Review of The Parrot's Perch

[Kigen Valarie]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Parrot's Perch" by Karen Keilt.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Karen Keilt had what most would consider a perfect childhood from the outside, yet only she alone knew what truly lay underneath. She grew up and got married to Rick, a man she truly fell in love with, in a fairy tale wedding. Life seemed perfect as they settled in until one fateful morning they were woken up in a rush and accused of a crime they knew nothing about. Their pleas fell on deaf ears, and as they were hauled to the cells, they had no idea what lay ahead. Were they going to survive this storm, or was this just a sign of more to come?

The Parrot's Perch is Karen Keilt's memoir telling of the storms she's had to weather. This story begins as she narrates her childhood life to the investigator of the Brazilian National Truth Commission, Ms. Mendozza. Karen hopes that this story will help change whatever is happening in Brazil: corruption.

Karen's story is not just about a single issue. As she starts from her home, you can see the authority her father held. As her mother was abused several times, she was unable to leave and was always there to protect Karen and her brother Chris. We also see betrayal, mistrust, fear, trauma, and lost dreams.

The nature of the interview helps understand Karen's past, which sets the stage for a future. Every event is significant in understanding future actions or what she narrates later in the book. She passes subtle messages to the reader about some of the things she adored in her life without necessarily telling them to the interviewer. The book is in four sections, each telling the entirety of her experiences in a particular phase of her life.

The depth of Karen's words and experiences is so profound that it is difficult to avoid tears. She explains in detail what happened to her in the hands of the police. I am glad that she did not hold anything back, as her story holds great potential to curb such inhumanity and help others open up about whatever they have faced in life, be it similar to what Karen faced or under different circumstances.

I listened to the audiobook and also read the book on Kindle. The audiobook, narrated by Teri Clark Linden, is of good quality and has a calm yet expressive narration style. Her performance of different characters adds a touch of familiarity. I did not come across any errors in the Kindle version either, a testament to the meticulous editing. I found no negative aspects while going through this book; thus, I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

However, after reading the Kindle version and listening to the audiobook, I have one recommendation. While the acknowledgments are usually not included in the audiobook, I would recommend adding them for this particular book. I learned a lot by reading it. An example is Karen's view of different characters, including Rick. The audiobook listeners will miss this part of the memoir if it is not included.

The Parrot's Perch by Karen Keilt needs to be read by everyone. It's not only for memoir readers but also for policymakers and human rights advocates alike. Everyone needs to be aware of what is happening both in the Brazilian government and what happens in the hands of the police and military. Most of the time, people tend to settle in situations simply because they are afraid of what might become of them if they decide to pull out of such situations. Karen's story will be a game changer for such individuals. She is the epitome of a strong and relentless woman.

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The Parrot's Perch
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[Kibet Hillary]

It is the strong and relentless who have always changed the course of history, and it is my hope that Karen's story will lead to the improvement of the situation. Just telling the story is a huge leap, as I am sure readers will find it useful in the fight against corruption, bad governance and injustice in general. Thank you for the review, @Kigen Valarie.

[Yasmine ZM]

The author Karen Keilt is very brave to be sharing her story knowing that she is blowing the whistle on the Police and the Government. The review mentions that the author "...passes subtle messages to the reader about some of the things she adored in her life without necessarily telling them to the interviewer". I am definitely intrigued and I am planning on reading this book.