Survivor
A Memoir
-
- $15.99
-
- $15.99
Publisher Description
Beyond Mommie Dearest—the inspiring and shattering sequel to the groundbreaking #1 New York Times bestseller.
At publication the world as I knew it blew up in my face.
Christina Crawford’s Mommie Dearest cast a spotlight on the unspoken horrors of family violence and exorcised the demons of her childhood. But in the years following the controversial bestseller’s publication, the author’s resilience was tested in ways she never expected.
Crawford was forced to brave a stunning backlash intended to shame her, a film adaptation that bastardized her story and compounded the trauma, a descent into alcoholism, a divorce that ruined her financially, and a massive stroke that left her paralyzed. Staying true to her fighting spirit, she made a remarkable comeback.
More than a personal memoir of triumph over tragedy, Survivor—now with a new preface for its 30th anniversary—is an enlightening spiritual roadmap to recovery for anyone who has suffered the ordeals of physical and emotional abuse, devastating illness, or seemingly insurmountable despair. Crawford’s story is not just about the will to survive; it is about the unparalleled joy of coming out on the other side, finding calm, and celebrating a fulfilling life.
“The author of Mommie Dearest . . . hits her stride with this strong account of her simultaneous tragedies. . . . One closes this fine, moving read with great respect for Christina Crawford.” —Kirkus Reviews
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Succeeding Mommie Dearest and the novel Black Widow , which featured a character obviously based on her adoptive mother, Joan Crawford, this book continues the story of the author's life as a survivor. One's inclination is to sympathize with a woman who endured an abused childhood, an almost fatal stroke (1981), a divorce that left her seriously in debt and other traumas. But readers could be put off by the author's egocentric, self-pitying tone and complaints about the film based on Mommie Dearest , unsatisfactory accommodations and the stress of publicity tours, criticism from those who failed to grasp the purpose of that memoir as a weapon against a serious social problem, etc. There is much of interest, however, in descriptions of how the author fought against despair, finding hope and stability through a variety of spiritual experiences. Disappointingly, she neglects to mention her work as commissioner of Children's Services in Los Angeles or as a consultant-lecturer on family violence, despite the overriding importance of these subjects. 150,000 first printing; $150,000 ad/promo; author tour.
