Well Done! Riveting and Emotional

At first I was very skeptical about Elizabeth Smart reading her own book - something just didn't sit right with me about it given the subject. However I was pleasantly surprised and glad I gave this book a chance.

Ms. Smart has achieved a good balance here with such a personal and honest description of her horrendous ordeal. It was certainly difficult to hear at some points, but was ultimately very satisfying. Her touching description of her reunion with her family, and how she decided not to waste any more of her life obsessing over her captors, was just excellent.

I must also admit I was worried, given Ms. Smart's strong Mormon beliefs, that she may emphasize her religion a bit too much for my taste. As someone much less religious than most, and not exactly a giant fan of the LDS church, I was grateful for the absence of proselytizing and mysticism (one reference to the magical appearance of a mid-night cold cup of water notwithstanding).

Certainly I highly recommend this book!

18 people found this helpful

a heartbreaker, with a happy ending

A riveting story. So clear, it was like watching a film about what happened.

13 people found this helpful

Uplifting?

Would you listen to My Story again? Why?

Yes, it's so uplifting. Not that what she endured was pleasant, but the way she handled herself and how she ends the book is amazing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Elizabeth!!! She is the strongest woman I have ever heard of. Forgiveness and how beautiful and empowering that can be.

What does Elizabeth Smart bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

FAITH

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was very moving, made me laugh AND cry...

Any additional comments?

I recommend it with everything I am.

17 people found this helpful

Absolutely chilling; stops a parent's heart

Smart narrates her account of abduction and rape. As a parent you are terrified at every turn, for her to deal with such evil is beyond words. She tells the story in detail, no sugar coating, no hesitations. I give this book a big thumbs up. I just cannot bring myself to write more comments because they would only detract from her telling! Must listen!

37 people found this helpful

Interesting story but the narration was not great.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would have used a different narrator. This is Elizabeth's story, but her accent, tone, and overall narration is not very good. She tries to convey her feelings of disgust and emotional hurt, but her tone is a bit clunky. It was a bit difficult to listen to her accent too. It sounded like English isn't her first language, or that she is over enunciating.

Would you be willing to try another one of Elizabeth Smart’s performances?

I wouldn't be interested in listening to another one of Elizabeth's performances. I feel like I might have enjoyed this book better if I had actually read it instead of listening to the audiobook because of Elizabeth's performance.

Was My Story worth the listening time?

My Story was worth the listen, but not worth a repeat listen.

Any additional comments?

My Story is an interesting read, especially with the insight what the child who is abducted thinks. Whenever I heard about Elizabeth Smart in the news, people always asked "Why didn't she do this, or that to get away? How stupid was she to let someone keep her captive only five miles from her house?" Her book helps to show how a child thinks and can be manipulated in these circumstances. It is also quite admirable to read about her courage and resilience. My struggle was with her writing style and narration. If you are looking for a faith-based memoir, this would be a good one to consider since that is something that is very important to her and she does touch on through out the book.

Considering how captivating her story is, the book wasn't written very well and fell short of what I was hoping for. Her writing style reminds me of a smart middle-school-aged child, prone to hyperbole. I wanted to like this book more but I struggled to finish it.

5 people found this helpful

Thank you Elizabeth

I remember watching national news as Elizabeth was rescued... hoping her family could help her heal, but so afraid she would be forever scarred. I couldn't put this book down, as she with dignity, grace and humor, has opened her heart and the story of her 9 months captivity and the many miracles that allowed her return home. I had read the news and magazines, but much of the information presented was brand new to me... and so many of my questions were answered.

I worried about the audio, as so many writers make awful narrators... but she did fantastic and listening to her voice made me feel as if I know her. I worried that it would be too graphic or violent, but a simple "then he raped me," is as graphic as it gets. I was worried she would be forever scarred... and instead wept with joy as she described her gratitude, healing and the service she gives helping others to heal.

Thank you Elizabeth - this book moved me deeply!

22 people found this helpful

Defining Strength, Faith, and Inspiration

Dubbed *one of the kidnapping crimes of the century,* the abduction of 14 yr. old Elizabeth Smart from her family home, dominated the news on June 5, 2002. When 9 months later we heard the amazing report that she had been found, we rejoiced...then we pondered the nightmare. Where had she been? What had she gone through? How did she survive? Would she be okay? With this book, and the assistance of Congressman/author Chris Stewart, Smart goes back over her ordeal, and in her own words answers those questions with brave candor and purpose. A story horrific enough that Stewart said he wondered how, after he listened to the details, he would be able to "make it so that people would read it and walk away with more faith, hope and belief in the goodness in life," as Smart intended. And that is exactly what we do walk away with...plus admiration for this incredible woman.

Smart called her ordeal "nine months of hell," but never even hints at self-pity, or fishes for ours. We learn that she endured an almost daily menu of torture, including daily sexual abuse by the depraved Brian David Mitchell -- aka the self proclaimed prophet Emmanuelle. There are no new titillating facts revealed -- it is about the events as she experienced them. Smart and her family have courageously insisted on presenting the facts, but have consistently refused to discuss in the media details of the abuse. She continues to keep the story focused on the crime, free of salacious details, and true to the perspective of a 14 year old innocent and very scared girl. Hearing her narrate her own story makes this all the more poignant. It is heartbreaking to hear her voice tell of the near rescues as they crumbled...looking through her veil at a young boy and wondering how her first date would have gone. And then, with the voice of an indomitable spirit, she makes a brilliant case for Mitchell's and Barzee's competency, that ultimately destroyed their plot to be found legally mentally incompetent to stand trial for their crimes.

Through all of this darkness, with the exception of sharing a few deservedly low moments, she amazingly keeps a tone of hope, and her light shining. Drawing on her Mormon upbringing, and faith that God had not abandoned her, Elizabeth refused to be beaten or broken, refused to be a victim. Her survival, her appreciation for each day of life, her love for her family, and her dedication to those suffering from similar experiences (the Elizabeth Smart Foundation) is remarkable, and one of the most inspiring stories I've read. Listening to this book changed the way I look at my own challenges. At the end, Lois Smart tenderly, but with force, gives her daughter the most beautiful and empowering advice -- words that only a mother could offer. Through all else, that is what finally brought me to tears.

61 people found this helpful

Speechless

Any additional comments?

I know this story really happened, but it is so hard to comprehend that anyone would put someone through this. Additionally, I thank Elizabeth for sharing her experience in an effort to shed light on a culture that sex shames victims which results in depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide. Being the victim of any abuse does not lessen a person's value-ever. Thank you, Elizabeth. This story also leads me to wonder why this outcome was different from that of Charles Mason, David Koresh, Jim Jones, etc. What were the key differences that enabled a young, impressionable child to defy brainwashing and how do we bottle that and teach it to our children; so, they think for themselves with confidence, compassion, and evidence-based analysis/evaluation?

9 people found this helpful

Powerful

Where does My Story rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Powerful and at times hard to hear as its a true story

What other book might you compare My Story to and why?

Jaycee sugars book

What does Elizabeth Smart bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Truth. Raw honesty

If you could give My Story a new subtitle, what would it be?

Stolen teenage year

Any additional comments?

Terribly sad and very scary. Glad it ended how it did

4 people found this helpful

She is one smart Elizabeth

I have to say I admire the girl more than I imagined I would. She is strong and smart. And it doesn't hurt that she plays the harp (so do I). I can't even imagine the horror of the things she went through. The physical abuse was horrific, but the mental abuse was even worse.

I also admire her family. Her parents handled the situation about as well as it could be handled. I'm proud of them for never giving up, when the rest of us were sure she was dead. It gives me courage to read their stories and see how people can be strong in the face of devastating circumstances. It makes my troubles look small by comparison.

I'm not usually a fan of authors reading their own books, and I am sure Elizabeth would be the first to say she is not a professional narrator. Still, there was something honest and convincing in the way she read. When she emphasized a word or phrase, I knew it was authentic, and not a reader's interpretation of the author's intent. I like that a lot. It reminds me of another incredibly strong girl, Jaycie Dugard, who also read her own story.

Here's to you, Elizabeth. You did what you had to do, and you survived to tell about it--and you did it with style.

21 people found this helpful