 |
Cuban-American author and radio talk show host of The Cure, Aimee Nikolov, examines the continual, decades-long abuse she suffered, lessons learned, and the almost insurmountable odds of recovering from it. As a survivor’s tale, this affecting memoir is both a revelation of the author’s life-long wounds and a testament to her steadfast faith in God and belief in love’s powerful healing. For some, this will be a difficult book to read. It will anger and move the reader, and Nikolov leaves nothing to the imagination in her portrayal of the malicious physical and mental exploitations thrust upon her. All that Nikolov endured deeply impacted and shaped her life, from childhood to adulthood, but ultimately it did not stop her from persevering through the molestation, suicidal ideations, drug addiction, poverty, and a near-death encounter.
Written in an accessible narrative that weaves forwards and back in time, Nikolov’s introspective memoir is filled with beauty and tragedy, illuminating her punishing upbringing in the Dominican Republic and Miami to the more optimistic present with her own children and a mostly happy marriage. Growing up, her life is encompassed by trauma, medicine, and religion, and in gripping detail, Nikolov navigates the dark, complex family dynamics she experiences as a child. She explores the cold isolation amid her mother’s reluctance to protect her from her stepfather’s appalling maltreatment. As truths come to light, Nikolov’s family is inevitably divided, and the high-profile “Case from Hell” publicly unveils their shocking story to the world. But it is Nikolov who bears the weight of guilt for splintering her family, is repeatedly blamed for the aftermath, and spends years trying to reconcile with the ramifications of this damage.
However, not all is bleak for Nikolov. Her adulthood is marked by positive change and vigor after vanquishing some of her blemished past. She fiercely protects and raises a beautiful daughter, finds newfound love with a husband, welcomes the birth of children, and manages to graduate from school with honors. But even when she thinks she can finally exorcise the demons from her past, new turmoil emerges, compelling her to rely again upon God’s strength and the power of prayer to guide and safeguard her.
It is Nikolov’s astonishing empathy for others that allows her to see the good of people, even with all of their abhorrent flaws and animosities. She gallantly confesses her impulsive mistakes and ill-informed choices, many of which are not pretty, while sharing what she learned from them and how they helped her mature. By writing this memoir, it is clear, as Nikolov recounts each of the strenuous moments and events that nearly destroy her, that the author remains the strongest person in the room, disallowing herself to be cruel to those who are the most brutal to her. In reading her words, one cannot help but marvel at Nikolov’s sustained confidence and her unending courage and tenacity to stand up to the viciousness of the world.
An updated version of the author’s previously published memoir, this slim but graceful and profound page-turner depicts one woman’s resilience against tragedy and the ability to eclipse the darkness that tries to bind her. Nikolov’s narrative is forthright yet approachable, despite its sensitive subject matter, and readers come to love and care for the author in her plight while uplifted by her wins. Here, Nikolov adds new detail regarding recent events involving her daughter, whom she nearly lost, and the continued legal battles with her ex and family. Once more, she is compelled to confront that charging bull, a striking vision recurring throughout, which aptly symbolizes the horrors Nikolov faces. Each chapter is introduced with inspirational or spiritual quotes correlating to the author’s story and her devout faith. It is a heartrending tale that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. There is much to admire in Nikolov’s restorative account, and by its end, her unforgettable memoir leaves the reader in awe.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review