Welcome to Litsy!

I can't give this a numerical rating.
Elizabeth Smart is an extraordinary woman, who not only survived 9 months of torture by two deplorable criminals at the age of 14, but has also gone on to help other children. At the beginning of the memoir, she says she doesn't subscribe to the idea that all things happen for a reason; instead she believes that God can make something good come from something bad. I think this is an important distinction.

I always struggle to rate memoirs like this. Elizabeth Smart is an extraordinary woman who endured 9 months of torture with her captors at the age if 14. Her incredible strength and determination got her through the ordeal, and she has gone on to do incredible work helping others. She states in the beginning that she doesn't believe everything happens for a reason,

For all the Hell that Elizabeth Smart suffered, she uplifts and motivates the reader. 3/5🌼s

I have a new job where it isn‘t practical to bring a hard copy, and so this is the first book I‘ve read on-line and on my phone (in my few spare moments)…never thought I would see the day😑

My Story by Elizabeth Smart is the memoir of her kidnapping when she was fourteen years old. When removed from her home in Salt Lake City at knifepoint in the middle of the night, she was taken captive by a religious fanatic. She was then kept chained in a tent in the mountains for nine months, disguised and repeatedly raped. She recalls the fear she experienced after being told her family would be killed if she tried to escape.

Another #teamslaughter book down! The writing is a bit clunky but Smart‘s faith is inspiring. Reading her memoir makes me want to focus more on gratitude in my own life! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
+16 points

Complicated feelings about this book.
1. It is badly written. The writing is simplistic & dull for such a captivating story.
2. Poor girl. They had her read the audiobook, & I‘m sure it was hard for her, but she sounds like a high school musical theater actor.
3. I feel conflicted because of all the BIPOC missing children that don‘t get the resources she‘s gotten. (Major searches, media attention, book deals.)
Ultimately I‘m bailing d/t 1. NOTE ⬇️

What an amazing story of perseverance, courage, and faith. Even after reading her first hand account I still have a hard time imagining what this girl went through. I do wish there was more about after she came home though. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished this horror in bed this cloudy morning. While trying to let my visitors sleep in after a big night by staying quiet in my bedroom. No problem. I got it at the library sale last weekend. Books were for a donation to the wildlife fund. Poor Elizabeth but such a clever brain that she was able to survive and then thrive once saved. A hard book to stomach and reminds you of the evil in the world and just how lucky you are.

Elizabeth‘s real story of being kidnapped from her bedroom by knife point. It‘s such a great book and she has such a great outlook on life. If you can listen to her audiobook version ❤️.

My goodness this poor child. The message this book expresses is so strong. To rise up from this evil is amazing. Some people are awful. Truly a great survival story and amazing point of view.

At the end of the day, God is our ultimate judge. He will make up to you every pain and loss that you have suffered. And if it turns out that these wicked people are not punished here on Earth, it doesn‘t matter. His punishments are just. You don‘t ever have to worry. You don‘t ever have to think about them again. Page 286

What this man has done is terrible. There aren‘t any words that are strong enough to describe how wicked and evil he is! He has taken nine months of your life that you will never get back again. But the best punishment you could ever give him is to be happy. To move foreword with your life. To do exactly what you want. Page 285-286

My mother always taught me that we needed to finish everything on our plates before we left the table. But I have to say that I am grateful for those people who threw away their food. Their scraps helped to sustain me for many months. Page 208

I am alive, but I‘m not living. Page 170

So why did God send me the water? Because He loved me. And He wanted me to know. He wanted me to know that He was still near. He wanted me to know that He controlled the Earth and all the heavens, that all things were in His hands. And if He could move the mountains, then he could do this thing for me. To Him it was a small thing-a terribly easy thing to do- but for me it was powerful as if He had parted the sea. Pg 132

When he talked of God, it was the creepiest thing you can imagine; the words of God coming from the face of the devil. It was the scariest thing I had ever seen. Pg 87

I don‘t know what it was that drive so many people to try to help me. It‘s beyond my ability to comprehend why so many good people were willing to work and to sacrifice for me, a little girl they didn‘t even know. All I know is that I am more grateful than words can express. And to this day I remain the luckiest girl in the world. Pg 67

Knowing him and his background is like learning about the devil. Page 11

We can choose to be taken by evil. Or we can try to embrace the good. Page 10

This was such a hard book to read. Elizabeth Smart‘s experience is so disturbing and sad. It is very inspirational to hear her story and witness second hand her perseverance, strength and faith.

I loved this book so much it is a little mature for younger kids but I did read it at 13 but I was/am weird and I really love true crime and pepoles life expectancies that they go through that we don‘t so I recommend this book

I recommend, if you can, to listen to this on audiobook. There‘s something very powerful in hearing the story straight from the survivor and Ms. Smart is an amazing narrator.

Today's goal, actually finish one of these books! There's a reason I don't start more than one. 🤦

The writing was basic and the story was a bit repetitive but she‘s very brave to get through what she did and tell the world about it. She has such an optimistic view on life! And she did cause a flow of tears as I was driving up the NJ turnpike!

Wow. What an incredibly strong young woman! I‘ve seen a few reviews call this book repetitive and simplistic. But I think that was the point. She was just a little girl at the time of her horrific ordeal, and it‘s told from that perspective. He rapes, and abuse, and hunger, and being held captive were repetitive. The way this was told certainly drove that point home for me. Her faith gave her strength to survive, and her family helped her recover.

I did some #AudioGardening today. 🌸💗

I‘m doing some #AudioBaking today. I know it‘s an odd choice, but I‘ve found that this book is just too heavy for me to listen to without doing something else to ground me (if that makes any sense). I‘m making chocolate chip brownies for a family BBQ at my parents house later. I hope you‘re all have a safe Memorial Day weekend! 🎧🍫🇺🇸

I‘ve been hesitant to start this one like I always am to start books with possible triggers, but I‘m starting it now. The very fact that Elizabeth Smart was brave enough to write this, I can certainly be brave enough to read it. 💜

I can't begin to imagine what Elizabeth went through, it's truly horrifying and I admire her strength! (Even if I can't understand her logic behind not needing professional therapy). But that aside, the writing just felt too juvenile and rudimentary to rate this a solid pick. The structure is also repetitive, she uses the same simple words and phrases over and over. I think her memoir would have benefited greatly from a more seasoned ghost writer.

I've been trying to find a new true crime audiobook to pique my interest while I wait on holds and I've started and stopped several that I wasn't loving. I've got my eye on these four - anyone read them? Help!

#audiobooks #libby #truecrime

I don‘t know what Litten I stacked this from, but I‘m glad I did! I cannot believe what this woman went through and her resilience. The one thing that bothered me about her story was that she didn‘t attend any sort of counseling. I know she says she did it her own way through riding horses and music (which I love!), but as a social worker I feel like she could have benefited from trauma therapy. Stil, a great read/listen!

This book was truly eye opening as to what this poor innocent girl at 14 had to deal with. I remember hearing all about her story as I was a high school senior at the time. But to hear her first hand account was heart wrenching. You can clearly see how her deep seeded faith got her through this truly horrible experience.

#SassyBookworm 😏

I feel bad for bailing on this one but I couldn't finish it. Knowing what I know about her story, I was interested to hear her reflections on her kidnapping and the events that happen after.

I didn't like Elizabeth Smart's narration and the religious element was heavy. I could finish listening to it and I won't try to read the book form.

Book 1/60 completed for my #mountTBR #MountKilimanjaro challenge. I have had this book on my shelf for about 6 months, so I decided it was time to read it. I quite enjoyed it. I went between reading the physical book, and listening to the audiobook. I preferred the audiobook, as it was read by the author. ❤️ #definiterecommend

Of course her story of surviving her kidnapping is inspiring. But, I was disappointed that the book didn‘t go at all into how she reoriented back to normal life after enduring something so terrifying. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Garage Sale Finds!!! Also my husband got a ladder so we an access the attic in our new house so #win! 🙌🏼

I can't even begin to imagine the terror Elizabeth Smart felt during this ordeal. Her strength and resilience is an example for us all.

I didn't live in SLC when this happened, but I lived there when the book was released and I read it immediately. It's bizarre reading about such a crime and knowing the specific places and proximity. This is a good, but tough, read. #recommendsday

So glad I listened to the audio of Elizabeth Smart reading her own story. I enjoyed and appreciated her often sardonic tone. The last chapter made me cry all the away home from work.

Compelling read. Well-edited, this is a thorough recounting of what Smart endured and HOW she endured it. Obviously God-centric, but never preachy, it left me with the impression of a smart, resourceful, resilient teenager who turned into a remarkable adult.