Out of the Fire and into the Pan: Sequel to the Blood on my Hands
by Shannon O’Leary
Available from Amazon
Shannon O’Leary (a pseudonym) is a prolific writer and performer. Her first book The Blood on My Hands told the story of her traumatic and violent childhood in the 1960s and 70s Australia. This sequel, Out of the Fire and into the Pan, explains to the reader how she progressed into the adult world while coming to terms with her terrifying past. It is a story of personal growth and of how O’Leary navigates her transition into adulthood, while seeking out the social norms and finding her place in the world. Out of the Fire and into the Pan takes the reader on a personal journey where Shannon questions herself, her past, her choice of relationships and her place in the world. It is a story of resilience, accomplishment and personal triumph.
Readers will quickly become engrossed as they follow the author’s life after the tragic circumstances forced upon her asa child and on to the life she made for herself as a survivor.
MY REVIEW
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the sequel to The Blood on my Hands and is a true story told by the author.
In book 1 we followed Shannon through a traumatic childhood filled with horrendous abuse at the hands of an evil father with a severe personality disorder. The strong bond with her mother is what kept the pair of them struggling on.
Shannon is 15 at the start of this book and has returned to Sydney to pick up the pieces of her life. Her father still continues to torment her but she is determined to have a life.
Shannon goes from one bad relationship to another before meeting David. Life starts to settle down and their family grows. Both are involved in the entertainment industry and set up their own company. However David turns to drugs and she finds herself once again living in fear with an unpredictable man prone to erratic behaviour. Like her mother before her Shannon is tied by her chiildren and struggles on.
This is another very difficult read and I am in awe of Shannon and her strength as she manages to survive and keep her children safe.
Another very eye opening read.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services and the author for the digital copy of this book. This is my unbiased review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
