What are some good memoirs or autobiography about someone who had a rough childhood, especially victims of child abuse/neglect?
from DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works to nostupidquestions@lemmy.world on 07 Nov 2025 00:15
https://sh.itjust.works/post/49339753
from DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works to nostupidquestions@lemmy.world on 07 Nov 2025 00:15
https://sh.itjust.works/post/49339753
Particulary, I’m intrested in those that are also:
- Have a weird love-hate dynamic, e.g. parents/siblings/caretakers alternate between love and hate
- East Asian (Because I feel like those are more relatable, since I’m ethnic Chinese)
- Face bullying in school
- Struggle with depression/anxiety/PTSD/CPTSD
I want to use these as a sort of “guide” to navigate life.
#nostupidquestions
threaded - newest
Miyazaki maybe?
Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs.
Most violent serial killers. Ed Kemper, Ed Gein, Joseph Kallinger, Fred and Rose West, Aileen Wuornos to name a few.
Edit: I just saw the East Asian part. Sorry.
I hope you missed that part too
Vincent Van Gogh, Hong Sung Dam (Korean Minjing Artist; I’m not sure if he endured a hard life himself, but he did make artworks depicting the emotional turmoil Korean people endured due to oppression, dictatorship, and unfair human rights. Look up artworks: 10:20am April, 2024 (2016), Sound of the Last Breathing (2016), and Night Shift)
Greenlights - Matthew McConaughey
The Glass Castle is good
I haven’t written mine yet but I’ll let you know
💀
Only similar I’ve read is David Goggins-can’t hurt me
What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo
This one checks all your boxes. Except for maybe the bullying in school? I can’t remember if that was a theme or not. Fantastic read, though.
Not asian or bullying, but “I’m glad my mom died” by Jennette McCurdy is really strong. A mother living her own dreams through her daughters acting career, alternating between extreme emotional states. I thinks its writtem very well and describes her struggles getting out of the pressure by her mother and out of her own behavior pattterns learned since early childhood.
Though I cannot say, if this can be used as a guide. From what I remember the key learnings maybe would be: Get out, suround yourself with better people and get therapy. Though I might misrepresent the book with that