Surviving a House Full of Whispers

by Sharon Wallace

Sharon suffered continual physical and sexual abuse from her stepfather for seven years. Unfortunately, no one would listen to her or believe her story. At age 16, she finally finds the courage to flee from her tormenters. Social Services find her the first of a string of temporary jobs between which she criss-crosses England trying to find a safe haven. However, she cannot escape her "night devil" completely until she comes to terms with her past. Sharon's growth and recovery from abuse and learning to accept love would be a long road to travel, taking nearly forty years to achieve. She had to learn to trust and love herself before she could another. Faced with society's judgments against her, Sharon stood alone against the people who abused her for seven years. The truth is, we don't start to heal when taken from an abusive situation; we only start to digest and relive its emotional content. Many go on to live their lives with tortured souls and an inability to trust and love their own children. Equally, many of us find the inner child that God intended; we pull that child past the empty adult left by years of mutilation of our childhood souls. I was a no-hoper, unjustly cast out into a world of desolation and loneliness that pulled at my heart like a lead weight. I self-harmed and mutilated parts of my mind and body to try and erase memories. Eventually, I learned that healing was within me and could never be found under that largest or smallest boulder. I have walked the road of hope and desire and looked into the pool of my future. I did not want to be the mother they had raised, or the wife they had created. Slowly, I started to rebuild my life and my wish is that this book offers the same hope to you. Therapists' Acclaim for Surviving a House Full of Whispers "This is the story of one girl's fear and battle to survive the emotional traumas and deprivation of her past. I can thoroughly recommend this book which will help anyone who is, or has, suffered abuse."
--Lynda Bevan, author Life After Betrayal "A very honest account, and a very accurate view of the feelings, thoughts and behaviors of people traumatized in childhood and youth. If you suffered in childhood, or are in a helping position to those who have, then you must read this book."
--Robert Rich, PhD, author A Personal Challenge The Reflections of History Series from Modern History Press ModernHistoryPress.com Women

168 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2009

Reviews

[Danelle W · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a teen in the public library I was introduced to the many horrors of child abuse from the pages of a book. Up until this moment in my life I believed that although life has its up and downs all children were nurtured and loved as I was while growing into adulthood. I had been unaware of the tragedies that were going on around us behind closed doors that change the course of many lives. This single experience while sitting at the quiet table in the library expanded my view of the world and enabled me the understanding of the “what can happens”.

From an early age Sharon is abused physically, mentally, and sexually by her stepfather. As a child should, Sharon reaches out to her mother only to be ridiculed and called a liar.
Faced with this added abuse Sharon reaches out over and over to Social Services who not only fail her miserably but add undue torment to her situation. Sharon is left with only herself and soon finds out self is all she really can rely on.

Although breaking away from her devastating situation Sharon finds the courage and embarks on a life alone. The trauma she endured gave her the strength and courage to survive where many would not be able. Finding herself and working thru many issues formed from her childhood such as self-mutilation, alcohol, and eating disorders Sharon’s courage is that to be envied by everyone. Faced with such a depressing situation I for one do not know how I would have weathered this storm. Sharon struggles on thru the torture constantly inflicted upon her by her family who seen to make a game out of messing with her life. While struggling with her demons she is constantly given more to deal with from her family.

Along the way Sharon is faced with promise. Conveying what she has gone thru and giving herself to someone she loves then conveying this to her readers is probably one of the most touching things I have ever read. ““Your with me now. He won’t ever hurt you again.” Mike said. He came over to put his arm around me. It felt good to have a comforting arm around me; I had been alone and uncomforted for too long.” As I read these words tears ran down my face. It had been way too long and Sharon deserved to feel loved.

Sharon’s story is one that needs to be read. Read by survivors of abuse, by abusers themselves, and by those who thought they had never been touched by abuse. Everyone in some way, thru a friend or relative, co-worker or acquaintance is affected by abuse. People need to open their eyes wide and when they think they may know someone in a situation such as Sharon’s it is their responsibility to step in where others do not. Sharon broke her cycle of abuse, thru grit that many do not possess. She is a survivor where many are not. Thank you Sharon for sharing your story I pray it enabled you a much deserved bit of healing.

[Laura Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever known one of those people that just can't ever seem to catch a break? In "Surviving a House Full of Whispers", Sharon is just that person. Her young life was startled by physical and sexual abuse from a stepfather and although she had the courage to escape, the fear never left. Her fear chased her as her life went on-from living on the streets to the comfort of her own home among her husband and children. Eventually Sharon seems to escape the fear and break out into her own, yet life keeps throwing bumps in the road that just never give her a moment to be happy and really enjoy a true peace.

The book is written in a way that seems the reader is watching Sharon on her journey, rather than reading about it. I think the writing has an erratic quality, but it works. It works as it makes her story more real to the reader. My body felt erratic as I read it-the words transformed that feeling where I was nervous, excited, angry, and fighting to get in there and help her. I haven't been that affected by the power of a story in a long time. I would recommend this selection to everyone as it shows a person that suffered and made a life her own, while still struggling every day. I have to say that I was more than delighted as there will be a sequel that chronicles the next stages of her life.

[Jeannie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dilemma, dilemma, I feel for this girl, I really do. She had a horrible childhood and a very dysfunctional family but she's no writer. I almost gave up on this book like 1/4 of the way through it, a 1/2 of the way through it, 3/4 of the way through it but she made me feel so bad about myself...almost like if I didn't finish this book I wasn't validating what had happened to her....so I kept plugging along and I did finish it. The problem is, with this type of book, the reader usually feels like something has been accomplished by the time they finish reading it. I didn't feel that with this book, this author has a ton of emotional baggage that writing this book did not aleve. I believe she really needs therapy to help herself deal with it and I really KNOW she should have had a true writer tell her life story because as a writer, well she just sucks (to put it bluntly). If you think you can muddle through this one, as I have, well go for it. But I don't recommend it, this is NOT a feel good book,where at the end something as been resolved. This woman has a long way to go. And that is depressing.

[Debbie]

Talk about an intense read. When I first started the book it was hard to feel sorry or empathize with Wallace’s story as she comes across as belligerent, violent and disrespectful. Slowly you begin to see the depth of the abuse she has suffered and the travails she has gone through in life that helped shape who she was. It’s amazing the strength she was able to pull from within herself and from her husband to rise above the abuse and raise a loving family.