Book Review: The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

“I knew I had to make a stand, somehow. Part of that would be saying no to the world’s desire for me to talk about my siblings, anywhere. Even in the pages of my own book. It is up to my brothers and sisters if they wish to share their story one day. But I’d be no better than Ruby if I detailed their experiences without their consent. They deserve to be given back the choice that had been stolen from them for so long. I don’t want to be anything like her, I thought. I won’t exploit them the way she did.”

Shari Franke, The House of My Mother

Review:

I hadn’t heard of the Franke family until the news of Ruby Franke’s arrest went viral. The more that came out about her children’s situation, the more heartbroken I felt. While the idea of family vlogging never quite sat right with me personally (hence why I was out of the loop), I didn’t have a strong stance on whether or not it was a moral issue. In recent years, however, I’ve begun to feel differently. If most individuals are putting on airs for the sake of social media, why not families, too? 

Honestly, I don’t know what compelled me to pick up this book aside from curiosity. Not so much curiosity about Ruby herself but to hear the side of one of her children. I found Shari Franke’s writing and ability to convey her personal experiences remarkable. I applaud her decision not to write about or even name her younger siblings and what they went through. It wasn’t necessary in order for her to paint a true picture of Ruby. 

What came as the biggest surprise for me personally was how much of myself I could see in Shari’s personality, headspace, and coping skills (though I thankfully did not have similar experiences to her growing up). It struck a way deeper chord than I was prepared for, although I am grateful for the insight I was granted. Undoubtedly, this book is going to stay with me.

I admire the fact that despite having negative experiences religiously, Shari has clung on to her faith. That sadly doesn’t happen often when people have suffered the amount of abuse she has. For far less, young adults tend to walk away from their parent’s religious views. Her ability to not waver spiritually is an inspiration and, for me, is a good reminder of the importance of a personal spiritual foundation for coping with the ugly parts of life. 

If you’re looking for a juicy tell-all, this isn’t it, nor should it be. This is a coming-of-age memoir and a story of strength, resilience, and the price of fame. Namely, the fame that children do not consent to. 

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Polished and intelligent writing.
• Extremely introspective.
• Maintains her siblings’ privacy.

What I didn’t like:

• There was a tendency to jump around topics, but it wasn’t too distracting.

Afterthoughts:

I ended up purchasing the audiobook as well to listen to another time. I’ll definitely be revisiting this book.

Where to buy the book: