From the Bookshelf of Diversity in All Forms!…

Know My Name

Chanel Miller

Start date: November 2, 2019

Finish date: November 30, 2019

Discussion: Monthly Bonus Reads

Why we're reading this: November Bonus Read- International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Know My Name by Chane…more
[close] November Bonus Read- International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 73 topics — 889 comments total

Monthly Bonus Reads

The Autobiography of Malcolm X (February 2023)
By Mariah Roze · 2 posts · 18 views

last updated May 17, 2023 10:35AM

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide (March 2023)
By Mariah Roze · 2 posts · 11 views

last updated Mar 06, 2023 08:42AM

showing 1 of 1 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jan 02, 2020 Terri rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: law-injustice-in-history, crime-rape, memoir-of-abuse

Chanel Miller has written her painful story and it is one of the best examples of exactly what a rape victim has to endure. Bravo. It's brilliantly written. I can't believe she had the courage to write such a book but THANK GOD she did. I look forward to reading her next book. Highly recommend. ...more

55 likes · Like · see review

Oct 11, 2019 Rose rated it it was amazing

Shelves: tough-subjects, audiobooks, non-fiction, memoirs

Quick review for a read I took my time with for a number of reasons. I'll get to that in just a moment.

Here are just a few things I loved about this book: I loved that it was narrated by the author in the audio version. I loved Miller's narrative writing style, which is detailed, honest, emotional, and even poetic in spaces. I loved how "Know My Name" provided an eye into her family life, her interests, her relationships and background. I loved that this book gave more of a voice for Miller and Quick review for a read I took my time with for a number of reasons. I'll get to that in just a moment.

Here are just a few things I loved about this book: I loved that it was narrated by the author in the audio version. I loved Miller's narrative writing style, which is detailed, honest, emotional, and even poetic in spaces. I loved how "Know My Name" provided an eye into her family life, her interests, her relationships and background. I loved that this book gave more of a voice for Miller and an open look at how she dealt with some of the most difficult pieces of this experience in the duration and aftermath of everything that were not shown in the media's portrayal.

That said, like previous experiences in reading personal narratives about survivors of rape and sexual assault, it's one that I had to take my time with because of so many raw emotions. Admittedly, I was upset not just in reading the details of Miller's experience and the progression of the trial, but also how Stanford treated her in the aftermath with trying to censor her words and the officials who were more interested in distancing themselves from it rather than aiding Miller in a place that she'd called a second home/community for much of her life. And considering I've read and consumed so much information about how many colleges are severely lacking addressing the needs of rape/SA survivors, it hits a raw nerve with me. But that speaks to the issue not just being on college campuses, but a lacking societal response to survivors as well.

I read "Know My Name" over the course of several days, mostly when I was home because of how many times I became emotional while reading it. Like many, my introduction to Miller's story came from the statement that was published in Buzzfeed that she read during the trial. But often we don't have many opportunities to see victim experiences beyond what's portrayed in the media or a particular message that sold in society about rape/SA experiences because of cultural, social, and gender/sexual stereotypes, and damaging messages that seek to blame victims/survivors of this crime. Miller doesn't just dive into her intimate experiences and grappling with these contradictions, she provides space to discuss and unearth them throughout her narrative. She provides space also showing her grief and coping in a way that's true to the experiences of so many women.

I hope that there are spaces for more people to read Miller's story if they have the opportunity to do so; "Know My Name" was one of the best books I've read and I have so much respect and admiration for her in being able to share this narrative. ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Jul 09, 2020 Lindsay rated it it was amazing

This was really good. I listened to this by audiobook, and while sometimes I thought the narrator was a little monotone, at other times you could hear her holding back tears. I admire the courage that writing this book took, as well as the courage to keep going through the court system. This story shows that one person can make a difference and it is something to be admired.

Like · see review