MoMo’s Book Diary recommends Helene Leuschel’s Manipulated Lives as a provocative read.
Helene Leuschel has created a thought-provoking collection of well-rounded and believable characters in each of the five stories.
It is clear from the beginning this is an emotional read.
Five stories of the devastatingly long-lasting affect manipulators have on their victims.
Thanks to the author, Helene Leuschel, for inviting me to read and review this book.
I was taken with the synopsis and although I don’t read many short stories I was drawn into each story. I found the theme to be a difficult read but very focused and interesting.
Synopsis
Five stories – Five Lives.
Have you ever felt confused or at a loss for words in front of a spouse, colleague or parent, to the extent that you have felt inadequate or, worse, a failure?
Do you ever wonder why someone close to you seems to endure humiliation without resistance?
Manipulators are everywhere.
At first these devious and calculating people can be hard to spot, because that is their way. They are often masters of disguise: witty, disarming, even charming in public – tricks to snare their prey – but then they revert to their true self of being controlling and angry in private.
Their main aim: to dominate and use others to satisfy their needs, with a complete lack of compassion and empathy for their victim.
In this collection of short novellas you meet people like you and me, intent on living happy lives, yet each of them, in one way or another, is caught up and damaged by a manipulative individual.
First you meet a manipulator himself, trying to make sense of his irreversible incarceration. Next, there is Tess, whose past is haunted by a wrong decision, then young, successful and well balanced Sophie, who is drawn into the life of a little boy and his troubled father. Next, there is teenage Holly, who is intent on making a better life for herself and finally Lisa, who has to face a parent’s biggest regret.
All stories highlight to what extent abusive manipulation can distort lives and threaten our very feeling of self-worth.
| AUTHOR | Helene Leuschel |
| BOOK TITLE | Manipulated Lives |
| PUBLISHER | Self-published with CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |
| DATE OF PUBLICATION | 8 June 2016 |
| PRINT LENGTH | 274 pages |
| ISBN | 978-1534708976 |
| OBTAINED: | Author |
REVIEW PUBLISHED:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Helene Andrea Leuschel was born and raised in Belgium to German parents. She gained a Licentiate in Journalism, which led to a career in radio and television in Brussels, London and Edinburgh.
Helene moved to the Algarve in 2009 with her husband and two children, working as a freelance TV producer and teaching yoga. She recently acquired a Master of Philosophy with the OU, deepening her passion for the study of the mind.
Manipulated Lives is Helene’s first work of fiction.
Helene is on Twitter, Facebook, GoodReads and Amazon
MoMoBookDiary 
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