From Voiceless To Vocal by Danielle Larson

I was looking forward to reading this book and it didn't disappoint. The story follows Danielle's experiences of meeting the man who would become her husband and their turbulent relationship as it develops, through a disastrous abusive relationship and miscarriage. She paints a picture of a thoroughly unpleasant individual with nasty, belittling behaviours. He cuts off her family and turns her into a nervous wreck with no confidence. The situation is compounded by a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, which has Danielle on medication that clouds her thinking. It seems this is part of the reason why she stays in this awful relationship, and doesn't flee from the situation earlier.

Drowning: A Memoir, by Andy Palmer

 

Brilliantly written, this insightful memoir offers a revealing perpective into the life of an addict. It takes you on a journey, from Andy's childhood relationships and misdemeanours, through to his struggles with addiction as a young adult. The descriptive detail really brings the story to life, but there's not so much detail that it becomes cumbersome or boring. I loved the description of Andy's grandfather's house - a real reminder of the 1970s, and I'd urge people considering reading this book to download the free sample, because the first chapter kicks off very well. As a reader, I did feel frustrated as Andy hopped from one great opportunity to another, messing each one up, because of his addiction to alcohol and drugs.

Without Conscience by Robert D Hare PhD

This book is fascinating. I was interested in psychopaths in the community, rather than in prison, and this book covers both. It explores how psychopaths behave, what drives them, how they treat their family and acquaintances. When your child is a psychopath and how to get help, as well as looking at how to protect yourself when you find yourself in a relationship with a psychopath.