See the Triumph
  • Home
  • About Us
    • The Origins of See the Triumph
    • About our Research
    • Terms of Use
  • Blog
    • See the Triumph Collections
  • "Free Store"
  • Resources for More Information
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About Us
    • The Origins of See the Triumph
    • About our Research
    • Terms of Use
  • Blog
    • See the Triumph Collections
  • "Free Store"
  • Resources for More Information
  • Contact Us
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

Picture
The Triumph Over Abuse Blog

11/19/2014 0 Comments

Book Review: Picture Perfect, by Jodi Picoult

By Stephanie Quinn, See the Triumph Guest Blogger

Note from See the Triumph: As part of our series this month on Intimate Partner Violence, Stigma, and the Media, this week we’re featuring a series of reviews of books and films that address the topic of domestic violence. In this series, guest blogger Stephanie Quinn shares insights about how these resources depict the issue, as well as resources for learning more.

*******************************************

Picture Perfect is a novel by Jodi Picoult about a woman who wakes up in a graveyard and can remember nothing about her life. She eventually discovers her name, Cassie, and finds her way home. In a seemingly encouraging turn of events, she learns that the husband she forgot is an award-winning actor in Los Angeles. She comes home to a mansion and realizes that she had been living a life of luxury. Unfortunately, Cassie’s story does not happily end there. She begins to feel inexplicably uncomfortable around her husband, especially when he becomes upset. As her past comes back to her, she begins recalling memories of her husband being physically abusive toward her.

Like many women in violent relationships, Cassie is torn between staying and leaving. As the wife of a movie star, she is in many ways living a life that most people could only dream of- multiple homes, chefs and butlers, and movie premieres. While most women in violent relationships are not experiencing these benefits, multiple different aspects of a partnership can make leaving difficult.  Many women stay because they are economically dependent on their spouse. Others may fear what the perpetrator would do if they left. No matter what the reason is, leaving an abusive relationship is always challenging. There can still be some positive aspects to a relationship, and women may have to grieve the loss of their marriage, despite the abuse they suffered.

Another issue Cassie faces is the outside world’s perception of her marriage. Cassie was seen as privileged to have entered the world of Hollywood. Many viewed her life as a Cinderella story. While most women in violent situations are not married to Hollywood actors, many have experienced the pressure to stay in a relationship from family, friends, or religious communities. Some people outside of the relationship may not fully understand the dangers of staying in an abusive home.   

For the reasons listed above and countless others, leaving a violent relationship can be challenging. To learn more about safety strategies, check out the following link about safety planning with a counselor, social worker, or other domestic violence professional: http://www.dvsafetyplanning.org/safety-strategies-booklet.html

To learn more about or purchase Picture Perfect: http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Perfect-Jodi-Picoult-ebook/dp/B000QUEHP8

Stephanie Quinn is a second year masters student in Counseling and Educational Development at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Originally from Iowa, she moved to North Carolina to attend Elon University where she received her bachelor's degree in Human Service Studies. Specializing in couples and families, she is currently interning at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center this fall, where she works with families in the children's oncology and hematology unit.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All About Intimate Partner Violence About Intimate Partner Violence Advocacy Ambassadors Children Churches College Campuses Cultural Issues Domestic Violence Awareness Month Financial Recovery How To Help A Friend Human Rights Human-rights Immigrants International Media Overcoming Past Abuse Overcoming-past-abuse Parenting Prevention Resources For Survivors Safe Relationships Following Abuse Schools Selfcare Self-care Sexual Assault Sexuality Social Justice Social-justice Stigma Supporting Survivors Survivor Quotes Survivor-quotes Survivor Stories Teen Dating Violence Trafficking Transformative-approaches