The full title of today's selection by journalist Christine Kenneally is Ghosts of the Orphanage: A Story of Mysterious Deaths, a Conspiracy of Silence, and a Search for Justice. It was the title, as well as the haunting cover, that drew me in and made me want to know more. And inside the pages are unsettling accounts of abuse at various orphanages all around the world.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that covers a wide range of events across the 20th century, mainly focusing on those that took place at St. Joseph's Orphanage in Burlington, Vermont. But Kenneally also mentions similar disturbing accounts that happened in Australia, Ireland, Scotland, and even Canada. It seems that in orphanages in all of these locations, former residents experienced abuse at the hands of priests, nuns, and some staff, with some even testifying to having witnessed brutal deaths. Physical, psychological, and even sexual abuse is mentioned, with specific instances such as children being made to eat their own vomit being heard from all locations. But as stories come out, so do the detractors, and the victims have an uphill battle as the Catholic Church proceeds to deny all allegations, and their lawyers mount a compelling defense. Information as recent as 2022 is provided regarding the accusations, and how far the justice system has come to helping the victims.
My Verdict: Since the subject matter of this book was going to be dealing with orphanages and the children who stayed there, I knew I was in for tough time and would have to confront some difficult and upsetting information. And while many of the stories of the abuse that the former residents experienced happened quite awhile ago, the accounts are still terrifying, sickening, and haunting. What makes it worse is the almost unbearable sense of despair that come from witnessing the accusers - in this case, priests, nuns, and other officials of the Catholic Church - defend themselves and attempt to discredit the myriad of accusations against them. For many, this book may be a bit too much. But Kenneally did her research, and the story is still ongoing, and everything could not possibly be contained in one book, something Kenneally herself acknowledges.
Favorite Quote: "How many times had the children learned the lesson that no one was interested in their pain? If you cry, you cry alone. If you smile, the whole world smiles with you. How many times had they been punished for speaking up, leaving them to conclude that no one in power was interested in their problems? That their pain had no meaning inside or outside of the orphanage walls? Again and again, they learned that their firsthand observations were not valid." - Act II, Chapter 18
Recommended Reading: I recommend We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper, a fascinating true crime book that explores a cold case out of Harvard.
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