Hiding From Reality: My Story Of Love, Loss, And Finding The Courage Within (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
Yes, I am a fan of the show. Taylor was not a favorite of mine and I did not like her much after the first season, but when all the abuse came to light, I saw her differently. I also recognized her behavior, which I did not previously care for, as signs for what she had been going through. As I read through some of the reviews for this book, I was appalled. For another woman to judge her story, and say "if" this happened, and to actually stick up for her dead ex-husband, who took his own life, it makes me sick. My mother and my own sister, all were in abusive relationships at one time in their lives. Nobody knew it was happening, until they made known that it WAS happening. I do not think it's anyone's place to judge Taylor and what she has gone through. That said, here's my review.Taylor is not the best writer. But she is definitely not the worst. I found her story to be a bit jumpy. She doesn't stick to one part of her life, she kind of jumps around to different episodes and times. It's not confusing, it just shows her inexperience with writing. Nothing of her story reads as fake to me. I identified with a lot of her "not worthy" feelings and her not feeling good enough. I am sad to admit it, but I also went through a time where I also begged someone to stay with me. I can relate to that side of her. It's sad, and I see how Russell was so easily able to keep her under control. I applaud her for sharing her very personal story, especially in a time where women so freely tear each other down and don't offer support. I hope she is able to find happiness for herself and her daughter. I'm going to try not to judge as to the truth of this tale but rather the story itself. It was written very simplistically; seemed quite superficial and told in a numb or cold manner - which could be the result of trauma. It focuses mostly on her most recent years with her husband Russell. There is not a lot of background, although there is some. It barely touches on her Real Housewives experiences. I do not think this is an inspiring story. She stayed for so long, even after it began to affect her daughter. The entire story just doesn't sit well with me, either because it was written very matter of fact or because it was written against someone that cannot defend himself. It also paints a lot of people in a negative light if they were all really aware of the extent of the alleged abuses and no one did anything. There is one story that says he brutally assaulted a man; threw the man's fiancee & Taylor into a pool and then threw a pit bull in the pool all the while continually assaulting the man that was bigger than him. And the other pit bull apparently didn't react. I seriously doubt if I had been the fiancee or my partner that man, that we would not have pressed charges and a lawsuit, if for no other reason than to try to get our friend out. Especially if we had the resources that are alluded to in this book. I also doubt our basset hound would have sat docilely by while her "parents" and "brother" were being attacked. And no charges were filed even though there was supposedly quite a bit of dental and facial damage. So it is either not true, misrepresented, the other couple is crazy or he had something on the other couple. And that's just one story in the book. I feel bad for her because she's obviously been through a lot but it's all stuff she was willing to risk her daughter's well-being on.
What do You think about Hiding From Reality: My Story Of Love, Loss, And Finding The Courage Within (2012)?
Brutally honest and hauntingly brutal. A must-read for any fan of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
—kc17170
Not well written. But interesting read for someone who is a real housewives fan, like myself.
—aasa
Mix feelings about this book.It was very frustrating to read.
—kimberly
Riveting tale of life with Russell Armstrong.
—502
