A book review of Divorcing Mom: a Memoir of Psychoanalysis by Melissa Knox
Stars: ***
Cynren Press (2019)
Memoirs
218 pages
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.
Summary: Psychoanalysis was her family’s religion instead of wafers and wine, there were Seconals, Nembutals, and gin. Baptized into the faith at fourteen, Melissa Knox endured her analyst’s praise of her childlike, victimized mother who leaned too close, ate off Melissa’s plate, and thought pedophile meant silly person. Gaslighted with the notions that she’d seduced her father, failed to masturbate, and betrayed her mother, Melissa shouldered the blame. Her story of a family pulled into and torn apart by psychoanalysis exposes the abuse inherent in its authoritarianism as Melissa learns, with a startling sense of humor and admirable chagrin, that divorcing Mom is sometimes the least crazy thing to do.
Divorcing Mom
The author, Melissa Knox, lived a strange life. I’m all for psychonalysis but her parents took it to a whole other level. Her parents had a psychotherapist, emphasis on the psycho. Then they got her one and he was weird and inappropriate with her.
I have had counsellors and psychologists in my lifetime and it’s never been anything like what she went through. I hope there aren’t therapists like that around now. If you aren’t sure if your therapist is acting appropriately or giving you good advice, read this book. If it looks like what she went through, RUN!
The book isn’t long but it gets the point across. I hope it doesn’t scare readers away from therapy though, as that is NOT what it’s supposed to be like.
I’m not sure what else to say about this book and the author’s story except it made me appreciate my mom more.
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