I evidently surprised my teacher when I told her I would be reading When Rabbit Howls by the Troops for Truddi Chase. She thought it curious that someone my age was reading "such a book". She said she had read Sybil.
So here is my conclusive answer and questions I have to turn in. To be honest, I am proud of myself for answering the questions so well given they way they were asked.
Below...
Reader’s Response to When Rabbit Howls by The Troops for Truddi Chase
1. Would you read another book by this same author? Explain why or why not.
If given the opportunity, I would read another book written by the Troops for Truddi Chase. It is however, important for any reader of this book to understand that the authorship belongs to the selves of Truddi Chase, and because of this, the book may prove difficult to read. Their writing style is unique not only because it is written from the perspective of those living in the world of multiple personality disorder but because the authors themselves bring incredible, personal insight into what the daily life of a multiple reflects. They each have something special to offer to their readers and if they do indeed publish future works I would be interested to see how it is presented.
2. Give a clear explanation of the book’s title.
The title of the book When Rabbit Howls offers a distinct look into why the book was written. As a child the selves of Truddi Chase endured horrendous sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. The abuse began when the first self was three and continued on into her teenage years. Truddi Chase disassociated into separate selves as a way to cope with the hideous things that were happening to her. Some of the selves evolved into individuals that remain with Truddi Chase to this day. Miss Wonderful is the perfectionist self. Elvira loves to party and take risks. Mean Joe is the strong, tall, protector of the others. Nails is able to take an incredible amount of emotions and hold them. Ten-Four and Lady Catherine are both witty, sophisticated businesswomen. Then among the others is Rabbit.
Rabbit is a young child that suffered significant sexual abuse. Rabbit is the self that never fully evolved. Rabbit only screams and cries in pain. The book revolves around the life and therapy of the Troops and the relationship each member forms with their therapist known Dr. Robert A. Phillips Jr. (known to the Troop members as “Stanley”). Of all the people living in Truddi Chase one grabs the attention of the reader. When rabbit howls, the reader knows that not only are the selves being revealed but also the pain associated with the abuse is being explored and finally dealt with.
3. Explain the central conflict faced by the book’s main character(s).
The central conflict in When Rabbit Howls is not simply defined. Because of the complexity of the Troops, it is difficult for the reader to identify the one problem or one area that needs improvement. Unfortunately this book does not present conflicts in a simple way. There are many conflicts, even central conflicts that the main characters face. The one that seems to be most difficult for the Troops to resolve is finding an effective way to cope with the effects of the trauma they have experienced throughout their lives.
4. How is the conflicted resolved by the book’s conclusion?
To many who read When Rabbit Howls it would seem as though the conflict is not resolved because even at the end of the book the Troops still exist (and still do exist) for Truddi Chase. In Sybil (by Flora Rheta Schreiber), a book that is similar in subject matter and therefore often compared to When Rabbit Howls, the selves eventually combine to help Sybil function as one. This does not happen in When Rabbit Howls. Instead the therapist, who becomes an essential to the healing of the Troops, encourages that she embrace each of the personalities and find out what their purposes are. Each personality has their own memories, desires, talents, thoughts...and are viewed throughout the book as separate beings, and because of this; the idea that they will be connected is not hopeful. When Rabbit Howls does bring a different kind hope to its readers. It brings a comfort simply in being a direct, honest look into multiple personality disorder, a subject that is often neglected in the literary world due to its complications.
5. State an important life lesson (theme) that this book teaches
In this book, the Troops for Truddi Chase teach many valuable lessons. Each self brings a different message to the reader because each self has a different reason for existance. The overall message is clear and runs parallel with the timeless cliché "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." That holds true for this book. When Rabbit Howls also shows clearly that people do unique things to survive traumatic situations, and survival should be respected regardless of how misunderstood or eccentric it may seem. It is important to avoid labeling the Troops as evidence of mental illness, but instead viewing them as important evidence of survival.
1. Would you read another book by this same author? Explain why or why not.
If given the opportunity, I would read another book written by the Troops for Truddi Chase. It is however, important for any reader of this book to understand that the authorship belongs to the selves of Truddi Chase, and because of this, the book may prove difficult to read. Their writing style is unique not only because it is written from the perspective of those living in the world of multiple personality disorder but because the authors themselves bring incredible, personal insight into what the daily life of a multiple reflects. They each have something special to offer to their readers and if they do indeed publish future works I would be interested to see how it is presented.
2. Give a clear explanation of the book’s title.
The title of the book When Rabbit Howls offers a distinct look into why the book was written. As a child the selves of Truddi Chase endured horrendous sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. The abuse began when the first self was three and continued on into her teenage years. Truddi Chase disassociated into separate selves as a way to cope with the hideous things that were happening to her. Some of the selves evolved into individuals that remain with Truddi Chase to this day. Miss Wonderful is the perfectionist self. Elvira loves to party and take risks. Mean Joe is the strong, tall, protector of the others. Nails is able to take an incredible amount of emotions and hold them. Ten-Four and Lady Catherine are both witty, sophisticated businesswomen. Then among the others is Rabbit.
Rabbit is a young child that suffered significant sexual abuse. Rabbit is the self that never fully evolved. Rabbit only screams and cries in pain. The book revolves around the life and therapy of the Troops and the relationship each member forms with their therapist known Dr. Robert A. Phillips Jr. (known to the Troop members as “Stanley”). Of all the people living in Truddi Chase one grabs the attention of the reader. When rabbit howls, the reader knows that not only are the selves being revealed but also the pain associated with the abuse is being explored and finally dealt with.
3. Explain the central conflict faced by the book’s main character(s).
The central conflict in When Rabbit Howls is not simply defined. Because of the complexity of the Troops, it is difficult for the reader to identify the one problem or one area that needs improvement. Unfortunately this book does not present conflicts in a simple way. There are many conflicts, even central conflicts that the main characters face. The one that seems to be most difficult for the Troops to resolve is finding an effective way to cope with the effects of the trauma they have experienced throughout their lives.
4. How is the conflicted resolved by the book’s conclusion?
To many who read When Rabbit Howls it would seem as though the conflict is not resolved because even at the end of the book the Troops still exist (and still do exist) for Truddi Chase. In Sybil (by Flora Rheta Schreiber), a book that is similar in subject matter and therefore often compared to When Rabbit Howls, the selves eventually combine to help Sybil function as one. This does not happen in When Rabbit Howls. Instead the therapist, who becomes an essential to the healing of the Troops, encourages that she embrace each of the personalities and find out what their purposes are. Each personality has their own memories, desires, talents, thoughts...and are viewed throughout the book as separate beings, and because of this; the idea that they will be connected is not hopeful. When Rabbit Howls does bring a different kind hope to its readers. It brings a comfort simply in being a direct, honest look into multiple personality disorder, a subject that is often neglected in the literary world due to its complications.
5. State an important life lesson (theme) that this book teaches
In this book, the Troops for Truddi Chase teach many valuable lessons. Each self brings a different message to the reader because each self has a different reason for existance. The overall message is clear and runs parallel with the timeless cliché "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." That holds true for this book. When Rabbit Howls also shows clearly that people do unique things to survive traumatic situations, and survival should be respected regardless of how misunderstood or eccentric it may seem. It is important to avoid labeling the Troops as evidence of mental illness, but instead viewing them as important evidence of survival.
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