She was known to the world as Emily Doe when she stunned millions with a letter. Brock Turner had been sentenced to just six months in county jail after he was found sexually assaulting her on Stanford’s campus. Her victim impact statement was posted on BuzzFeed, where it instantly went viral–viewed by eleven million people within four days, it was translated globally and read on the floor of Congress; it inspired changes in California law and the recall of the judge in the case. Thousands wrote to say that she had given them the courage to share their own experiences of assault for the first time.
Now she reclaims her identity to tell her story of trauma, transcendence, and the power of words. It was the perfect case, in many ways–there were eyewitnesses, Turner ran away, physical evidence was immediately secured. But her struggles with isolation and shame during the …
She was known to the world as Emily Doe when she stunned millions with a letter. Brock Turner had been sentenced to just six months in county jail after he was found sexually assaulting her on Stanford’s campus. Her victim impact statement was posted on BuzzFeed, where it instantly went viral–viewed by eleven million people within four days, it was translated globally and read on the floor of Congress; it inspired changes in California law and the recall of the judge in the case. Thousands wrote to say that she had given them the courage to share their own experiences of assault for the first time.
Now she reclaims her identity to tell her story of trauma, transcendence, and the power of words. It was the perfect case, in many ways–there were eyewitnesses, Turner ran away, physical evidence was immediately secured. But her struggles with isolation and shame during the aftermath and the trial reveal the oppression victims face in even the best-case scenarios. Her story illuminates a culture biased to protect perpetrators, indicts a criminal justice system designed to fail the most vulnerable, and, ultimately, shines with the courage required to move through suffering and live a full and beautiful life.
Know My Name will forever transform the way we think about sexual assault, challenging our beliefs about what is acceptable and speaking truth to the tumultuous reality of healing. It also introduces readers to an extraordinary writer, one whose words have already changed our world. Entwining pain, resilience, and humor, this memoir will stand as a modern classic.
Wow. It took me a long time to crack this book, because I wasn't sure if I was prepared for it. And I wasn't. I couldn't possibly be. It is beautifully written. It is painfully honest. It is kind. It is heart-wrenching. It is infuriating. It is uplifting.
I was left feeling like Ms. Miller poured herself into this book and did not let a drop spill. I feel privileged that she shared this with all of us because I know I am better for having read it.
A terrible topic, presented in a compelling way. It's impossible to read this without feeling outraged on Chanel's behalf. Her experience shows how the U.S. justice system is broken, and how survivors of sexual assault are victimized twice – once by the original crime, and again in court. Absolutely infuriating.
I listened to this as an audiobook, which the author reads herself, and there are times when she has to pause and take deep breaths before continuing to read. This glimpse behind her composure underscores how absolutely courageous she is.
I think if you pick up this book, you know that it's about the Emily Doe of the Brock Turner Case. So I don't think the contents of "Oh god I was raped and now I have to reckon with a court case and my own definitions of justice and identity" will be all that shocking. It's obviously a difficult read, but it's not without hope. If you are looking for something inspiring, you will find it, you just have to dig through hundreds of dark and depressing pages.
Take care of yourself if you choose to read it, and if you are not in a place where you can read it, that's okay too.
This book is such an essential read. It will fill you with both justified rage at Stanford rapist Brock Turner and disgraced former judge Michael Aaron Persky, and awe at Chanel Miller’s resilience and courage. More than anything, it will inspire you to want to fix a broken system that treats the rapist with deference, puts the victim on trial, and minimizes her life derailed and months of suffering.
As Miller writes, with regard to why so many women don’t report an assault: “You were just physically attacked? Here’s some information on how you can enter a multiyear process of verbal abuse. Often it seems easier to suffer a rape alone, than face the dismembering that comes with seeking support.”
With regard to publicly releasing her victim’s impact statement, she writes, “I want the judge to know that he ignited a tiny fire.” With this book, she truly has. This …
This book is such an essential read. It will fill you with both justified rage at Stanford rapist Brock Turner and disgraced former judge Michael Aaron Persky, and awe at Chanel Miller’s resilience and courage. More than anything, it will inspire you to want to fix a broken system that treats the rapist with deference, puts the victim on trial, and minimizes her life derailed and months of suffering.
As Miller writes, with regard to why so many women don’t report an assault: “You were just physically attacked? Here’s some information on how you can enter a multiyear process of verbal abuse. Often it seems easier to suffer a rape alone, than face the dismembering that comes with seeking support.”
With regard to publicly releasing her victim’s impact statement, she writes, “I want the judge to know that he ignited a tiny fire.” With this book, she truly has. This is not an easy memoir to read, but it’s very important. It’s an inspiration for survivors of trauma about moving forward, and a great reminder about each of our potential to #BeTheSwede and help others instead of acting out of self-interest (like Turner’s parents, and others who acted abominably). Highly recommended.
