I don’t usually read memoirs, but I thought I would give this one a try, and I am glad that I did. Fran lives with her siblings, mother and her father. They live in poverty and are always moving around a lot. Fran lives in fear of her father, but she never expresses hatred toward him, even though he is mentally and physically abusive to all of his children and his wife.
Fran and her sisters had to suffer sexual abuse from their father. She constantly lived in fear wondering what abuse she would suffer each day. Her mother was never their to protect her or her siblings, and she abandoned Fran at a very young age. I have 2 children and I can not imagine this. I can’t even comprehend it.
Fran and her siblings had to work in the cotton fields at a very young age, from sun up to sun down. Most days they did not get to eat and on the days when they did it was only a bologna sandwich. They had to sleep at night on covers that never got washed. They all had share one washcloth to wash up at night.
Mrs Grubb didn’t get to experience most things that children do today. Such as a loving and happy family life. Running around carefree and happy. She longed to go to school like all of the other children, but wasn’t allowed to.
Fran tells the story from her point of view as a child and as an adult. The story goes back and forth between the two. This book was very hard for me to read. I had to put it down several times while reading it, and walk away. It was hard for me to comprehend how a parent could do such horrific things to their children.
I will admit that I found myself hating her father. I was so angry at him and wanted to scream. I know that you are not supposed to hate and nothing ever comes of it, but I could not help it. This book was very emotional for me.
As a child Fran had her faith in God to help her through and she often prayed. Her faith in God is what helped her through her very difficult childhood and now also as an adult. Throughout the book Fran talks about her husband and how he has helped her heal.
I found myself wanting to rescue her as the little girl. I admire her very much, and because of her love for Jesus she forgave her father for what he had done to her. I am not so sure I could have done that. Cruel Harvest is a very good book, but as I said it is very emotional and at times really hard to read.
I received a copy of Cruel Harvest from the publisher through Book Sneeze to review and give my honest opinion.
That sounds like a very touching but heartbreaking book. I’m not sure I could read it. Thank you for your review though.
It was hard for me to read also. I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish it. Thank you for stopping by!
It is stories like this that, although heartbreaking and difficult to imagine, help us put some perspective on our own lives and appreciate them so much more.
Thanks for sharing your review.
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I do like reading memoirs and autobiographies. However, this book would have been too hard for me to get through.
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I almost didn’t finish it, but I hate to stop reading a book. It was hard to get through, but will probably help a lot of people.
This sounds like a very interesting book. I may have to give it a closer look. Thanks for participating in Thirsty for Comments. Hope to see you again next week.
Wayne recently posted..A Displaced Pondering
I want to thank the reviewer for her kind and insightful comments on Cruel Harvest. I wrote Cruel Harvest for all the victims of abuse, to show that we don’t have to stay victims. There are some stories that are hard to read, but also, the redemption, forgiveness and reunioin with a family that was lost, will show that prayer works. The story has a wonderful, happy ending and I encourage anyone who has had trouble forgiving past hurts, to read Cruel Harvest. And keep in mind, that I am very happy, working with abused women and children. My life made me strong enough to stand up for women all across America. God bless each of you.
Fran E. Grubb
Your story did have a happy ending, and for that I am very happy for you. I know that you are supposed to forgive people that have wronged you even though it can be very hard to do so. Thank you for standing up for all women, you are a true inspiration!