A Very Private School

I cried! Cried because I’ve always known trauma, physical,- and emotional does not discriminate. A quote I vaguely recall reads something along the lines of: “I rather cry in a Ferrari than in a bus!” This quote has stuck with me due to how bizarre it truly is when you think about it & decipher it’s more deeper meaning, and that’s why I decided to include it in my review! I truly believe it’s upon time for the world at large to reconsider and revalue the view of those born into what is referred to high society or old money, that no money can buy us happiness nor can any amount of wealth bypass how deeply affected anyone would be, no matter one’s circumstances, from physical,- and emotional abuse, in particular from such an young age. The nature of the sadistic abuse depicted in this book by Charles Spencer is truly appalling, and moreover the fact that so many of his peers suffered from the same abuse makes my heart bleed, furthermore the fact that so many of his peers have suffered in silence for a good four decades is in my opinion proof of how a “culture” of silence was fostered and even worse encouraged and I want to emphasize that this culture wasn’t fostered and encouraged by only the so called high society, but rather by people who isn’t high society themselves, what I mean is that people who isn’t born into old money oftentimes appear to have certain prejudices about people from old money and their beliefs that these people have it so much better is all based upon nothingness, because they don’t know what they don’t know! This book haven’t opened my eyes to something new, I knew this existed, hence why I feel it’s appropriate to ask a rudimentary question to all people from all walks of life, “Just because a person was born into old money, does this exclude them from talking publicly about their experiences? Does their wealth make them invalid to be considered victims? My answer lays in the quote above, more specifically I’m of the belief that we’re in this world together for better or worse, and we need to be more caring towards each other no matter one’s background, which I think should go without saying, but I know it needs to be said in order to be understood! Thank you Charles Spencer for your courage and your willingness to share not only yours but also some of your peers struggles both when you were young and conditioned to be in an environment that clearly was abusive and unsafe, as well as sharing the aftermath after having lived in such conditions in your most formative years. I sincerely hope you will find the peace you deserve and writing this book has served you in the best of ways. Respectfully, Grace

En fantastisk författare som på ett både gripande och underhållande sätt skildrar en tragisk tillvaro på en internatskola i 1970-talets England. Boken återger smärtsamma minnen från en barndom präglad av rädsla, utsatthet och avvisning, men också en lojalitet mellan de unga skolpojkarna som endast kan uppstå under sådan press. Det är en otroligt välskriven berättelse om de svårigheter och det lidande dessa pojkar utsattes för – både genom skolpersonal, lärare och rektorer, men också genom sina egna föräldrar.

Amazing heartbreaking and utterly sad reading. Forgiving is healing.