Katie, Bar the Door by Ruth Hull Chatlien

I also appreciated how the author contextualized the prose more than the 'disastrous choices about men' the jacket cover alluded to. The layers of faith woven into the different characters became really flushed out, especially toward the end. I appreciated that this book was not 100% anti-Christian or anti-religion. It was so specific that I kept thinking about it as I was reading instead of letting myself really settle into what was a compelling, well-written, and emotionally honest journey. I will admit, the summary on the book jacket affected my reading of the book. But in most cases, it hurts to watch as Katie pushes away any good that she comes across because she cannot see the good in herself. In extreme cases, the sexual exploitation can be jarring and triggering. Some parts of this book are genuinely emotionally difficult to read. Katie, Bar the Door does not shy away from any topic-whether it be disparate Christian viewpoints, sex crimes, and sexual identity, the role of women in relationships and marriage, or the bonds between parents and children. The book is a journey to see how she hits rock bottom and then pulls herself up again, all while untangling the web of judgment she's told herself and has been told by others. After her father's death, Katie never lets herself grieve and internalizes the messages of her Baptist mother in ways that twist and distort who she was meant to be. Katie, Bar the Door is a novel written by Ruth Hull Chatlien that follows the life of Katie Thompson and how her formative years impact her life's choices. Ruth Hull Chatlien, Amika Press, September 22, 2021, Paperback and eBook, 466 pages.

Katie, Bar the Door by Ruth Hull Chatlien