What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape

Talking about rape can be difficult, admits Abdulali (The Madwoman of Jogare). But she notes that the global conversations about rape have come a long way, especially in the #MeToo era. Abdulali contributes to that effort with how she tackles the topic in her writing and narration—in a straightforward yet conversational manner. She bluntly says in the introduction, "I began college weeks after being raped," to let listeners know she is a survivor. Abdulali, who once headed a rape crisis center in Boston, artfully blends survivors' personal stories with facts and figures. The personal accounts will likely be difficult for most people to hear, but Abdulali reads the stories with a steady tone and tempo to carry listeners through the tough parts. Abdulali hopes "all the voices in this book…helped to end some of the silence (and) illuminate some of the shadows" around rape. She does just that.