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Change Your Name and Disappear: A terrifying true tale of survival
Sometimes, nightmares really do come true. This book details an Indigenous Australian woman's ability to survive the brutality of domestic violence over a six year period, against all the odds, when the corrupt local police refused to help. Imprisoned, repeatedly raped, yet too ashamed to confide in her family, she finally gained the strength to escape after the birth of her son.
Nine years later, he tracked her down. The injuries he inflicted upon her were so severe, she was left profoundly Deaf and legally Blind. Now living in a new country under a new name, this is her story.
Nine years later, he tracked her down. The injuries he inflicted upon her were so severe, she was left profoundly Deaf and legally Blind. Now living in a new country under a new name, this is her story.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2015
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Rosie Malezer
10 books56 followersA domestic violence survivor, Rosie Malezer was born in 1971 in Queensland, Australia. She is a profoundly Deaf, legally blind Australian Aboriginal author, writer and blogger (thanks to her incredibly fast touch typing skills) and a proud member of the Gubbi Gubbi tribe. Gubbi Gubbi Country is situated on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
Rosie's father - a retired military police officer of the Royal Australian Navy - trained her in the usage and safety of various guns at a very young age. Although she enjoys target shooting, Rosie is strictly against the idea of hunting for fun; her belief being that unless you need to hunt an animal for food and clothing in order to survive, animals should be treated with respect and left to live in peace.
Rosie now dedicates all of her spare time promoting awareness of issues relating to domestic violence, the vilification of her own people in her home country, as well as standing up for Deaf rights. When not writing, she spends her time doing everything she can to remove the communication barriers between the Deaf and Hearing people of the world.
PS: Rosie loves cats.
Rosie's father - a retired military police officer of the Royal Australian Navy - trained her in the usage and safety of various guns at a very young age. Although she enjoys target shooting, Rosie is strictly against the idea of hunting for fun; her belief being that unless you need to hunt an animal for food and clothing in order to survive, animals should be treated with respect and left to live in peace.
Rosie now dedicates all of her spare time promoting awareness of issues relating to domestic violence, the vilification of her own people in her home country, as well as standing up for Deaf rights. When not writing, she spends her time doing everything she can to remove the communication barriers between the Deaf and Hearing people of the world.
PS: Rosie loves cats.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 27, 2017
I was totally gripped with emotion throughout the whole of "Change Your Name and Disappear" a true life experience written by Australian author Rosie Malezer.
'Change your name and disappear' is what domestic abuse victim Tammy is forced to do after living in a horrendous and violent relationship with her partner/fiancé Steve. This book tells the terrifying tale of Tammy's ordeal at the hands of a volatile and abusive man and how she found the physical and emotional strength to survive and find life and love away from him, even though now deaf and blind through his attacks.
Without any help from the local Australian police, the strength and determination to rid herself of her life with Steve is just admirable, eventually discovering happiness as far away as Finland - I personally could never imagine being that strong and resilient.
At times, my nerves were taught like violin strings - reading with anticipation at what may further come. The story is truly heartbreaking and to learn that it is from true life experiences of the author is just utterly incomprehensible.
Although at times a difficult read, I highly recommend this compelling book - the power of survival so strong you can't help but feel admiration for Tammy/Rosie and wish her so much happiness in her new life.
I can't award anything but 5 stars for this powerful book and its inspirational story and truly hope that it reaches out and gives the support and strength needed to anyone suffering in similar situations.
'Change your name and disappear' is what domestic abuse victim Tammy is forced to do after living in a horrendous and violent relationship with her partner/fiancé Steve. This book tells the terrifying tale of Tammy's ordeal at the hands of a volatile and abusive man and how she found the physical and emotional strength to survive and find life and love away from him, even though now deaf and blind through his attacks.
Without any help from the local Australian police, the strength and determination to rid herself of her life with Steve is just admirable, eventually discovering happiness as far away as Finland - I personally could never imagine being that strong and resilient.
At times, my nerves were taught like violin strings - reading with anticipation at what may further come. The story is truly heartbreaking and to learn that it is from true life experiences of the author is just utterly incomprehensible.
Although at times a difficult read, I highly recommend this compelling book - the power of survival so strong you can't help but feel admiration for Tammy/Rosie and wish her so much happiness in her new life.
I can't award anything but 5 stars for this powerful book and its inspirational story and truly hope that it reaches out and gives the support and strength needed to anyone suffering in similar situations.
January 31, 2016
It's not every day that I read a book and come away impressed, not just by the writer and the writing, but by the person behind the events, in this case, Rosie Malezer.
"Change Your Name and Disappear" was the advice Rosie was given after she had been threatened with death by her fiance, a violent, somewhat deranged and utterly controlling man who nearly killed her during one of his rages. Her efforts to change her name and disappear took her thousands of miles from her birth home in Australia and eventually landed her in Finland, where Rosie Malezer did meet and marry a good man. But by that time, she was almost completely deaf, thanks to the last beating her fiance had dealt her, and eventually, she was also declared legally blind.
Even though "Change Your Name and Disappear" could benefit from somewhat tighter editing, along with more dialogue and less narrative at times, Rosie Malezer's true story is riveting and readers will find they can't put the book down. But as compelling as the story is, it is Rosie Malezer herself who grabs you, especially when you research her online and see just how many books she has written despite her sensory handicaps of deafness and blindness. This woman is driven to prove to herself and the world that has abused her, in more ways than can be shared in this review, just how strong and wonderful she really is. And she succeeds. I find myself in utter awe of her achievements and motivation to continue achieving where others would have given up long ago. What an inspiration Rosie Malezer is!
Rosie's next book, "How to be Deaf" is about to hit the stores and I know it's going to be amazing. How do I know that? Because of what Rosie herself says on her blog about it: "After living as a profoundly Deaf woman for the past 15 months, when weighing up the pros and the cons, I would definitely choose Deaf over hearing any day."
Okay Rosie. You've got me. I just have to find out why you would say that! If "Change Your Name and Disappear" impressed me, given my husband is now about 90% deaf and at nearly 70 years of age, I can expect my hearing to wane soon too, I know your upcoming book is on my "must read" list. But in the meantime, readers of this review need to pick up "Change Your Name and Disappear" and get to know Rosie Malezer. You’ll be glad you did.
Viga Boland
No Tears for My Father: A true story of incest
Voice from an Urn: A mother tells her side of her daughter's true story of incest
Learning to Love Myself: A memoir of healing after child sexual abuse
"Change Your Name and Disappear" was the advice Rosie was given after she had been threatened with death by her fiance, a violent, somewhat deranged and utterly controlling man who nearly killed her during one of his rages. Her efforts to change her name and disappear took her thousands of miles from her birth home in Australia and eventually landed her in Finland, where Rosie Malezer did meet and marry a good man. But by that time, she was almost completely deaf, thanks to the last beating her fiance had dealt her, and eventually, she was also declared legally blind.
Even though "Change Your Name and Disappear" could benefit from somewhat tighter editing, along with more dialogue and less narrative at times, Rosie Malezer's true story is riveting and readers will find they can't put the book down. But as compelling as the story is, it is Rosie Malezer herself who grabs you, especially when you research her online and see just how many books she has written despite her sensory handicaps of deafness and blindness. This woman is driven to prove to herself and the world that has abused her, in more ways than can be shared in this review, just how strong and wonderful she really is. And she succeeds. I find myself in utter awe of her achievements and motivation to continue achieving where others would have given up long ago. What an inspiration Rosie Malezer is!
Rosie's next book, "How to be Deaf" is about to hit the stores and I know it's going to be amazing. How do I know that? Because of what Rosie herself says on her blog about it: "After living as a profoundly Deaf woman for the past 15 months, when weighing up the pros and the cons, I would definitely choose Deaf over hearing any day."
Okay Rosie. You've got me. I just have to find out why you would say that! If "Change Your Name and Disappear" impressed me, given my husband is now about 90% deaf and at nearly 70 years of age, I can expect my hearing to wane soon too, I know your upcoming book is on my "must read" list. But in the meantime, readers of this review need to pick up "Change Your Name and Disappear" and get to know Rosie Malezer. You’ll be glad you did.
Viga Boland
No Tears for My Father: A true story of incest
Voice from an Urn: A mother tells her side of her daughter's true story of incest
Learning to Love Myself: A memoir of healing after child sexual abuse
April 6, 2017
A lot of bad memories, but if my story helps just one person to escape the brutality of domestic violence, it was definitely worth it.
April 14, 2017
Change Your Name And Disappear
By Rosie Malezer
A true account of one woman's struggle with domestic violence and her desperate bid to escape its evil clutches.
The story is written in 3rd person, and to be honest, I didn't think I was going to enjoy the style - but I persevered, and I'm so glad I did. I gelled with Tammy's character very quickly, and as a domestic abuse survivor myself, I could empathise, totally.
The story starts with Tammy meeting Steve at a Martial arts lesson - he was her teacher. The relationship began very quickly and Tammy moved in with him. Before long Tammy became isolated from her friends and family....and then the beatings began.
During her time with Steve, she loses two babies, and her precious son, (once she's left Steve) sadly dies a cot death. Just how much can one woman take?
The Police were next to useless - telling her she needed to move as far away as possible and change her name. Steve finds her every time she moves. The last time he manages to inflict such harm to Tammy, that she is left partially deaf.
Tammy finally manages to meet the man of her dreams - all the across the other side of the world - in Finland.
Now Tammy is happily married, and lives in Finland with her husband and cats.
Due to those injuries sustained, Tammy is now totally deaf and partially sighted. At the end of the book she says "you are stronger than you realise" I agree. Anyone who has been through such indescribable violence and come out the other side, truly is strong.....and that goes out to ALL domestic abuse victims and survivors.
By Rosie Malezer
A true account of one woman's struggle with domestic violence and her desperate bid to escape its evil clutches.
The story is written in 3rd person, and to be honest, I didn't think I was going to enjoy the style - but I persevered, and I'm so glad I did. I gelled with Tammy's character very quickly, and as a domestic abuse survivor myself, I could empathise, totally.
The story starts with Tammy meeting Steve at a Martial arts lesson - he was her teacher. The relationship began very quickly and Tammy moved in with him. Before long Tammy became isolated from her friends and family....and then the beatings began.
During her time with Steve, she loses two babies, and her precious son, (once she's left Steve) sadly dies a cot death. Just how much can one woman take?
The Police were next to useless - telling her she needed to move as far away as possible and change her name. Steve finds her every time she moves. The last time he manages to inflict such harm to Tammy, that she is left partially deaf.
Tammy finally manages to meet the man of her dreams - all the across the other side of the world - in Finland.
Now Tammy is happily married, and lives in Finland with her husband and cats.
Due to those injuries sustained, Tammy is now totally deaf and partially sighted. At the end of the book she says "you are stronger than you realise" I agree. Anyone who has been through such indescribable violence and come out the other side, truly is strong.....and that goes out to ALL domestic abuse victims and survivors.
May 24, 2016
It is very well written, a rare quality to find in books these days.
While the author changed the names of the characters around to protect/respect their identity, it is based on a true story about the author's life in Australia.
Having read other Australian books like April's Fool Day, I am not surprised at the way the Australian mishandled the issues the author faced, especially with the domestic violence. However, I am very grateful for the author's decision to share her story.
She truly opened my eyes even wider to the issues surrounding domestic violence, not just as a victim, but as a struggle with the government as well. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview with the author after reading this book and am proud to say I recommend her book.
While the author changed the names of the characters around to protect/respect their identity, it is based on a true story about the author's life in Australia.
Having read other Australian books like April's Fool Day, I am not surprised at the way the Australian mishandled the issues the author faced, especially with the domestic violence. However, I am very grateful for the author's decision to share her story.
She truly opened my eyes even wider to the issues surrounding domestic violence, not just as a victim, but as a struggle with the government as well. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview with the author after reading this book and am proud to say I recommend her book.
January 5, 2016
This book was beautifully written. She tells it like it is. True story. This book makes you want to be friends with the author. Like you get to know someone that you suddenly realize you really like. I would definitely recommend this book.
July 2, 2016
This was a good read overall, sometimes a little wordy and all over the place, but the story and the premise of what the author was trying to develop was strong.
With the police ignoring her pleas - I'm not sure how realistic this is.. however I don't claim to have lived in indiginous Australia. It is sad if that is true but surely Australia (as a non third world country) has rules/process around this? All the same the story is heartbreaking in parts.. I felt I was reading more fiction than true story.
With the police ignoring her pleas - I'm not sure how realistic this is.. however I don't claim to have lived in indiginous Australia. It is sad if that is true but surely Australia (as a non third world country) has rules/process around this? All the same the story is heartbreaking in parts.. I felt I was reading more fiction than true story.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews