In contrast to a lot of what is presented for the public's edification (and titillation) in this day and age of confession, A Hole in the World is a work that is completely selfless. Richard Rhodes is here to share three crucial and helpful things with us. His story is a difficult one, but told so well and sincerely that I found it mesmerizing. ( )

I read this because of the previous book on John James Audubon by the same author. It is the story of growing up after his mother shot herself when he was 18 months old. Rhodes and his older brother are raised by his dad until he marries again- to a wicked stepmother. There was a lot of foreshadowing about his cruel stepmother and I thought it was going to be worse than it was. It really affected his life and he had a lot of baggage from this time in his life. He and his brother (at ages 13 & 15) went to the police to get away from the abuse. They were sent to an orphanage, even though they technically weren't orphans. ( )

Have you ever walked across really, really hot sand in your bare feet? There you are, stinging and ouching all the way across the incredibly hot terrain. But! It's a pain you don't want to give up because of where you are and where you going. Your destination is that blissful blanket by the sea and it will be lovely (why else are you there?). You know the pain will only last as long as you as are hot-stepping across the sand. That brief agony is the way I felt about Hole in the World by Richard Rhodes. It was unpleasant reading, even hurtful reading but I couldn't put it down. I wanted to get to the good part, that blanket, if you will. It's the story of Richard Rhodes growing up in an abusive household. I know he heals from his traumatic childhood. I know the abuses he suffered didn't last forever. There is light at the end of the dark tunnel of boyhood. But, it is a book worth reading. His words haunted my heart long after I put it down. ( )

Riveting, distasteful, horrifying memoir of abuse at the hands of a stepmother. Couldn't put it down, didn't want to finish it, have never forgotten it. ( )