Step into the past with Rebecca Colt Aslan as she recounts her upbringing and experiences with sexual assault spanning over four decades. Everyone harbors pain, often buried beneath the surface as they navigate life's challenges. This book bravely illuminates one person's difficult past, offering hope that its revelation may provide solace and support to others facing similar struggles. Understanding the truth of sexual violation is daunting for both survivors and those untouched by its impact. Through her words, the author aims to deepen understanding of this sensitive subject, which remains taboo for many, even in the aftermath of #MeToo. --- Some Truths Lie Beneath is a powerful and inspiring book that tells a story of overcoming difficult experiences. It shares important messages about healing and finding strength after facing tough situations. The book is honest and heartfelt, showing how people can overcome challenges and find hope. Readers will be encouraged to believe in themselves and understand the importance of sharing their own stories. If you're looking for a book that will uplift and motivate you, Some Truths Lie Beneath is a great choice. - The Sociology Group Editorial Team Kirkus Indie Review An engrossing and profound account of dealing with sexual trauma. In this debut memoir, a woman relates sexual assaults that have haunted her for years. Aslan, who's now retired, begins her personal story when she was in her 20s. At that time, a college professor she admired drove her to her dorm one night. He groped her rather aggressively, but she managed to get out of his car before it went further. She was so shaken by this incident that she dropped out of college for over a year. The author describes a Roman Catholic upbringing, with her parents raising her in a "very insular world" and indoctrinating her to suppress her sexual desires. Aslan recalls that her mother was especially harsh, and after the author left home, they never "re-established any semblance of a relationship." Aslan trusted her father more, but a startling letter he sent her, after she decided to return to college, unexpectedly prompted a turning point in her life. She persevered and kick-started her career, but she sadly wasn't able to avoid another dreadful experience with a manipulative, intimidating man. Aslan's novella-length memoir zeroes in on how severely her parents' influence and the sexual assaults she suffered have affected her. She drank excessively in college prior to her professor's violation, which she attributes to her parents' "heavy drinking" and an aunt's DUIs. The author even contemplated suicide while in high school, a shocking admission that she doesn't quite unpack. But she lucidly describes the aftermath of a sexual assault—she coped by going on with her daily life as if nothing had happened and was later wracked with guilt for not immediately reporting the attack. This absorbing book's deliberately minimalist approach deftly highlights her emotional state, even when she doesn't fully understand her feelings. In the end, it's clear the author wants her reflections about her personal travails to help readers who have gone through similar experiences. Sociology Group Review by Tamanna Nandal An emotional, gracious attempt at retracing life and reflecting upon the impact of life-changing instances. ...Tracing the interactions between the author and her parents, we learn how childhood trauma can stay as a burden, leading to some serious consequences and affecting the relationship between self and society. In a few pages, the book graciously explores the complexities of the parent-child relationship. The narration is not of resentment but of reminiscence and learning. Hurt by their actions, we can distance ourselves from our parents, but the desire to have them in our lives persists. The book represents this dilemma and explores the impact of emotional toll and the path to healing. ...The story is small but profound, connecting the past, present, and future of the author's life. It also reflects the thoughts of 'what could have been.' The author's troubled and toxic relationship with her mother instilled anger and resentment in her heart, which faded over time. Still, the sadness of missing a mother's 'unconditional love' has made a home in her. The author looks at the missing parts of life through the lens of acceptance, not resentment. ...Looking back at certain times/ situations, it surprises us how a person who made us feel so safe and comfortable used that to betray us in the end, and how, so unknowingly, we gave in without anticipating the outcome. The author's honesty about her experiences and her trust in other people makes us sympathise with her, and it feels like she is telling her story directly to the reader, sitting in front of us, sharing an intimate piece of her heart. ...The author's courage to share the disturbing instances of her life feels like a friend's attempt to be vu