I really struggled in the beginning of this story with there being clear red flags in the relationship between Wavy and Kellen. But after reading the author’s perspective on the why behind the story, I understood how important it is to gain perspective into “All the Ugly Wonderful Things” in this world. It is a story of extreme pain, abuse, dark and dire situations and how it’s very easy to jump to conclusions about people when you don’t have a clue the things they’ve gone through. This book is not a book created to romanticize child sexual abuse as a lot of people have stated here in the reviews. It is a story to give us insight into the dire world of people raised in horrific circumstances and how those circumstances lead people into seeking light in the darkest of places. Bryn Greenwood’s insight on why she wrote this book makes perfect sense, as she was also a victim of darker circumstances as a child that people privileged with not knowing don’t understand. This book teaches us about trauma, attachment disorders, eating disorders, drug addiction among many other things described in this book that are all symptoms of extreme childhood trauma. It is not meant to glorify these choices and circumstances but rather offer people with the privilege of growing up in a safe home perspective and understanding. I am grateful to have read this story. This book is definitely not for the light of heart and also not for people who have no knowledge of trauma and don’t wish to look at the perspectives of others but just to judge and turn your nose up. This book was written specifically to shed some knowledge onto those who judge and label, without taking the time to listen to people’s stories. But as someone who has worked with child victims of abuse, it was both educational, ugly and darkly beautiful in the end. The title says it all.
Review from All the Ugly and Wonderful Things →