In January of 2015, Chanel Miller’s life was changed when she was sexually assaulted at a Stanford Party. 

  After battling her rapist, Brock Turner, in court for over a year, he was eventually found guilty on all three felony counts: assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated or unconscious person, penetration of an intoxicated person and penetration of an unconscious person. However, for all the pain he caused Miller, known as Emily Doe in court, and her family, Turner was only sentenced to jail for 6 months. 

  When Miller’s victim statement was posted on BuzzFeed on June 3rd, 2016, it gained millions and millions of views, creating an unbreakable support force. 

  Protests erupted around the world, calling for the judge of the case, Aaron Perksy, to be recalled in 2018. Despite Miller receiving some form of justice with this recall, it did not erase any of the breakdowns, panic attacks, and sleepless nights she experienced during and still after the trial. 

  Miller wrote a memoir recounting these traumatic events, and it was published in the fall of 2019. With a rating of 4.72 on Goodreads, it’s very clear that readers appreciate her story. 

  Having finished the memoir last night, I can definitely relate to the praise surrounding it. The vivid writing, rage that was palpable from each page, and Miller’s growth is what made this novel so incredible. 

Beautiful Prose

  Even though the topic matter is very upsetting and difficult to read, Miller writes with great emotion and beauty.    Some quotes that really express her ability to articulate these heart wrenching feelings include “When I listened to her, I understood: You have to hold out to see how your life unfolds, because it is most likely beyond what you can imagine. It is not a question of if you will survive this, but what beautiful things await you when you do. I had to believe her, because she was living proof. Then she said, Good and bad things come from the universe holding hands. Wait for the good to come.” and “You have to hold out to see how your life unfolds, because it is most likely beyond what you can imagine. It is not a question of if you will survive this, but what beautiful things await you when you do.” 

Angry Tone

  While reading the novel, I sometimes had to put it down, due to the anger and sadness Miller evoked from me. I knew the book would be difficult, but I did not expect Miller to be able to tug at my emotions so harshly. 

  Some quotes that specifically deliver her rage are “When a woman is assaulted, one of the first questions people ask is, Did you say no? This question assumes that the answer was always yes, and that it is her job to revoke the agreement. To defuse the bomb she was given. But why are they allowed to touch us until we physically fight them off? Why is the door open until we have to slam it shut?” and “My advice is, if he’s worried about his reputation, don’t rape anyone.” 

  Miller brings awareness to how hard it is for victims during their trial. With the defense attorney making it seem like the rape was their fault, the distress of waiting for hearings, and having to relive their worst nightmare, it certainly is not easy to do. 

  I appreciate that Miller included that all these reasons are why many victims don’t go to court, and it’s not just because they are scared or don’t want justice. 

 Growth

  Throughout the memoir, I could tell how much Miller grew from the night she was raped to now. 

  She had a strong support system with her family, boyfriend, and friends, but most of her recovery was achieved by herself.  Miller writes at the end of the book “I survived because I remained soft, because I listened, because I wrote. Because I huddled close to my truth, protected it like a tiny flame in a terrible storm. Hold up your head when the tears come, when you are mocked, insulted, questioned, threatened, when they tell you you are nothing, when your body is reduced to openings. The journey will be longer than you imagined, trauma will find you again and again. Do not become the ones who hurt you. Stay tender with your power. Never fight to injure, fight to uplift. Fight because you know that in this life, you deserve safety, joy, and freedom. Fight because it is your life. Not anyone else’s. I did it, I am here. Looking back, all the ones who doubted or hurt or nearly conquered me faded away, and I am the only one standing. So now, the time has come. I dust myself off, and go on.” This viewpoint was not present from the start, and it took a lot of work from Miller to get there.

Why it is a must read

  If all the reasons above didn’t convince you to read Know My Name, then you should read it to educate yourself. Rape culture has painted sexual assults to often be partly the victims fault, which it never is. The memoir helps to debunk false information about both sexual assault and court proceedings for a sexual assault case, something the mainstream news fail to do. 

  Even if you read one book a year, have that book be Know My Name by Chanel Miller. ​​It will stick with you for a long time.