The Wounded Woman

"I am glad that i picked up this book second-hand. Although the author does reference several classic films and stories, these detailed descriptions of other, better works are the best part of the book. In addition, there is a strong subtext throughout the book of the author's narrow opinions about what a "feminine" woman should be like- artistic and creative only. One is left with the impression that she views any sort of logical, analytical nature in a woman as pathology, or at least unnatural. She offers little in the way of true description of maladaptive behavior patterns, preferring to refer the reader to fictional characters, and very little advice about dealing with those issues beyond offering more flowery passages. Basically, if you want to sit around and pet yourself about how cultured and wounded you are, go ahead and waste the money. If you want genuine help for genuine issues, look elsewhere."
~ Written on 2008-08-18

"So I picked this book up recently and had another one of my revelations about my life recently. Through the father and daughter wound chapters I realized that I had spent the last 15 years in a career that, while very successful for me, left me empty.

After reading some personally important chapters in this book, I finally decided to make some necessary changes in my life and have decided to explore the creative, literary, psychology driven side of my life that was previously kept for "down" time.....

Ladies...buy this book...you will not regret it..."
~ Written on 2006-12-02

"I discovered this book after seeing it recommended in May Sarton's At Seventy. She admired Leonard's courage "in talking frankly about her relation to her father and combining her insights learned from patients (she is a psychotherapist) with her experience." Sarton said the book spoke to her with great force. The author uses fairy tales to make some of her points.
Many women suffer from overweight, depression, harmful relationships, drug or alcohol dependency, or anxiety. The author traces much of this to the wounded relationship with the father. Actions that harm the father/daughter relationship include the father's inability to show love, alcoholism, drug addiction, abuse, divorce, abandonment or absence. "
~ Written on 2006-08-08

"This book approaches healing the father-daughter relationship in an academic manner. It is helpful for those who work with women damaged by dysfunctional relationships with their fathers, but its academic approach may leave abused daughters seeking comfort and solutions disatisfied. Women seeking to heal their souls from the pain inflicted by their relationship with their fathers would find more hope and concrete skills for healing by reading some of the powerful memoirs by women who have survived and transcended difficult childhoods particularly "It Stops with Me" by Charleen Touchette, "The Color Purple" by Alice Waters, and "Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You" by Sue William Silverman. Of the three, "It Stops with Me" is the most recent addition to the literature of healing from the father-daughter relationship, and the most hopeful. The Author's courage to leave her culture behind to escape her father and her determination to create a better family life for her children is inspirational. Readers will find that "It Stops with Me" is a catalyst that will give them the strength to tell their own stories and begin their healing."
~ Written on 2004-11-15

"I tried everything to heal the riff between my father & myself. This book really lent a hand. We are all responsible for our healings but books like this are guideposts along the way. It definitely wetted my appetite for more. This book got me started. It was gentle enough just when I needed it most. There are others out there to sock you in the eye. But most people who have been abused cannot handle being punched another time. Gentle persuasion, & loving kindness are the key to really good healing."
~ Written on 2002-02-23