Silent Sisters

by Jenny Tomlin, Kim Challinor

For years, Jenny and her sister Kim suffered horrendous physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their father. They survived in part because of their closeness and their determination to be there for each other. Both sisters left home at the earliest opportunity to escape, but before long Jenny was embroiled in a relationship with an abusive man that kept her locked in a cycle of violence and fear. Their lives followed parallel paths, and eventually they helped each other climb out of the pit of despair and truly free themselves from the legacy of the past.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Abuse, Autobiography, True Story, True Crime, Biography

Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

QUEEN of the misery memoir Jenny Tomlin, mother of actress Martine McCutcheon, is not as tragic as you might imagine.

Upbeat and truly happy in her life now, it's difficult to believe that she was sexually abused by her father, unprotected by her slovenly mother and then married a violent man who battered her senseless even when she was pregnant with Martine.

Her disturbing story was told in her memoirs Behind Closed Doors and Silent Sisters, which became bestsellers, enabling her to buy a 12-acre French farmhouse in the Dordogne with her second husband, Alan Tomlin, a bodyguard she married in Barbados nine years ago.

Then, of course, there's her famous daughter.

You can hear Martine laughing in the background as her mother describes their relationship now.

"She's my best friend. No matter what life throws at her, she has such a positive outlook. She's strong mentally, she's funny, witty, clever. "Because I had her so young [at 19], it's almost like we're mates. I'm so proud of that fact because I never had that with my mother."

At the farm, Jenny, 52, runs an English grocery shop and tea garden, serving up full English breakfasts and afternoon teas to hungry customers. She moved to France to escape the many bad memories, and experience a more tranquil setting.

Reviews

[Shona · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book covers the lives of two sisters who were subjected to abuse throughout childhood and then later on in adulthood. It follows the sisters lives from the time the leave their fathers house and start their journeys of adult life. At points it could be seen as a tear jerker but something annoyed me about the book. It is written by the twoo sisters and it is written in a way that is well over the job. The sisters describe themselves as if they are some sort of angel, that all they do was caring ad if they did get into an arguement it was not them ay fault it was the others. They portray themselves in too good a light and at times this got to be annoying.

[Patricia Kaniasty · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good but very long winded. I did not understand some of the decisions they made concerning their partners in life. It was confusing as to what it was that they were looking for in life and broke a lot of hearts along the way.

[Nicola Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book telling the story of the sisters lives as they have got older

[Oleksandra Neschetna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional roller-coaster.
I felt for the characters and their stories. Every bit of it.
It was a tough read in some places, because you felt so bad for the characters, but then there were areas of joy. And a lot of varied emotions in between.
Maybe additionally what made it emotional was the fact that I knew the characters were talking of real, life stories, and not a fantasy. They lived through everything they wrote.
A tough, but good read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

so much heartache and sadness that no child should endure.

[Lainy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time taken to read - < 1 day

Pages - 385

Publisher - Hodder

Source - ?bought, it has been on my tbrm for years

Blurb from Goodreads

For years, Jenny and sister Kim suffered horrendous physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their father. They survived in part because of their closeness and their determination to be there for each other. Both sisters left home at the earliest opportunity to escape but before long, Jenny was embroiled in a relationship with an abusive man that kept her locked in a cycle of violence and fear. Their lives followed parallel paths, with first marriage, then kids and always the terror that things would never change. Eventually, with a lot of love, grit and courage they helped each other to climb out of the pit of despair and truly free themselves from the legacy of the past. Every bit as harrowing and inspiring as Behind Closed Doors, this is a story of the power of unstintingly loyal love.



My Review

So this author has written a few books like this and there is certainly one before this if not more. The book before this is referenced and covers the authors abuse growing up at the hands of her parents, her and her siblings horrifically abused. Her father committing the worst atrocities a father could do to their child and their mother failing to protect them in any way. This book the author focuses on her adulthood, leaving home and finding her way in the world, adult relationships and sadly repeating the history of her mother, falling for an abusive partner.

The book is extremely graphic, the abuse this poor woman experienced at the hands of her father and then her partner, the book covers physical, mental and sexual abuse. It is hard hitting even if you are from a place where you have never experienced anything like this, if you come from a place where you experience this first hand it will absolutely trigger some of your own memories so just a heads up.

I hadn't read the blurb nor any of the authors other books so was surprised when a very famous name popped up as one of the family members, just shows you never know what goes on behind closed doors or someone's history.

I have read many true stories books like this were abuse features heavily but this one really hit hard, these woman have came through and survived so much, 4.5 for me this time.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written by both Jenny tomlin and her sister kim. Jenny goes in to detail about the mental and physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her partner. To read it and not be completely horrified at what she went through would not do her justice.
Her sister Kim wrote how she reacted to the goings on of Jenny as well as finding her own path in life, being an incredibly young mother, moving away from friends and her sister. Both also wrote the painful memories of their brother Chris and his death.
It is a very good book and I have read it several times. I would say I was a bit confused at first going between both writers but still I couldn't put it down.

[Hulda Rós · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't understand why they left good partners in the beginning to go 'find themselves' but to then sacrifice that for yet another guy, who either cheated or was a constant threat for a decade. Would have been different to see Kim finish her nursing studies instead of what she decided to do. And to see things patched up with Falconer instead of the other disaster that replaced it. Hope they are doing well in France

[Andreap · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok read. I can't remember reading the first book so that may have contributed to my ok review. These sisters certainly struggled through life and you can't help the heart ache you feel for them. Happy to hear both are living happily now.

[Bev Beesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking but still had to read !

[Zarina Din · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing book. Very heartbreaking and emotional. I felt sympathy for the characters bought tears to my eyes.

[Carol Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must read heart breaking story but a happy ending

[Charlotte Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read, true story ! As good as the first book

[Vic Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my normal type of read but I absolutely loved this I will definitely read behind Closed Doors 👌

[Miss Gucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, amazing book continues from behind close doors, heartbreaking and emotional couldn’t put the book down, few pages kept repeating itself but apart from that fantastic read would recommend.

[Jean Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked reading this book but very frustrating and worrying as to why someone can let themselves be bullied and abused for so long?

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing and graphic memoir by Jenny Tomlin (Martine McCutcheon's mother) and her sister, Kim Challinor. Following on from 'Behind Closed Doors', which told of their suffering as children at the hands of an abusive father, this book tells of the sisters' sometimes traumatic relationships in adulthood and the various ups and downs in their respective lives. 8.5/10.

[Janie Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complete and utterly heart wrenching true story, written beautifully, and just amazing. I've read this book twice now and to read about what these poor women went through is absolutely, painstakingly awful.

A brilliant read, really does deserve 5 stars.

Beautiful book.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of abuse by their father and partner keith

[Hana Nur · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty graphic images come to mind when i read this book.

[Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10465378

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

AN excellent follow on to her first book!