Mother at Seven Paperback – July 20, 2016

I would like to think this book is a fake and none of the abuse was real but who knows for sure. In this day we are so easily fooled, by clever people . If it is true, where are those parents and « uncle » now? Could Russian authorities not still bring charges against these people? She writes in English which is not even close to her native tongue so she can not use proper language to express herself. That is why it reads like a child wrote it. Well, one of the reasons, but another reason is she never really matured into an adult. I find it incomprehensible that Varonika never told a responsible adult about her abuse nor showed them her bruised bleeding body not even her beloved grand parents. It is true she seems to have grandiose ideas about herself at some junctures but then again comes off exceedingly child like when she does cause serious problems such as her brother’s near drowning. Making the excuse she was having so much fun, time got away from her, etc.,etc. I also find it VERY strange that she could not write the sequel but could write a complete novel instead. I also agree with the reviewer who mentioned the many miles she said she walked daily. Where are the photographs of places and roads she walked to? Where are the testimonials of teachers who saw her in rags and barefoot in proximity to her fancied made-up mother or her brother? There are no proofs here. Even if she made it all up she is still a sad human being for even wanting to do that. Make up your own mind read the book and decide for yourself. If the book is a fake we will know that some day sa truth will out.

Reviewers who do not believe Veronica's memoir do not know this type of abuse really can and does happen, although this is an extreme case. Narcissists hold an image of themselves as being perfect. If they have two children, they will project their dissociated shadow onto one child and severely abuse them, while idolizing the other. The child they idolize proves to themselves that they are a good parent. The child they abuse, they see as bad. Veronica was her mother’s idolized child until she gave birth to her brother, then Veronica became the bad child- the mother’s projected shadow-self. Veronica’s mother had a best-friend relationship with her Mom. This is how a narcissistic personality is formed. Veronica’s mother was raised by a narcissist who idolized her. She was put on a pedestal and had to be perfect. Veronica’s brother would be in danger of developing this same personality disorder, but Veronica played a major role in raising him as a baby, and perhaps this saved him. Veronica’s maternal grandfather idolized his narcissistic wife and thought her best-friend relationship with their daughter was good. A narcissist will marry someone who idolizes them and an inverted narcissist is conditioned in childhood to adore a narcissist. A narcissist and an inverted narcissist seek each other out. This is why narcissism runs in families. Moriah Morningstar, author of The Greatest Deception.

What an incredible story!! You are truly an inspiration to all of us!!! Thank you sharing this with us. Your caring humility and sincerity jump off of the pages of this book. I now want to know how you handled the betrayal from your family when coming to the United States? Have you stayed in contact with your family? Your brother? I sure hope you've been able to at least see your little brother!! It must have been so heartbreaking to find out, after all you've been through, that you would not be returning to Sochi. I can't wait to read the sequel to find out the rest of your story, but one thing is for sure: I'm sure you handled it with grace and integrity!! You are amazing! Your "Deda" is proud of you!!

A very disturbing book and honestly I am not certain that I believe all of it. Spoiler Alert: I was literally sick when the young author willingly presented her arm to her disciplinarian(read that as torturer) "uncle" for him to deliberately slice&mutilate her flesh with a dirty shaving razor as some supposed ancient form of punishment then continued sitting there like a simpleton ragdoll,nearly choking on a rag that she herself had stuffed into her own mouth to stifle her screams, while this demented lunatic place grains of salt in the bleeding raw wounds! Then when her grandfather, her hero, arrives a short time later to check on his grandchildren, she hides in a back bedroom in excruciating pain instead of running head long into his arms sounding the alarm about what she has just endured. I was dumbstruck and found myself wondering "Does this little girl like to be abused and treated like a worthless dog or something?" To Hades with family honor and tradition! Armenian, American, Russian does not matter because nowhere would consider treating a child worst than a dog to be acceptable. It is very difficult to believe that the author survived all of these horrors in silence and wearing a plastic smile on her face with only a childish and naive hope that life would eventually get better. There can be no forgiveness or amazement after all of this,no better days,if we are to believe all that Mrs.Gasparyan has told us is indeed the 100% Gospel Truth. Her family, a word I use in the loosest sense possible, does not need to be forgiven...they need to be locked up forever. At some points it is only a hair's breath that they aren't in jail for murder as a result of the severe and systemic brutal torture. This is not an inspirational book. I enjoy reading misery memoirs on difficult childhoods and profoundly dysfunctional families for fun, and this is hands down the most disturbing one I have ever read. Pick this book up only if you are not faint of heart.

It never ceases to amaze me how cruel adults can be to children. Even their own children. It is truly a miracle that Veronika survived her childhood. Not only did she survive, she became a warrior for doing what is right. God definitely has a plan for her.

A real page turner. Could not put it down. Almost lived with her. Very well written.. Can't wait to read her other book

Although sometimes too horrible & shocking to read all details of her brutal treatment, this life story is inspirational. That a seven year old survived such brutality is amazing. More details of her early adulthood would have helped her readers recover after the many shocks contained in Veronika's biography.Jackie

A very sad story about a girl from a supposed "good' family. Unfortunately, not an uncommon tale. A lot of people have a very tough upbringing. But interesting to read at any rate.

Lost a star for the many spelling errors!! Proof reading before publishing perhaps? Good for content but didn't make me rush back to read more.

Not for the faint hearted