I'm not usually one for biographical literature, but this book caught my interest because I work with kidswith special needs and that are sometimes victims of abuse. This was well written, and gave a clear picture of what it was like being the victim of sexual abuse from a very young age, and for a very long time. This is a very informative read, and is not light reading. Some passages are rather disturbing, but are necessary to give the reader an accurate picture of events that led the author into dissociative states. The author is very brave to share her story. I hope that it is helpful to others. ( )

The Sum of My Parts is broken up into two halves – Olga’s retelling of childhood and pubescent trauma and abuse which cause her DID, and her treatment and life after her initial diagnosis.

Told in a straight-forward, slightly detached manner, The Sum of My Parts is an emotional, intriguing and haunting read. Olga’s openness about the horrendous abuse she suffered as a child is admirable, and she has done her best to reach a medium of revealing enough of her story to make an impact on the reader, whilst respecting the feelings and potential reactions of other DID sufferers.

The psychology and treatment of her condition make for fascinating, gut-wrenching reading, from spiraling into agoraphobia, her struggle to keep her career and to save her marriage. As Olga relives the memories that she has compartmentalized in order to keep herself from falling apart, she also discovers a side of herself that she never even knew existed.

I really enjoyed this book – it was very emotional and quite disturbing in parts, but it was also uplifting and inspirational. If you have an interest in psychology, or in real people overcoming huge adversity and using it to their advantage, this book is for you. ( )

In order to cope with the severe abuse from her family, Olga split herself into various "parts" to hold the pain and memories. As an adult, she went to college and then law school where she met David, her soon-to-be husband. After watching the opening scene of Thelma and Louise, Olga began having flashbacks and experiencing horrible pain. She began seeing a psychiatrist, who eventually diagnosed her with Dissociative Identity Disorder.

This was an extremely compelling and heartbreaking book. It was difficult to read about the abuse Olga suffered as a child at the hands of her father and brothers. However, it was also a story of hope and recovery. Olga was able to come to terms with her past and began working with victims at the Department of Justice. Overall, I highly recommend this book. ( )