As a boy growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, John endured years of sexual abuse by his father, a former Baptist minister. John tried to find refuge in the regimentation of a military career and in multiple marriages, but his efforts to deal with the trauma of his experiences led him on a self-destructive path that left a trail of broken people and dreams. His life continued its downward spiral until he reached the ultimate bottom. . .and began his journey toward forgiveness of his abusers and, finally, himself. This memoir is a groundbreaking account, from a man's perspective, of the effects of sexual abuse on all aspects of the victim's life. John speaks out about the details of his abuse and the family culture that enabled generations of abusers to victimize its children. His searing openness throws a spotlight on the darkly kept secrets of childhood sexual abuse, and his story will serve as an inspiration to everyone who longs to embrace their own healing journeys.
Most autobiographies are about famous people. The difference between these people and myself is that my lifes story is a way to explain and share how two little boys lived a life of childhood abuse and the scars this abuse left behind. I did not write this book to feel sorry for myself but to inform others that, Yes, little boys cry too!!! Not enough information is documented on how many little boys and young men have been abused, which I find quite disturbing. However, every time I read a new statistic on the number of boys that have been and will be abused, the percentages keep going up and up. You must remember that in the past, we as boys, were taught never to cry and or to show emotions. Most of us hid the abuse and many still will not reveal what happened to them. Young girls and young ladies are by far the largest group of victims. However, I refuse to be swept under a rug about a situation past and present that leaves scars on all the victims. Yes, today, I can finally come out and say that my brother and I were both victims of verbal, psychological, the severest of physical abuse and yes, sexual abuse. I somehow survived these abuses but sadly my brother did not. He ended up committing suicide at a young age. Three days before his death he telephoned me to admit he was afraid of turning out like our abuser --our mother!. He was afraid he was becoming like her and did not want that life for the wonderful woman he had married and his 10 month old daughter. If one person reads this book and sees the signs of abuse and helps just one child, then I shall die happy knowing that this one child was spared. Also, this book has a meaning other than you feeling sorry for me, as I dont need nor want pity. Neither is this book where I want to air out my famililies faults and failures. To this day, I have never told a person about my young life. I chose to wait until all the people who had made my life a living hell had passed away. What inspired me to open up was an experience that happened to me about 5 years ago, I was living with my former partner in Buenos Aires, Argentina and one day he happened to pick up a folder of old pictures. In the folder were school photographs of me from around the age of first through 6th grade. I saw that he had the pictures spread over the dining room table and had this confused look on his face. Finally he spoke and said, Jim I need to ask you a question, Why in all these pictures do you have marks on your face? He went on pointing out that in each picture I had either a busted lip, scratches and even a black eye. I suddenly went into a panic mode. Somebody saw what I had kept hidden over 25 years and something I wanted to forget. I sat there for at least 2 hours and told him everything that had happened to me from starting my life in an orphanage until I was almost 3 years old and up to the present. The torture in my life did not end the day my Mother put me out of the house at 15/16 years old. My life still had more obstacles for me to face. I was then fighting my own sexuality, I didnt understand what was happening and sadly had not one person I could trust. I needed help and back in the late 60s and 70s there were no organizations available to help. An alternative life style in those days were not accepted anywhere! I was an outcast from what the world called normal and there was no alternatives. I remember boys getting the hell knocked out of them if they were even considered just a little too effeminate. I had my share of two such bullies has a kid and I didnt need that experience again. I realize that times have changed and through this wonderful thing called the media, my heroes in life have showed the public just the tip of the iceberg. Please dont fall in the trap of believing that since times have changed; people have. Today we have people like Oprah, Ricky Martin, and Ellen Degeneres who have brought this fact to the publics attention as w
Meet Tim. For nearly a decade Tim kept his depression secret. It made him feel so weak and shameful he thought it would destroy his whole life if anyone found out. But an unexpected discovery by a loved one forced him to confront his illness and realise there was strength to be found in sharing his story with others. When he finally opened up to the world about what he was going through he discovered he was not alone. Boys Don't Cry is a book that speaks against the stigma that makes men feel like they are less-than for struggling, making sense of depression and anxiety for people who might not recognise those feelings in themselves or others. It is a brutally honest, sometimes heart-breaking (and sometimes funny) tale about what it really takes to be a 'real man', written by one who decided that he wanted to change the status quo by no longer being silent. This is Tim's story, but it could be yours too.
The Boy Who Wanted Too Much is a collection of poems that form a story. There is prose to support the poetry and frame the story but at its heart, poetry is the key. Subject matter touches upon the realms of myth, religion, fantasy, the human condition and love. Each poem speaks with the authors unique voice. Book Review Author 'reaches into his soul' to explore life,love Hillside poet 'reaches out' to readers in his first book When one dis deep enough into one's feelings, dreams, thoughts and experiences, one can create a poetic effect. And the poetic effect, literally speaking, for Greg L. Hines of Hillside, has emerged into a book called "The Boy Who Wanted Too Much". Hines has introduced an interesting compilation of poetry and prose, examining his own apparent state of growing into He has constructed his deepest dreams of reality into a manuscript that is separated in three sections: "The House of Emasculation", "Fairy Dust" and the final section, which is titled "The Pleasure Letters." And in all three, he reaches into his innermost soul to decipher and to understand all that is happening to him in life and love. Some of the poems that Hines has inlcuded in the book are extremely well written and find their way into a persons's heart and soul. Others, however, appear to have been written just for the moment- and then cast aside. Hines, in a comment from the author in his opening pages, explains that "...this is a novel written in a new writing form...developing...over a period of five years. It is known as an abstracted reality." He begins the book with a poem, "The Boy Who Wanted Too Much," and an introduction that says it all. He writed of enemies, lost dreams, girls, angels, love, fear, hate, lust, God and peace, ecstacy, doom -- every emotion that, through the growing years, turns a boy into a man, And as a man, he struggles with all these confrontations. Hines reaches out to his readers to have them delve into their own feelings from boyhood to manhood and to know just what it is really like to grow up and face the world of reality. "The Boy Who Wanted Too Much" is well worth perusing. Some of the poetry actually sounds as if Hines had lyrics in mind for songs to be written. And this reviewer really would'nt mind if it is placed on the shelf in a new category of poetry. It will, however, need more of its kind upon which to lean. --Bea Smith [email protected] Article About the Book Poet 'grew with his material' for first book By Bea Smith Staff Writer The reason it took Greg L. Hines of Hillside 10 years to write "The Boy Who Wanted Too Much," a book of emotional poetry, was because he grew along with the material. "Actually," Hines explained, "I started writing the book when I was younger, in my early 20s. I wanted to be as authentic as possible. And as my perspective changed, so did the character of the book. I call it a novel of abstract reality. It felt like a story although not one that read from A to B." Hines, who is a musician by profession, mentioned that "I've been writing since I was 9 years old. And with a book such as this, for me, a lot of it had to do with my life experiences. It was pretty much a way of getting my feelings out and coping with a lof of things I had going on then. With "The Boy Who Wanted Too Much, 'you can come away with the exact same story." Hines said he takes great pride in the fact that "this is my first published work, even though it is self published by my own publishing company. Hardkandy Publishing, here in Hillside." He also publishes his own music through Hardkandy Records Inc. "I'm self-employed, have my own record label, and m
Did you know that wrestlers have feelings? Knights do too. Even superheroes feel sad sometimes. In fact everyone has feelings - even dads who love their children! Now in paperback, children will love to recognise the feelings in Keith Negley's bold illustrations which accompany a fun-to-read aloud narrative. Parents can enjoy and engage with children in a light-hearted discussion about emotions and how they affect us all.
'I can't remember ever reading anything so moving . . . It's so beautiful.' MARIAN KEYESThey say boys don't cry.But Finn's seen his Da do it when he thinks no one's looking, so that's not true.And isn't it OK to be sad, when bad things happen?They say boys don't cry, but you might . . .'Unforgettable.' Donal Ryan'Authentic to the bone' Kit de WaalIt will break your heart in a million different ways.' Louise O'Neill'Powerful and poignant.' Ruth Hogan'Hilarious and heartbreaking.' Louise NealonWhat readers are saying:'Fiona Scarlett is certainly up there with the likes of Roddy Doyle . . . A beautifully written, authentic novel, that will make you both laugh and cry, I just want to recommend this book to everyone.''This is a heartbreaking and very emotional novel that is exquisitely written. Fíona's writing style helps to bring such raw emotion to the text that it was impossible to not shed a tear!''I cried so much reading this book . . . A stunning read that I'll be thinking about for a long time.''There is a lot of humour to balance the heartache . . . All humanity is here, in all its shades, and that's what stays with you long after you finish reading. A brilliant debut.'
Koby is full of joy; until one day his mother gets a new job and has to uproot the entire family across the country. The transition is difficult for Koby, but he refused to cry until he has a conversation with his Father about vulnerability.
Dear Black Boy: It's Ok to Cry serves as a part of the necessary conversations around the world about mental health, especially when it comes to the African American community. This book is for everyone from all backgrounds to find the strength and courage to feel comfortable embracing emotions and seeking help when needed.
As The Giving Tree turns fifty, this timeless classic is available for the first time ever in ebook format. This digital edition allows young readers and lifelong fans to continue the legacy and love of a classic that will now reach an even wider audience. "Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy." So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. This moving parable for all ages offers a touching interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return. Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave. This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein's incomparable career as a bestselling children's book author and illustrator began with Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. He is also the creator of picture books including A Giraffe and a Half, Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?, The Missing Piece, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, and the perennial favorite The Giving Tree, and of classic poetry collections such as Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, Every Thing On It, Don't Bump the Glump!, and Runny Babbit. And don't miss the other Shel Silverstein ebooks, Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic!
"Maggie is earthy and real, full of love and knowledge, especially on raising sons." - Steve Biddulph "Maggie's perspective on raising boys is spot on. She writes with humor and depth, providing insight and strategies for many of the most important issues facing moms. There is a lovely ease to her writing and a powerful honesty. I hope every mother of a son (and everyone else!) will read this book. The future of the world, to a great extent, depends on how we raise our boys." - Michael Gurian, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Wonder of Boys and Saving Our Sons If we can see the world through boys' eyes a little better, we will make different choices in the way we mother them… and we will find them less confusing, and love them more deeply. Mothers of sons are worried about raising their boys in a world where negative images of masculinity are front and centre of our media, almost every day. Not only that, but statistically our boys are still struggling in many ways. Even though we live in a time where we recognise that nothing in gender is fixed, it remains a fact that the influence of a mother on her son is massive. A mother of four sons herself, Maggie Dent draws on her personal experience - and over four decades work as a teacher, counsellor and now author and speaker - to help build understanding, empathy and compassion for our boys. Maggie shares her five key secrets that every mum needs to know and uses the voices of men she has worked with and surveyed to reveal what really matters in a boy's relationship with his mother and other mother figures. Maggie is one of Australia's most popular parenting authors and educators, and her seminars about boys have sold out all across Australia and in the UK. She is finally sharing her insights, her reflections, and (as always) her humour around mothering boys to help you be the mum your son needs you to be.
