I Promise Not To Tell by Brenda Weber Search Amazon for other books by or about Brenda Weber. Rating: Reviewed by: Kevin Bouchard

I Promise Not To Tell, by Brenda Weber, is a deeply emotional autobiographical work which deals with some of the worlds most explicit taboo subjects such as child abuse, sexual assault, rape, drug abuse, death, alcoholism, suicide, and child neglect. It is even more amazing that this book is an evolving story of a woman coming to grips with the past she is unable to control, yet determined to correct the future for a better life.

The author describes herself as, "…an invisible child-seldom seen, never heard. As an adult, I can either make the invisible child visible, or send her entity into the realm of nonexistence forever. The little girl that haunts my life, by wandering aimlessly through my thoughts, is wearily searching for her own peaceful niche. She will continue to haunt me, unless I make an adult decision to reveal the secrets I promised not to tell- and live with the memories than have been silently waiting for justification."

However as the reader becomes involved with each equally troubling period in the authors life, hope penetrates even the most difficult of times. The author's optimistic attitude as a survivor makes the authors life a constant struggle between forward progress and eventual relapse. As a result, the reader becomes tangled with the cycle of abuse from both men and woman, yet the traditional roles of the victim and aggressor and may not appear to be what they seem.

The writing of the book I Promise Not To Tell is clearly an exercise the author used to come to grips with the reality which is her life. Weber writes, "I choose to be brutally honest, not only for healing purposes, but to encourage you to be strong enough to tell. The truth only hurts when we keep it inside and allow it to be our torturous demise."

This book forces the reader to experience the hardship and struggle that has become the author's entire life. This is by no means an easy book to read due to the sometimes graphic language, vivid description and adult topics. The writing is short winded and to the point, with thirty-eight small chapters introducing the next period in her life. Nevertheless, it is no doubt that other readers with similar issues of abuse may find this book a good reference to parallel some of their own hidden secrets.