Australian actress and author Vanessa de Largie is a survivor of domestic violence. Don't Hit Me! is the true diarised account of her time living with an abusive man. The story is conveyed through poems, journal entries and fragments of lyrical prose. The book is a snapshot of domestic violence in real time. Raw, poignant and brave - it's a tale that will stay with you.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I have never been a victim of domestic violence. I have known people who have, however, right in my own family. It's frightening, it's scarring and it could either break you or build you up. In de Largie's case, it built her up as she survived a horror that many women die from.
This book is a true story, a dark story, and more of a stream of consciousness than a novel. The typical narrative is thrown out the window in favor of a very raw and realistic version of storytelling. You can recognize it in fictional novels like Cut by Patricia McCormick, and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. But this is darker, because you know that this is real.
This isn't my usual read, but it drew me in just the same. A great book for victims of abuse, psychology students or anyone who wants to delve deeper into the human mind.
4/5--dark and real.
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