This book has left a deep and everlasting scar in my memory. This can be thought to be a positive and a negative effect. Alice Sebold has not only opened up to her readers as a victim of rape, but has introduced and revealed tragic life experiences of others along the way. She has encountered too many events that dealt with rape and this has truly awakened me. Rape can happen to anyone at anytime, and there is always a chance someone can get hurt. She did not sugarcoat one single detail in her memoir, which encourages the idea of realism and the mentality of always presenting life the way it is and not trying to hide anything just because it may seem embarrassing or taboo. Honestly, I cannot put into words how this book has affected me. Various types of emotions are running through me right now, but all I know is that this book helped me understand life. Life is not always going to be filled with happiness and joy, and at times you may never feel those things at all; or your innocence can be stolen one day without any warning and will make you live a whole new different life that you wish you were never introduced to. This may seem as a pessimistic way of thinking, but it is reality. However, on a positive note, it has taught me that you can fight against the odds. Regardless of what you have been through, you must never lose your strength and pride. Strength will motivate you to work harder, to withstand the pain, and to most importantly overcome the obstacles. Nevertheless, everything comes with a price. Unfortunately, or fortunately, one experience can not only affect your own life, but also the people around you.
The Great Awakening