same time, be grateful for the lives they live.
******
Misunderstood
View: on Bookshelves
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Mark Lazarus
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- Latest Review: A Life Built From Fear - Barry Kohl by Barry Kohl
It sounds like an incredibly raw and emotional story of resilience and survival. I admire the strength it takes to share such painful experiences, and I can see how it would be a deeply moving and inspiring read. It’s definitely something I’d consider picking up to gain a deeper perspective on perseverance and the human spirit.
Latest Review: A Life Built From Fear - Barry Kohl by Barry Kohl
