About My Book Reviews

Saturday, May 7, 2022

The Asylum by Carol Minto

Title: The Asylum

Author: Carol Minto, with Ann & Joe Cusack


Published: 2021


Genre: Memoir


Grade Level: Adult


-Trigger Warning: Child sexual abuse


-Movie Rating: R



Audiobook:


Narrated by: Fiona McNeil


Length: 8hrs 40mins


Recommend: Yes, but the Scottish accent took some getting used to



Blurb (from goodreads): 


For 46 years, Carol Minto has quietly gone about her life, carrying with her the most extraordinary and heartbreaking secrets.


Born into poverty and with mostly absent parents, Carol helped to raise her nine siblings. But when she was just 11 years old, her older brother began to sexually abuse her. After four years, Carol managed to escape – and ran away from home.


Disclaimer: My review of this memoir is not in any way a reflection upon the author or their life. I am a book reviewer, I review books… not people.



My Scores:


Writing Style: Solid


Because the memoir takes place in the UK and the author is originally from Scotland, I needed to adjust to the narrator’s accent and a few new sayings. 


Characters: Memorable

(I know they're real people. I’m referring to them as character’s anyway.)


Oh my gosh, this cast of characters had me reeling. I had no idea that a person could suffer so much! I had failed to grasp the depth of human depravity… and I’ve read quite a few memoirs. I haven’t been this shocked since I read Scared Speechless, which is an epic, mind-blowing read.


The MC, Carol Minto, is such a sympathetic character! Between her sadistic brother, narcissistic mother, and corrupt psychiatrist care-taker, I expected her to be jaded, vindictive, or at the very least dispassionate. But no, much like Jaycee Dugard, she kept her compassionate nature despite everything. She may have had to regain her identity once she attained her freedom, but she never lost her ability to empathize. 


Plot: So Many Plot Twists


The pacing is spectacular! Normally in a memoir, the pacing is far from consistent, but this memoir gets increasingly more interesting. 


This novel actually challenged my views on the statutory limitations on rape allegations, as in I don’t think there shouldn’t be any. 



Overall: Totally Obsessed 


I would highly recommend this novel and challenge you to complain about anything ever again! 



Messaging: Do not stay silent!



Goodreads Rating: 5 out of 5 stars



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