Battered Blessings: Surviving My Abusive, Toxic Relationship is a memoir by Shannon Ezzo. She hopes that by sharing her story that she will empower others so that no matter what their circumstances they should not have to go through it alone. Spending so much of her time keeping silent during the course of relationship she found herself constantly living in fear unsure of what would happen next. Writing this book for others is truly powerful.

Continue reading “Battered Blessings Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Irene O’Garden’s poetic memoir, Risking the Rapids: How My Wilderness Adventure Healed My Childhood focuses a lens on her less than perfect childhood and how a more recent trip with her siblings following a new trauma helped her to work through how her childhood has impacted her life. Through moving prose O’Garden moves between her past and the more recent trip with ease, allowing the reader to relate these periods to each other. Beyond that she allows herself to be completely open with her reader in this touching work. Continue reading “Risking the Rapids Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Paul Ecke shares intimate details of his life from roughly the age of four into the present day in his book, Boy Dreamer: An Artist’s Memoir of Identity, Awakening, and Beating the Odds. Ecke’s journey has not been an easy one and throughout his life he has had to contend with a number of difficult battles including life in a foster home, abusive relationships, and a cancer diagnosis. While the material is very deep Ecke works to provide moments of happiness and hope throughout to show the balance of life. Continue reading “Boy Dreamer Book Review from @kleffnotes”