A Private Family Matter

A PRIVATE FAMILY MATTER: Victor Rivas Rivers: Atria Books: 2005: Biography, 364 pages.

This book reminded me of David Pelzer’s A Child Called It. It is a biography of the middle son of a Cuban family that immigrated to America in the 1950’s. The father in this tale was not just abusive but pathologically so; the horrors he committed were many, among them kicking his 8 1/2 month pregnant wife repeatedly in the stomach. His abuse nearly destroyed the entire family and reading about the horrors that he committed was painful. But, this book does have a very uplifting message. Victor details his struggle to gain his self-esteem and rise above the inner voice that continued to tell him he was worthless long after he was out of his father’s clutches. This is a very positive story that shows that it is possible to escape the cycle of abuse and rise above the terrible psychological scars that it leaves.

After leaving his father’s custody at the age of 15, Victor went on to play college football. From college he went on to Hollywood where he continues to have a successful career as an actor. He also volunteers his time as the national spokesperson for the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

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