Helena Dea Bala

I’ve always been a huge fan of the “Post Secret” website and book collection, and this book reminded me so much of that, yet it also brought a deeper sense of commiseration for me as a reader.⁣
Unlike the brief secrets that are mailed in, the author collected her stories after placing an ad on Craigslist, first receiving them by email and then bravely meeting the subjects in person. Over time, she realizes that she has become a sort of therapist for these strangers, and she can often see the weight being lifted from them after they have unburdened themselves. ⁣
While there are some positive stories within, many of these confessions deal with heavy subject matter including abuse, rape, SIDS, homophobia and bigotry, so a trigger warning is in effect for those readers who are sensitive to these topics. My heart often broke for many of the people Helena talks with, and I commend them for their strength in speaking their truth. I saw myself in a certain number of these strangers, and it was reassuring to know that I am not alone in my feelings or experiences. ⁣
I enjoyed the way the book was set up, as it felt like you were sitting across from these people just like the author was. Helena makes it a point to transcribe the conversation exactly as it was told to her, so that it came across as real as it is. As disturbing as some of these confessions were, I do hope the author has more material for a second installment.… (altro)

Audiobook - 5 stars available on Scribd.

Story - ???

I am going to leave this unrated. I don't even know how i feel about these stories, they are depressing AF. Damn! i felt like i was reading someone's deepest, diary secrets without the juicy parts. It has all the trigger warnings, the problem is that, it is not fiction. I can take all of them in fiction when i know there will be a resolution somehow.

I kinda want the author to do a follow up with these guys, i want to know more about some of them, did they find peace? what happened to their families? did they find happiness? did they leave?

Anyhoo, it was depressing.… (altro)

"[This] is a project about hearing and seeing what others don't - about pulling back the curtain that separates our secretive inner lives from our perfectly curated outer lives. My 'job' is to listen when no one else will. I do it for free - and completely anonymously."

Helena Dea Bala was a law school graduate in an unfulfilling job as a lobbyist when she had a conversation with a homeless man. Listening to his story gave her a sense of connection she was lacking in her work and inspired her to post on Craigslist offering to listen to people's secrets anonymously, garnering an enormous response.

The 40 confessionals in this book are grouped into four themes - Love, Regret, Identity, and Family - and run the gamut from devastating and salacious to shocking and heartwarming. I read about a soldier returning from war, a college student who became a call girl, a mother with a sick daughter, and a man trying to hide his sex addiction from his wife and immigrants trying to achieve the American dream. I laughed and teared up. I got angry and was inspired. I reconsidered my views and counted my blessings. And when the book was done, I wanted more. Dea Bala reminds us of something we all know but don't always practice - everyone has a story and there are lessons we can learn from each one.… (altro)