Review: Diane: True Survivor by Ward V.B. Lassoe

A visceral and intensely personal memoir about trauma, resilience, forgiveness, and grace, Diane: True Survivor as told to Ward V.B. Lassoe is a portrait of heartbreaking fortitude.

Drawing readers through the tangled movements of Diane’s repeatedly fractured life, this is a vivid account of one woman’s determination to transcend the past, even with all the odds set against her. A detailed and thoroughly unflinching story, this dictated memoir looks at the situations forced upon her, poor choices she made and regretted, and moments of moral clarity that likely saved her life and any hope for a future.

Beginning with a blissfully ignorant period of early childhood in a pastoral orphanage outside London, Diane details the gut-wrenching day when her biological mother reappeared to claim and uproot her to America. That first series of shocking revelations is enough to shatter the fragile emotions of any young person, but Diane’s memories of her next chapter of childhood are inseparable from the vicious abuse and neglect at the hands of her mother and stepfather. In the gritty swirl of Diane’s life, the story veers from running away to the streets, substance abuse, prostitution, and the perennial threat of harm that always seems to trail her.

While she was caught up in the world of teenage motherhood, Diane suffered sporadic abandonments by the father of her first child, and the looming threat of losing custody of her children, but her enduring spirit prevailed time and time again. Diane gradually fought her way to independence and stability, eventually opening her life to other orphaned children in search of their forever home. This is a gripping story of vicious cycles and second chances, filled with lessons about recognizing intergenerational trauma and vigorously working to end it.

The writing flows with emotion – the many separations, betrayals, and heartaches that Diane experienced over the years can only build up to a remarkable weight. Whether it’s the pain of being ripped away from a loving home in England, the overwhelming confusion of American race relations, or the unforgivable treatment she suffered at the hands of her guardians, Lassoe captures the depth of Diane’s feelings and struggles. There is also an unpolished sincerity to the storytelling, as though the author is experiencing revelations in real time, right along with the readers, such as the story of Diane accidentally spying on an inappropriate sexual act shortly after arriving in America.

The compassion of the author is apparent in every page, and his fortuitous friendship with Diane imbues the prose with an extra layer of intimacy and honesty. He has crafted over a dozen hours of interviews and years of connection into a compelling tale of one woman overcoming extreme hardship as if they were thrown together by serendipity, giving the narrative yet another layer meaning and import. In an increasingly disconnected and mistrustful world, this book is a powerful reminder that community comes in unexpected shapes and sizes.

Benefitting from the authentic pace and passion of Diane’s dictation, as well as masterful story weaving from Lassoe, this is a tremendous memoir like few others.