When I finished reading Eggshell Skull, it was much to the relief of my partner, who was concerned about how affected I was – this is the power of Bri Lee’s writing. He noticed a change in my demeanour to the point where he suggested I stopped reading it at one point. Bri Lee describes in painful detail the injustices of our justice system, and it made me so mad reading it. It made me realise the naïvety with which I held the justice system to high regard. Sure, I’ve heard of loopholes, but as a non-legal person, I just had no idea how flawed and malleable legal proceedings can so easily be.
I must say that I do have a warning for potential readers of this book. If you are a man or woman who has been on the receiving end of sexual harassment, assault, abuse, or rape, this can be a very confronting read. It’s a difficult read even for those unaffected, so I can only imagine how re-traumatising this book might be for someone who has had a previous history. It may also be difficult for those who have suffered from eating disorders, deliberate self harm, or depression.
Some of the contents of the book were extremely disturbing. Not only does Bri Lee expose cracks in the legal system, she writes in great detail of the impact that sexual assault has had on her self-esteem and body image, which were heartbreaking to read. It is with great bravery and candour that Bri Lee describes what is a very personal account of her experience as a complainant in a sexual assault case. She was oftentimes pushed back, but her determination for justice was inspiring. The book arrived with timeliness along with the increasing growth of the #MeToo movement.
As I approached the final few chapters of the book, I couldn’t put it down. Earlier this month, Eggshell Skull deservedly won the Australian Book Industry Awards’ Biography Book of the Year 2019. I eagerly anticipate Bri Lee’s second book!
Miko
A great read and I agree, a really eyeopener from a writer who has been on both sides of the legal equation. As someone who is going through my own case of historical sexual assault, having read the book last year has helped prepare me for what’s ahead. I was contacted by a police detective out of the blue because a complainant named me as another possible victim. It was something in my past that I had thought was maybe best left there. One of my reasons for proceeding with charges was because of wanting to stand in solidarity with her (who I don’t know personally). If I hadn’t read the book before I may not have had the courage.
I’m really sorry to hear about your past. I know that legal proceedings come at a huge emotional cost to people, so I hope you are doing okay. Good on you for supporting the other complainant. I wish you both a successful outcome, and I’m so glad to hear that the book provided you with the bravery to pursue this. Much love to you, Miko xx