Chelsea Bieker's 6 favorite books dramatizing domestic violence's impact
The novelist recommends works by Anna Quindlen, Anita Shreve, and more
When you make a purchase using links on our site, The Week may earn a commission. All reviews are written independently by our editorial team.
In Chelsea Bieker's new novel, "Madwoman," a married mother of two fears her secret past could be exposed when she's asked to testify about a traumatic childhood event. Below, the author recommends other books that dramatize domestic violence's impact.
'Animal' by Lisa Taddeo (2021)
The unforgettable lines "I am depraved. I hope you like me" resound as Joan leaves New York City on the heels of her boss's suicide in search of the one person who holds a key to her past. What has driven her to this desperate moment? As the narrative narrows in on the truth, the reader can't help but better understand the subtle and unsubtle ways patriarchy and violence come between women. Buy it here
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'Black and Blue' by Anna Quindlen (1998)
What happens when your abuser is a well-respected police officer in your community? Quindlen's third novel shows readers how far mothers will go to create a new life for themselves and the children they love, detailing what it takes to escape and break the cycle of abuse. Buy it here
'Sleeping With the Enemy' by Nancy Price (1987)
The Julia Roberts–starring movie adaptation was my first encounter with this story, but I love the novel just as much. We go deep into the psychology of the young protagonist as she fakes her death to escape her abusive husband. The story is one of the first narratives of domestic violence I ever encountered, and I believe it changed my life. Buy it here
'Memorial Drive' by Natasha Trethewey (2020)
In one of the most stunning, brutal, and beautiful memoirs I've read, Trethewey confronts her mother's 1985 murder by her stepfather. The book is a gorgeously rendered depiction of the generational impact of domestic abuse, racism, and how male violence interrupts the mother-daughter connection. Buy it here
'Strange Fits of Passion' by Anita Shreve (1991)
An escape story with a wildly inventive structure, this novel tracks the dissolution of the marriage of two New York City journalists who seemed to have a perfect life. It perfectly illustrates how long-reaching the effects of domestic violence can be. Buy it here
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
'No Visible Bruises' by Rachel Louise Snyder (2019)
I believe our world would be changed if everyone read Snyder's study of domestic abuse. Writing with a journalist's keen eye and a novelist's knack for story, she exposes the nuances of the often invisible war that so many endure daily in their own homes. Buy it here
This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'We need to be honest about the FBI and its ability to prevent these tragedies'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Johnson pulls spending bill amid GOP revolt
Speed Read House Speaker Mike Johnson called off a planned vote on a stopgap spending package as odds of government shutdown increase
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The Real Thing: Stoppard revival is 'witty' and 'wise'
The Week Recommends James McArdle is 'sensational' in Max Webster's production at the Old Vic
By The Week UK Published
-
The Real Thing: Stoppard revival is 'witty' and 'wise'
The Week Recommends James McArdle is 'sensational' in Max Webster's production at the Old Vic
By The Week UK Published
-
Firebrand: Jude Law is 'gloriously disgusting' in Tudor drama
The Week Recommends 'Vividly constructed' film looks at the life of Henry VIII's sixth wife, Katherine Parr
By The Week UK Published
-
A Voyage Around the Queen: 'gloriously bizarre' royal biography
The Week Recommends Craig Brown's book paints a 'vivid and remarkably telling' picture of the late monarch
By The Week UK Published
-
The Perfect Couple: glossy Netflix murder-mystery starring Nicole Kidman
The Week Recommends However hard you try to resist it, 'you will want to know the who, what, where and why-dunit'
By The Week UK Published
-
Chicken with Steph's spice
The Week Recommends This Caribbean-inspired recipe is mouthwateringly delicious
By The Week UK Published
-
A peaceful seaside village in Turkey
The Week Recommends Çıralı has been spared the 'scourge' of all-inclusive resort development
By The Week UK Published
-
Peter Kennard: Archive of Dissent – 'striking' political photomontages
The Week Recommends Whitechapel Gallery retrospective showcases half-a-century of the British artist's 'powerful' political works
By The Week UK Published
-
Jay Rayner shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The journalist and food critic picks works by Nora Ephron, Fliss Freeborn and more
By The Week UK Published