Michelle Knight (1) (1981–)

Michelle Knight is one of the strongest and most beautiful people I have ever read about. Her story is the first in-depth perspective I have had with the Cleveland Kidnappings. There is no denying the fact that it is a very difficult read- Michelle has lived not just a decade (as the title suggests), but a lifetime of darkness. The abuse and suffering she has experienced would break most people, yet she survived and became a voice for so many. She has retained a purity, honesty, and show more determination that is nothing short of miraculous. I am so grateful that there are people like Michelle who can bring a light into the darkness.

As a side note: Some may feel that her book is not written well, (I had no problem reading through it quickly), and would like it to be heavily edited. My opinion is that we need to keep in mind that these books are not written by writers, they are written by people who are sharing a personal experience, and when they are heavily edited, they lose their rawness and true voice. Also, I would hate for anyone to be denied the chance to share their story for fear it would be rejected on the basis of poor grammar. show less

A captivating read (no pun intended, I'm serious, but wow), I read the whole thing in just a few hours, I couldn't put it down.

It was painful/uncomfortable to witness the moment when her childhood of victimization began to manifest through making poor decisions as an adult. I'm not blaming her for this, because I've experienced something to a lesser degree too so I sympathize.

That last fateful day of her freedom as she's walking for hours, wandering around on a hot day fueled by only a Pop show more Tart, after declining a ride from Social Services. It pains the reader to walk that journey with her, when as an audience we're thinking, "Where are your priorities right now? What were you thinking to depend on some dysfunctional family member to give you a ride to an extremely important Social Services appointment? And then, why did you turn back home, still asking at the Family Dollar store for directions to the appt you already knew you were late to, and no longer anywhere near?"

Anyway I sympathize with the confusion during that scene because I often behave just like this too. Extraordinary life stressors + isolation + lacking basic needs = disorganized thinking, not planning properly, confusion, and outside observers thinking we're idiots. Childhood abuse is hell, and it really warps the adult mind. Of course it doesn't serve us to make excuses for ourselves, and all we can do is keep working on healing & thinking clearly & acting wisely & carefully.

One more thing: I read every last morsel of this book...and in her acknowledgements at the end, she thanks HARVEY WEINSTEIN, among others. Harvey Weinstein?? I'd love to hear how he was involved in this story!!! Apparently Ariel Castro lived out Weinstein's fantasy to some degree ='(

Five stars for a well-written book. ZERO STARS for Harvey Weinstein. show less

I was astonished by the news reports when Michelle Knight was liberated from captivity in Cleveland. I had looked forward to hearing Michelle’s story and when I saw that she had a book coming out, I immediately made sure my library purchased the book. Reading this account through Michelle’s words was horrific, heartbreaking, awe inspiring, and ultimately a story of survival when dealing with monsters.
Michelle Knight was taken and held hostage by Ariel Castro for over a decade. show more Blockaded in a house in Cleveland, Michelle was held with two others and suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of her captor. Sexual, mental and physical abuse was a daily occurrence.
I felt as if the book was written in a conversational style that really worked for me. While horrific, I could feel Michelle’s spirit. While graphic in places, the book wasn’t nearly as graphic as I’m sure it could have been. In the end, Michelle seems to have accepted that bad things happen but isn’t about to let it shape her future life. Trying to better herself, Michelle is going to school, meeting new people and isn’t going to let her past effect who she is going to become.
Not for the weak of heart, Finding Me is an amazing story of survival. A fast read, Michelle’s story touched my heart in a way that I can’t really explain. Painful to read, Michelle is now a story of hope. show less

This is a gripping, yet harrowing, memoir about Michelle's time held captive and the hell on earth she, and two other women, endured for more than a decade. This book is filled with abuse, kidnapping, torture, rape, perseverance, courage, and above all, hope. I'm glad she is able to tell her story as a way of healing and forgiveness.