My Review:
The Red Dress Diaries:
Confessions from the Heart
by
Coralie Cederna Johnson
Coralie Cederna Johnson said in her latest book The Red
Dress Diaries that she created it to give voice to the secrets that haunt. The
women in her latest book are fictional, but their stories are not. The strength
of a woman is internal – it resides in her ability to survive, to hide her truth, to forget the horror, to mask the pain,
to deny, to pretend, and ultimately to forgive – journeys that influence each
and every day of her life and the lives of those she loves.
Ms Johnson brings their stories to life in monologues
about sexual abuse, domestic violence, eating disorders, isolation, bullying,
homophobia, disabilities, and racism. The Red Dress signifies many things – to one
the dress is independence, to another it signifies repression, to another it
brings back memories of violence. These are their stories, the moments remembered, and
the sensations that cannot be forgotten. The goal is to voice the pain,
the horror, the unthinkable, and by doing so bring awareness of the truth that
is woman.
We all know such women, some of us are them, but still,
today, this the twenty-first century, we see in the news daily the struggle for
respect throughout the world. We hear of military, gang, and high school heroes
raping and then digitally sharing their disgrace with little to no punishment. Young
girls fall victim to their caretakers, and the outcome is still one where the
victim takes the blame and pays with a lifetime of regret and self-punishment.
Ms. Johnson not only gives voice to these atrocities she's opening a dialogue for all survivors - an opportunity for discussion, and she includes a discussion guide in her book. Ms Johnson writes: "Telling our stories empowers us to heal, forgive, and reflect. Sharing...divides the weight of our burden. ...Opening our hearts can set us free!"
Ms. Johnson not only gives voice to these atrocities she's opening a dialogue for all survivors - an opportunity for discussion, and she includes a discussion guide in her book. Ms Johnson writes: "Telling our stories empowers us to heal, forgive, and reflect. Sharing...divides the weight of our burden. ...Opening our hearts can set us free!"
I recommend Ms Johnson's book The Red Dress Diaries to all readers, to men to help them better understand, to women still hiding, and to mothers, fathers, daughters,
and sons who need a jumping off point to begin that discussion that no one
wants to have.
Yolanda Renée 2014
"Let us honor these women and girls
and their confessions for they are heroic survivors. Remember their
voices."
Her plays have been produced
on professional stages: Pigeons in the Park at
Performance Network, Ann Arbor, MI and BEES at Boarshead Theater,
Lansing, MI.
Coralie is also the author of
books, The Wishing Years and A Tree Grows in Trout Creek.
The new book is now available for purchase! Go to http://wildwoodpress.org/order-books/
above to buy using Paypal.
… or
To pay using a check or money order, please contact Coralie Johnson through email: cjohnson@umich.edu
… or
To pay using a check or money order, please contact Coralie Johnson through email: cjohnson@umich.edu
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Brought to you by the Armchair Squid
The Cephalopod Coffeehouse
An online gathering of bloggers who love books.
The idea is simple: on the last Friday of each month, post about the best book you've finished over the past month while visiting other bloggers doing the same.
In this way, we'll all have the opportunity to share our thoughts with other enthusiastic readers.
Please join us: HERE!
*****
Do You Have A Goal?
The Cephalopod Coffeehouse
An online gathering of bloggers who love books.
The idea is simple: on the last Friday of each month, post about the best book you've finished over the past month while visiting other bloggers doing the same.
In this way, we'll all have the opportunity to share our thoughts with other enthusiastic readers.
Please join us: HERE!
*****
Post it HERE and follow along with the rest of the goal setters to see who reaches their quest first!
Hosted by Misha Gericke
My original goal was to finish book 3 by 2014 -
I didn't reach it, but headway has been made.
So the new goal for 2014 is to finish and publish book 3
as well as finish the first draft for the prequel!
What's your goal / s for 2014?
My original goal was to finish book 3 by 2014 -
I didn't reach it, but headway has been made.
So the new goal for 2014 is to finish and publish book 3
as well as finish the first draft for the prequel!
What's your goal / s for 2014?
30 comments:
Horrid stories but they need telling. I hope the book is widely read. I recently heard about a local woman who collects underwear for young girls in (I am ashamed to say I forget) which for some reason helps to cut down their constant rape. They have to walk several hours to get to school and are raped several times on the way each and every day. Not sure quite how a pair of panties helps, but it does.
Definitely doesn't sound like a book a person can read and not be affected. Very intense.
Sounds like one that would surely make you contemplate much, still disturbing that such things go on and most of the time they just get a slap on the wrist
Wow. That is a huge endeavor. Those stories can be difficult to read simply because they hit you right in your heart.
Sounds like such a powerful book. Kudos to Ms. Johnson.
I agree Jo, it's currently being done in play form - monologues by women in red dresses. Very pertinent - shamefully, too pertinent today!
Should be required reading. Thanks Huntress!
Pat, yes because boys will be boys - or 'racism' doesn't exist - loads of excuses and little to no compassion for the victims.
Robin, Coralie did a beautiful job, and yes a box of tissues may be needed but she does these women and their stories justice.
Very powerful Julie, thanks for stopping by! On my way to read the other submissions for this month!
Wow, that sounds like an important and difficult read. It's not at ALL what I expected, given that cover. Thanks for posting this review!
"The strength of a woman is internal."
I like this a lot. Especially nowadays that so many heroines in fiction are considered strong only if they can beat up a few guys.
I agree Lorena - my grandmother was the strongest person I've ever known. She was 5'2" feminine, and kind. Her life was hell, but her response was always love. Her strength wasn't kick ass - but she was more heroine than any of today's characters. Thank you for recognizing that!
Just as most women shouldn't be judged by their cover. It's a great book and Coralie does a beautiful job of presenting it! Thanks Stephanie!
This sounds like a powerful book. Thanks for sharing :)
Love reading about new books-- thanks for the review.
Red Dress Diaries sounds like it really gets to the heart of the reader, very touching. I will have to check this one out for sure. Thank you for passing it along.
The Warrior Muse
What a powerful method of giving a voice to those in need.
This sounds like a very powerful book, indeed, paired for me with a report on NPR this morning that over 50% of sexually abused children are victims of their own parents. It's a scary world sometimes. Victims need a voice.
Nice goal! Best of luck with achieving it.
P.S. I updated your link to reflect your new goal. :-)
Your welcome mshatch! Thank you!
Thank you Julie!
Thank you Shannon - please let me know if you do!
Very powerful and should be required reading in all schools! Thanks Maurice!
A very scary world - and the outcomes are even scarier! Thanks Armchair!
Awesome, thanks Misha!
As a public school teacher, I'm interacting with so many young women with so many stories...both wonderful and horrible...I think I should check this book out.
This sounds like a great read, but pretty sad too at times, I'd say. I love the idea of a central theme of the red dress.
Central image of the red dress is a good discussion point. I'm hoping there are some happy stories in there too!
Good luck with achieving your goal in 2014.
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