Local writer breaks mold with book debut
Gregory Brand Jr.
Senior Editor
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: Arts & Culture
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By Shawna M. Harrison
Grade: B-
Everyday children all over the country and world are abused. Whether the abuse is physical, mental or sexual, it is something children should never have to endure.
The disturbing truth is that all of the aforementioned forms of abuse do occur and do so at an alarming rate.
This tends to be especially true for some people of color where connections with immediate and extended family members are more intricate and the signs of abuse may be more difficult to detect.
To combat this hidden issue on a personal level, Shawna M. Harrison, a Nashville resident and barber in the TSU community, has released a telling memoir where she outlines her own personal struggles with abuse at the hands of her own family.
Filled with riveting personal accounts dealing with abuse of all kinds, My True Soul Exploited, Apprehended and Broken Within, dares to address issues that are either marginalized or ignored by the general public.
The fact that Harrison has the courage to even speak on such things as her own molestations abuse and experiencing lesbianism, makes her dynamic and brave beyond the vein of the typical new author.
This memoir is Harrison's first book and it is here that she makes a gamble on potential readers by trusting them with what can translate as a deeply personal set of events.
From beginning to end, Harrison engages readers with tales of her life from childhood into adulthood where the lines between family and stranger are blurred and innocence is lost behind closed doors.
From the first account of Harrison suffering sexual abuse at the hands of her older brother and uncle to the abandonment she experienced at the hands of her father, this book certainly begins with a bang.
The explosion continues as Harrison outlines her battle with violation and mistrust of men altogether and her resulting affinity for same-sex relationships and self abuse.
Harrison's debut is unapologetically honest and frankly delves deep into the heart of the writer.
She goes, as E. M. Forster says, "Where angels fear to tread," and in doing so, she makes her work so much more than the typical independent literary work.
The topics addressed in this work are often ignored because they are too painful to speak on ,but because they are addressed here much is achieved.
Through her work she is giving a voice to the voiceless and empowering the people that have been the once marginalized and ignored.
For the most part, she wins but the work is far from perfect.
The concealing of some names and the omitting of some details cheapens the experience.
It is hard to fully believe a writer that blatantly tells us info is being withheld. If it is classified, leave it out all together.
The book's main weaknesses show themselves in the sheer structure and handling of the book.
The set up is fragmented and the story glides through different parts of the writer's life seemingly without an easy-to-understand flow.
While the writer's words are deeply heartfelt and honest, the formatting may confuse some readers.
Overall, My True Soul, Exploited, Apprehended and Broken Within, is an interesting and engaging memoir that is definitely worth a look.
Bottom Line: While Harrison is new to the book game, her debut is cleverly worded and covered in gut-wrenching emotion. Check her out online.
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