Niklas reviewed I Choose to Live by Sabine Dardenne
Review of 'I Choose to Live' on 'LibraryThing'
3 stars
Dardenne was kidnapped by Marc Dutroux at age 12, brainwashed and put through hell for nearly three months. This is her autobiographical story from slightly before, during the named ordeal and the aftermath, e.g. adapting to life, growing up and ending the book with the trial of her accosters. Using a very matter-of-factly style of describing what her thoughts were at the time of being kidnapped as well as her most recent mind-set, the story really gripped me; Dardenne also details her failings to communicate with her mother before the kidnapping and how that deeply affected her afterwards. The final chapter is in my eye the best, and really put everything on its edge. I think the subtleties of Dardenne's (and her co-writer's) way of expression really brings forward the horrors of what happened to her, and glancing at what might have happened to several other young girls and women …
Dardenne was kidnapped by Marc Dutroux at age 12, brainwashed and put through hell for nearly three months. This is her autobiographical story from slightly before, during the named ordeal and the aftermath, e.g. adapting to life, growing up and ending the book with the trial of her accosters. Using a very matter-of-factly style of describing what her thoughts were at the time of being kidnapped as well as her most recent mind-set, the story really gripped me; Dardenne also details her failings to communicate with her mother before the kidnapping and how that deeply affected her afterwards. The final chapter is in my eye the best, and really put everything on its edge. I think the subtleties of Dardenne's (and her co-writer's) way of expression really brings forward the horrors of what happened to her, and glancing at what might have happened to several other young girls and women who were abused and murdered by Dutroux and his accomplices. A singular and horrific read.
