Anatomy of a Life

by Penelope Meriwether

Anatomy of a Life, 2nd edition, is fully revised and is the result of a newly concentrated investigation and analysis of abuse and it's effect on a life—my life. It is now more than just the story of my tumultuous existence, but the explanation of the significance of each year's varying abuse from varying abusers and its influence on my mind. The results were so startling, I knew I had to expose my innermost self in order to see—in sequential order—the consequence abuse has on one’s life. I had to let you in on what I believe had the biggest impact on the forming of my mind; those parts which include the fear, favoritism, criticism, traumatic experiences and inner anger I grew-up with which led to the outward anger, hostility, anxiety, lack of self-esteem, neediness, co-dependency and depression I experienced my entire adult life up until this point. My abusive upbringing doomed me to seek love wherever I believed I could find it which led to subjecting myself to drunkenness and sexual promiscuity while through it all and unbeknownst to me, a life-threatening depression was advancing and worsening while I desperately tried to maintain a façade of normalcy. Anatomy of a Life is a haunting and heart-rending memoir, a truly inspirational story strongly recommended to anyone struggling to find their place in this world. It brings to light what most people bury deep inside and never speak of; real life. Real experiences, thoughts, feelings and raw emotion expressed in a unique and captivating style that includes as well, little known facts on abuse and the different effects ill-treatment has on one's psyche. Prayerfully, this story will strike a chord of hope with those who have lived through similar circumstances, eventually seeing that there is a light at the end of whatever dark tunnel they may be traveling.

This book is a testament to the strength people can discover in themselves. Meriwether’s strength will inspire others to overcome the pain in their own lives. It will also help those who have never suffered these things to better understand those who have, and that’s definitely a book worth reading. ~Samantha Rivera for Readers’ Favorite

648 pages, ebook

First published May 13, 2013

About the author

I am a wife and mother of two, with two older children from my first marriage. I was born an equestrian and artist and have spent my life raising and training horses as well as expressing my artistic ability through painting, sculpting and gardening. My family and I love biking and/or hiking the awe-inspiring Sierra Nevada mountains which have become for me a time to reflect on and appreciate not only the beauty of nature, but also family, love and life. I am so grateful to have finally found peace within myself.

Reviews

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anatomy of a Life is one of those books that proves the easiest reads are not always the best. I found the story a challenging one, at points unable to put it down and at others unable to pick it up! There are points in the story that made me cringe, both for the author and myself as some of her bad decisions reminded me of some of my own! Whether you have lived through abuse, are still living through abuse or simply the average reader, Meriwether's story has something for everyone. She writes with an engaging simplicity that not only tells her story, but allows the reader little moments of self-revelation that really make this read a very personal experience. I found it a thought-provoking and poignant read, a definite for the reading list.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! Penelope I just finished your book and couldn't wait to get on here and write down my review. Although at first it seemed wordy. once I got past the "step-middle-child" part it is a great book and you are SO Courageous for writing it. Sharing your story with us is brave and beautiful. As I read more it was as if I was reading a story that I could totally relate to, a lot of the situations you found yourself in I have experienced myself which made your book come alive for me. Thank you so much for being able to write your life experiences down (something I swore I would always do but never have)

This is a must read and I highly recommend it!

[Kim Sly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Anatomy of Life. It was easy to read, once i started reading i couldn't put it down.

I found myself going through so many emotions with the author - upset, happiness and frustration at some of the decisions that were made, but also understanding as to why they made the decisions at that point in their lives and lets face it everyone makes bad decisions at times.

The book gets you thinking about your own experiences with life.

Anatomy of Life is a must read!!!

[Kate Hearn · Rating 4 out of 5]

****I WON THIS IN A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY******

This story was intense. There were parts of the book I couldn't stop reading. There were parts where I wasangry, sad. A great book stirs your emotions, and this one did just that. I am always in awe of people who are able to share their stories, especially when things haven't been perfect. Well written, good job

[Kaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a free copy from the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Program and think that it interesting. I would recommend it to everyone.

[Kristi Doty · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a rambling mess of bland fantasy. It definitely gives self-publishing a very bad name. The author’s book summary is a very good indication of what to expect with regards to the poor sentence structure and grammar throughout the book. It is extremely difficult to read, based on this alone.