jourdanicus's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-paced

4.0

Not really sure how to rate this one, but I think I can give it a 4. This wasn't what I expected (not in a bad way) - I didn't realize it was a biography and not a memoir!

I also expected more gory and gross descriptions of trauma cleanings. Instead, I was given a compassionate and empathetic reflection on the human condition, what it means to be connected, and what can happen to us if we lack connection with other people.

Honestly I think this book was more beautiful than I could appreciate.

There was definitely some language regarding gender that some people might find dated. But I trust that the author, in working so closely with Sandra, reflected Sandra's experience of herself in a way of which Sandra would approve.

I also could have used some sort of warning before the fairly graphic description of Sandra's experience of sexual assault, but I've come not to expect content warnings in books more than a couple years old at this point.

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kiwichill's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This biography is extremely well written.   Sandra Pankhurst endured a traumatic and abusive childhood.   She had an extraordinary life, as a transgender woman who survived many dangerous and heartbreakin  situations. She treats the clients of her trauma cleaning business with empathy and compassion.

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sorcha's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.25


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emillyrw's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

2.0

I started reading this thinking it would be about the trauma cleaning but it is almost entirely the biography of Sandra who owns a trauma cleaning business with only a few stories of the cleaning interspersed between her life story.

Please read the trigger warnings before diving in to this.

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chelseylb1988's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0


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a_wild_wyatt's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0


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dananana's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective

4.0


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sammyd's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

3.5


This book wasn't what I was expecting, with it being more a biography of Sandra Pankhurst than a book about her work as a trauma cleaner. That being said Sandra has had a varied, traumatic, interesting and courageous journey which was fascinating to read about. 

I really wanted to like this book and rate it higher but despite enjoying a good deal of it, the only reason I finished it is because I wanted to know how the story concluded in terms of Sandra's present life.

This could have been two distinct books, i would have preferred to read either a biography of Sandra Pankhurst or about her business as a trauma cleaners rather than the mash up it became.

Just to add to the mix, the author told her parts of her own story and seemed to worship Sandra which made me question the authenticity of the writing. Sandra acknowledged that she is an unreliable narrator and her story is fascinating still, but I think this shouldn't have been drawn to the forefront quite so much and instead the focus should have been on what she she did know. The author also seemed to be passing judgement throughout the whole book which felt out of place and unnecessary.

There was some very flowery writing and some bizarre metaphors, overall I think the writing style detracted from the tale being told and the two elements of biography/trauma cleaning should have been either more equally discussed or one omitted entirely.

Not for the faint-hearted, the trigger warnings are lengthy.


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chubby_little_butter_books's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0


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daleee's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny inspiring sad fast-paced

5.0


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