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The Taste of Anger: A Memoir

Description:

“I’ll kill the first person who comes through this door.” My father grips a baseball bat in his meaty hands.

It is 1962 and Diane is three years old when her violent father moves their family—her, her pregnant mother, and her six siblings—to a remote farm in Upstate New York. There, she grabs the reader by the hand and takes them to the broken-down barns, barren fields, and rows of bunk beds in her rat-infested attic bedroom as she questions all that feels wrong about her new world. She watches her ever-pregnant mother grow emotionally colder with each new baby and wonders,
Where is she when he swings his fists, his steel-toed boot, or a crowbar? Forced to perform adult manual labor in between the erratic beatings she and her siblings pound on one another to release their own aggressions, she asks herself, Is this what we’ve become? What I’ve become?

Narrated in the ever-hopeful voice of a child,
The Taste of Anger explores in raw, unflinching detail how years of isolation, oppression, and the threat of retaliation create an environment in which family secrets are guarded at all costs. Tension is palpable with the turning of each page, ensuring that the reader won’t let go of Diane’s hand until she gets an answer to her most urgent question of all: Who will rescue us?


Editorial Reviews

Review

“Powerful and gripping, The Taste of Anger is like a car wreck you can’t look away from. The narrative opens with a tension that doesn’t subside until the very last paragraph. This is a distinct and original work that refreshingly offers a straight narrative without excuse or analysis.”
—The BookLife Prize

“This is a memoir with a brilliant narrative, studded with a host of images that will remain with me for a long time. . . . there is the indomitableness of the spirit.”
—Clem Cairns, founder of Fish Publishing

About the Author

Diane Vonglis Parnell grew up on a remote farm in Western New York with nine siblings. Her essay Blame the Milkman was a winner in the Fish Publishing short memoir contest, and included in the Fish Anthology 2022. Vonglis Parnell is a Scrabble enthusiast and a lover of progressive rock music. She serves as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer for abused children in her community and lives a minimalist’s life in a 200-square-foot cottage in San Luis Obispo, California.

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!

J.R. · March 31, 2025

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } I am blown away by the author’s strength and her brilliant writing of her experience. The way the book was written from the POV of her as a child really allows the reader to understand the complex emotions and family dynamics that come with childhood abuse. Highly recommend this book! Once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down.

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning memoir!

J.B. · November 8, 2024

I consumed this book in just two days, or should I say it consumed me! Even when I set it down, it lingered in my mind.Parnell's writing is nothing short of captivating. With unflinching honesty she draws readers into the intense and harrowing landscape of her childhood. Her prose is raw yet beautifully crafted, creating a powerful sense of immediacy and emotional depth, as she brings to life a childhood wrought with fear and the constant tension of walking on eggshells. This makes the reader feel as though they are standing right alongside this little girl experiencing her fear and turmoil in real time.This book sheds a stark light on the devastating realities of child abuse. As such, It compels readers to identify its warning signs and take proactive steps to break the cycle.I’m eager to read the next part of Diane's memoir in hopes that she will continue to share her journey and reveal how the rest of her life unfolds.Thank you, Diane for sharing such a candid and powerful account of your life, one that grips the heart and leaves a lasting impact.

5.0 out of 5 stars Equal parts brutal and beautiful

D. · June 28, 2024

This stunning debut memoir offers the reader a direct and nuanced experience of abuse and its multitude of impacts.The Taste of Anger by Diane Vonglis Parnell vividly recounts the 12 year period from 1962 to 1974 in which she, her nine siblings, and her ever-pregnant mother were trapped on an isolated farm in East Avon, New York under the tyranny of her abusive father.Vonglis Parnell writes in a detailed present-tense, cinematic style that drops the reader into every scene with full impact. It is far different to merely hear stories of abuse than to live it every day, and the magic of this memoir is that we aren’t simply told Diane’s story, we live it with her. When she trudges through the snow, it is our boots that make the “crunch, crunch”. When she gets angry, it is our eyes that show a “fury…like flames, licking the blue right off [our] eyeballs”. And when the world goes into slow-motion before Diane suffers a beating, we see every image and feel every emotion along with her. Never in the memoir does Vonglis Parnell attempt to solicit sympathy for her circumstance, but the result of such honest narration is that we come away with a much more tangible empathy.“Hurt doesn’t get me anywhere. Hurt just hurts. Anger, I decide, is better. Anger is power.”In a genre where many memoirs preach ‘overcoming’ or the power of positive thinking, The Taste of Anger refreshingly renders an altogether different reality: survive, by any means necessary. The way the siblings of 2727 Swamp Road survive isn’t pretty: they bicker and backstab, sling curses and insults, and even gang on up the littler kids to take the blame (and beatings). However, punctuating the rivalry are moments of heartwarming camaraderie: holding hands while watching a blimp fly over, or singing together around the record player when their father isn’t around. Vonglis Parnell masterfully depicts these children of abuse, not as heroic survivors, but in all their flawed humanity. And therein lies the important and unique message for abuse survivors: your anger is valid, your scars never completely disappear. And that’s okay.

5.0 out of 5 stars If it doesn't feel or look right, it probably isn't! Save a child!

K.A.M. · April 11, 2025

This is a troubling and sad memoir of child abuse by the hands of a father. Although a tough read, this memoir is SO WELL WRITTEN. I felt tears fall from my face and my heart breaking throughout every chapter. As a mother, I was tormented with the feeling of helplessness. I wanted to be able to turn back the clock and rescue each and every one of them from the evil they endured and replace it with the love and compassion they so desperately deserved. Compelling story. Wow! My heart is still in my belly.

5.0 out of 5 stars Page turner

S. · January 15, 2025

I love memoirs where the author's childhood experiences, sibling relationships and young life are captured in such detail. Diane's writing is wonderful and engrossing. I would love to see a sequel someday.

5.0 out of 5 stars Childhood Strength, Courage and Perseverance

A.G. · March 15, 2025

So very well written.A moving memoir, written in the full context of the hand dealt at birth, and demonstrating the strength, courage and perseverance to survive a childhood marred by abuse and the dysfunction of a patriarch. I am moved and humbled to know your story, Diane.

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read

J. · July 4, 2024

This book was a very quick read, mainly due to the author's compelling narrative and good writing. It was hard to put down. The story is eye opening about child abuse that is right in front of us, and the silence that young children live with in total fear of more abuse. It lingers with you long after finishing the book.

5.0 out of 5 stars vivid description from child's point of view

A.C. · July 4, 2024

Many reviews speak of how this book, The Taste of Anger, by Diane Vonglis Parnell, vividly presents from a child’s point of view the despair and fear that consumes someone growing up trapped in a home with a mentally AND physically abusive parent. I suggest it speaks to a larger audience, as it details life on a small family farm, a subject that I find unrealistically romanticized and underappreciated by a large portion of contemporary culture. Each chapter presents memories of the author’s experiences in chronological chapters titled by years (1962-1974). It’s a page-turner, you won’t rest until you reach the conclusion. And you will find yourself haunted by its contents; was no one paying attention to what was transpiring on this farm, for twelve years?

The Taste of Anger: A Memoir

Product ID: U1647426847
Condition: New

4.8

AED12099

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Type: Paperback
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by 7-14 business days

Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.

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Imported From: United States

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More from this brand

Similar items from “Child Abuse”

The Taste of Anger: A Memoir

Product ID: U1647426847
Condition: New

4.8

The Taste of Anger: A Memoir-0
Type: Paperback

AED12099

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by 7-14 business days

Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.

Returns & Warranty policies

Imported From: United States

At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.

BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.

Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.

While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Description:

“I’ll kill the first person who comes through this door.” My father grips a baseball bat in his meaty hands.

It is 1962 and Diane is three years old when her violent father moves their family—her, her pregnant mother, and her six siblings—to a remote farm in Upstate New York. There, she grabs the reader by the hand and takes them to the broken-down barns, barren fields, and rows of bunk beds in her rat-infested attic bedroom as she questions all that feels wrong about her new world. She watches her ever-pregnant mother grow emotionally colder with each new baby and wonders,
Where is she when he swings his fists, his steel-toed boot, or a crowbar? Forced to perform adult manual labor in between the erratic beatings she and her siblings pound on one another to release their own aggressions, she asks herself, Is this what we’ve become? What I’ve become?

Narrated in the ever-hopeful voice of a child,
The Taste of Anger explores in raw, unflinching detail how years of isolation, oppression, and the threat of retaliation create an environment in which family secrets are guarded at all costs. Tension is palpable with the turning of each page, ensuring that the reader won’t let go of Diane’s hand until she gets an answer to her most urgent question of all: Who will rescue us?


Editorial Reviews

Review

“Powerful and gripping, The Taste of Anger is like a car wreck you can’t look away from. The narrative opens with a tension that doesn’t subside until the very last paragraph. This is a distinct and original work that refreshingly offers a straight narrative without excuse or analysis.”
—The BookLife Prize

“This is a memoir with a brilliant narrative, studded with a host of images that will remain with me for a long time. . . . there is the indomitableness of the spirit.”
—Clem Cairns, founder of Fish Publishing

About the Author

Diane Vonglis Parnell grew up on a remote farm in Western New York with nine siblings. Her essay Blame the Milkman was a winner in the Fish Publishing short memoir contest, and included in the Fish Anthology 2022. Vonglis Parnell is a Scrabble enthusiast and a lover of progressive rock music. She serves as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer for abused children in her community and lives a minimalist’s life in a 200-square-foot cottage in San Luis Obispo, California.

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!

J.R. · March 31, 2025

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } I am blown away by the author’s strength and her brilliant writing of her experience. The way the book was written from the POV of her as a child really allows the reader to understand the complex emotions and family dynamics that come with childhood abuse. Highly recommend this book! Once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down.

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning memoir!

J.B. · November 8, 2024

I consumed this book in just two days, or should I say it consumed me! Even when I set it down, it lingered in my mind.Parnell's writing is nothing short of captivating. With unflinching honesty she draws readers into the intense and harrowing landscape of her childhood. Her prose is raw yet beautifully crafted, creating a powerful sense of immediacy and emotional depth, as she brings to life a childhood wrought with fear and the constant tension of walking on eggshells. This makes the reader feel as though they are standing right alongside this little girl experiencing her fear and turmoil in real time.This book sheds a stark light on the devastating realities of child abuse. As such, It compels readers to identify its warning signs and take proactive steps to break the cycle.I’m eager to read the next part of Diane's memoir in hopes that she will continue to share her journey and reveal how the rest of her life unfolds.Thank you, Diane for sharing such a candid and powerful account of your life, one that grips the heart and leaves a lasting impact.

5.0 out of 5 stars Equal parts brutal and beautiful

D. · June 28, 2024

This stunning debut memoir offers the reader a direct and nuanced experience of abuse and its multitude of impacts.The Taste of Anger by Diane Vonglis Parnell vividly recounts the 12 year period from 1962 to 1974 in which she, her nine siblings, and her ever-pregnant mother were trapped on an isolated farm in East Avon, New York under the tyranny of her abusive father.Vonglis Parnell writes in a detailed present-tense, cinematic style that drops the reader into every scene with full impact. It is far different to merely hear stories of abuse than to live it every day, and the magic of this memoir is that we aren’t simply told Diane’s story, we live it with her. When she trudges through the snow, it is our boots that make the “crunch, crunch”. When she gets angry, it is our eyes that show a “fury…like flames, licking the blue right off [our] eyeballs”. And when the world goes into slow-motion before Diane suffers a beating, we see every image and feel every emotion along with her. Never in the memoir does Vonglis Parnell attempt to solicit sympathy for her circumstance, but the result of such honest narration is that we come away with a much more tangible empathy.“Hurt doesn’t get me anywhere. Hurt just hurts. Anger, I decide, is better. Anger is power.”In a genre where many memoirs preach ‘overcoming’ or the power of positive thinking, The Taste of Anger refreshingly renders an altogether different reality: survive, by any means necessary. The way the siblings of 2727 Swamp Road survive isn’t pretty: they bicker and backstab, sling curses and insults, and even gang on up the littler kids to take the blame (and beatings). However, punctuating the rivalry are moments of heartwarming camaraderie: holding hands while watching a blimp fly over, or singing together around the record player when their father isn’t around. Vonglis Parnell masterfully depicts these children of abuse, not as heroic survivors, but in all their flawed humanity. And therein lies the important and unique message for abuse survivors: your anger is valid, your scars never completely disappear. And that’s okay.

5.0 out of 5 stars If it doesn't feel or look right, it probably isn't! Save a child!

K.A.M. · April 11, 2025

This is a troubling and sad memoir of child abuse by the hands of a father. Although a tough read, this memoir is SO WELL WRITTEN. I felt tears fall from my face and my heart breaking throughout every chapter. As a mother, I was tormented with the feeling of helplessness. I wanted to be able to turn back the clock and rescue each and every one of them from the evil they endured and replace it with the love and compassion they so desperately deserved. Compelling story. Wow! My heart is still in my belly.

5.0 out of 5 stars Page turner

S. · January 15, 2025

I love memoirs where the author's childhood experiences, sibling relationships and young life are captured in such detail. Diane's writing is wonderful and engrossing. I would love to see a sequel someday.

5.0 out of 5 stars Childhood Strength, Courage and Perseverance

A.G. · March 15, 2025

So very well written.A moving memoir, written in the full context of the hand dealt at birth, and demonstrating the strength, courage and perseverance to survive a childhood marred by abuse and the dysfunction of a patriarch. I am moved and humbled to know your story, Diane.

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read

J. · July 4, 2024

This book was a very quick read, mainly due to the author's compelling narrative and good writing. It was hard to put down. The story is eye opening about child abuse that is right in front of us, and the silence that young children live with in total fear of more abuse. It lingers with you long after finishing the book.

5.0 out of 5 stars vivid description from child's point of view

A.C. · July 4, 2024

Many reviews speak of how this book, The Taste of Anger, by Diane Vonglis Parnell, vividly presents from a child’s point of view the despair and fear that consumes someone growing up trapped in a home with a mentally AND physically abusive parent. I suggest it speaks to a larger audience, as it details life on a small family farm, a subject that I find unrealistically romanticized and underappreciated by a large portion of contemporary culture. Each chapter presents memories of the author’s experiences in chronological chapters titled by years (1962-1974). It’s a page-turner, you won’t rest until you reach the conclusion. And you will find yourself haunted by its contents; was no one paying attention to what was transpiring on this farm, for twelve years?

More from this brand

Similar items from “Child Abuse”