Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me the chance to read and review this book.

The author writes very openly and honestly about the abuse he suffered from many of his family members, some of whom are meant to love and shelter him. In this case, as I'm sure in many cases, this is happening to millions of children with catastrophic effects in later life!

A very brave and honest book which must have been difficult to write at times but this must be a kind of therapy in itself. Explicit and horrifying details which the reader must expect from the description of this book.

Thank you to Larry L. Franklin for writing this book and hope it gives him some closure.

Victims Make the Best Birdhouses
by Larry L. Franklin
Pub Date 02 May 2022
Independently Published
Biographies & Memoirs | Nonfiction (Adult)
I am reviewing a copy of Victims Make the Best Birdhouses through the author, Larry, L, Franklin,and Netgalley:
Disclaimer the review below, deals with the subjects of physical and sexual abuse in childhood, if you don't feel ready to read this, I completely understand.

Lee Franklin believed he should had known on that Summer Day in 1950, that the situation he had lived in was anything but normal. But he was the youngest and smallest of four boys, in a place where the unmistakable was passed off as normal. In 1992, a conversation with his Mother, when he turned fifty opened the door to repressed memories of physical and sexual abuse. The worst left him hugging the bathroom stool throughout the night. As his mind began to crumble, a piece here, a piece there, he learned that the trips to the barn were far from normal. Separating fact from fiction was like finding a gnat in the forest.
Victims Make the Best Birdhouses in one man's journey from victim to survivor.
I give Victims Make the Best Birdhouses four out of five stars!
Happy Reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is such a powerful story of how repressed memories can affect ones life. The memories the author unearths in therapy are horrific. The author has terrifying dreams and visualizations during meditation that his therapist helps him to work through. This book is told with honesty and reflection.

“Victims make the best bird houses, “we need Larry Franklin a family man with a long marriage and two daughters who he loves. He barely remembered his own father due to him and his older brother been killed in a car accident when he was seven. So at 50 when his mom makes the offhanded comment that his father didn’t love him and his brother used to beat him and bother him at night Larry’s whole life image was shook and it would take him on a 23 year voyage of discovery. I couldn’t imagine being Mr. Franklin his mom seemed cold and I’m feeling it clearly his dad and brother were disturbed, but that didn’t stop him from being a great father and the best husband he could despite it this is a really interesting if not disturbing story about child abuse and healing. Kudos to Lowry Franklin for continuing to try and coming to a place of peace. I highly recommend this book if you have gone through the same or something similar or just want to be inspired you should really read this book. Although it has some triggers it is worth getting to the end. I received the spot from NetGalleyShelf in the author but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.

It is a gut-wrenching, powerful tale of dealing with abuse and how it impacts our minds. Larry L. Franklin delivered a raw, honest memoir about the abuse he faced at the hands of everyone in his family. I applaud him for his vulnerability and courage to share his story. My one suggestion is to put a more detailed trigger warning at the beginning of the book. Although I knew what the book was about, I didn't expect such explicit visuals/details. There's nothing wrong with that level of honesty, but I think a more in-depth trigger warning would help.

Larry Franklin is helping his mother after her eye surgery when she lets some secrets spill... Larry's dad didn't care about him one bit or love him and Larry's older brother, Keith, used to beat him.
What Larry couldn't remember about his childhood suddenly comes rushing back and with the help of a therapist and his wife, he is able to tackle those horrible memories and learn about who he used to be and what he repressed.

First off, I am applauding Mr. Franklin for stepping up and telling his story. Stories like these are what can help give men their voices to feel that it's okay to speak out about sexual abuse and rape. Secondly, Mr. Franklin is a strong man to be able to write about his time looking into his repressed memories and telling what he found. This book is not easy to read, not because of the writing but because of what he talks about. He's detailed and the reader will feel his pain and his hurt in learning what happened to him.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.