Debora at the age of 14 was walking home when her life was viciously interrupted, she was abducted, she was raped and then she was left in the cold to die. I’d like to say this was the only bad thing to happen to her, it was probably the worst but her childhood and path to adulthood wasn’t easy. Debora shares her life with us, she shares her dysfunctional upbringing, her very difficult relationship with her mother, her love for her father despite him protecting her mother and her path to becoming a parent herself. It is poignant, it is harrowing and sometimes it is down right upsetting but Debora brings a wonderful narrative to it, sometime a little bit of humour pokes through this very dark journey, a definite must read. Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

In this innovative memoir, Deborah Harding examines trauma and its lasting impact. When she was 14, Harding was abducted at knifepoint, assaulted and left to die. She shifts between the past and present to tell the story of this traumatic 4 hours, along side the story of growing up with her abusive mother. She examines the impact of each of these things on her life, her choices as an adult and her mental health. Though I have read other memoirs which cover similar topics to Dancing with the Octopus, I found this one unique. Harding's choice to tell the story in a non-linear fashion gives a real insight into the way a trauma you thought long gone can affect your later life and your family relationships. The story of her mothers behaviour is sad but Harding discusses with great insight, intelligence and compassion the effects it had on her family, and especially on her relationship with her father, who turned a blind eye to the abuse. Harding also writes about her abductor, and how in an attempt to deal with the trauma as an adult she seeks restorative justice. I found her bravery in this section of the book awe inspiring. At times heartbreaking, this memoir is an absolute must read