August 21st, 2009
I just (yesterday high midnight) finished reading a book entitled “When Rabbit Howls” by the Troops of Truddi Chase. Click here to see link. It is a horrible book, in content sense, and was a fascinating read. It is about a woman who was horribly abused sexually, verbally and physically when she was very young (starting around 2 years old) until she ran away at 16. In order to “deal” with the abuse, she split into at least 92 different, distinct personalities.
Years later, as an adult, not knowing of her multiple personality disorder, just that she has something mentally wrong with her, she starts seeking counsel. At one, she discovers the abuse, but not the extent. The therapist cannot help her any further. Then she finds the one she calls Stanley (she won’t use real names- it gives that person too much power). He helps uncover what really happened to her, and the Troops, as they call themselves, begin to work together to try and heal. As part of her therapy, they (the Troops) write an autobiography detailing the therapy, in an attempt to get the word out there about child abuse and what it can do to a child.
It is most definitely NOT for the faint of heart or soul. It literally almost made me vomit a few times, and I’ve had some nightmares from it. I am an AVID horror fan, and never had I read something that gave me such violent thoughts. It is hard to read it as a non-fiction book, because it is so horrible to think of actually happening to someone. But then the idea that it DID happen surfaces, and it’s so terrible.
I picked it up because I have always been fascinated by the human mind and how it works. I’ve been especially fascinated by what causes people to become “crazy”. This book, as horrifying as it was to read, was also something that made you THINK.