Two books about sociopaths could be on your reading list this summer. One of them, already out, is by the “Queen of the Best Sellers,” Danielle Steel. In her 108th book, Matters of the Heart, the main character, an accomplished female photographer named Hope Dunne, meets a man who seems to be too good to be true. He is. The guy is a sociopath.
Read an excerpt of Matters of the Heart here.
The author was interviewed last week on Good Morning America. Although I’ve never read any of Danielle Steel’s books, I did like the fact that when she described sociopathic behavior in the interview, she got it right.
“Sociopaths are interesting because one of the things they do is something called mirroring,” she said. “They suss out what it is that is your dream in life and what you really want and need, and then they become that.” Amen, sister!
If anyone is a Danielle Steel fan, perhaps you can pick up the book and let Lovefraud readers know how she did in portraying the personality disorder.
Matters of the Heart on Amazon.com.
Mary Jo Buttafuoco
Perhaps you remember the “Long Island Lolita” story. Back in 1992, 17-year-old Amy Fisher rang Mary Jo Buttafuoco’s doorbell and shot her in the face. It turned out that Joey Buttafuoco, Mary Jo’s husband, was having an affair with the high school student. The case turned into a long-running media circus.
Many years after the incident, Mary Jo realized what the problem was. This August, Mary Jo is telling her story for the first time, and she comes out and says that her ex-husband is a sociopath. The book is called, Getting It Through My Thick Skull—Why I stayed, what I learned, and what millions of people involved with sociopaths need to know. When released, it will be available in the Lovefraud Store.
Talking about sociopaths
The publication of these two books gives me hope that awareness may be growing about the problem of sociopaths. Finally, it seems that the gatekeepers of popular culture are starting to get the idea that sociopaths are not all deranged serial killers. People seem to be becoming less afraid of uttering the word “sociopath” in public.
This is good. More discussion of the personality disorder should lead to more understanding. I hope it continues, so that when the uninitiated—those people lucky enough to have avoided close encounters with a sociopath—start seeing the red flags of predatory behavior, they’ll remember what they read, recognize the warning signs and escape before too much damage is done.
Donna Andersen
Thanks for the book review Tood!
Ox Drover
Tood, that was a great review of Steel’s work and also the “romance novels” (or as my friend calls them “lust and smut” books! LOL)
What few of this kind of book I have read always seem to me that the heroine is recued from the “bad guy” and falls immediately into the arms of “prince charming” who loved ehr all along adn “rescues” her and they live happily ever after! Which of course we know is FANTASY! LOL But the fantasy is what sells these books by teh ba-zillions! and why Steel is I am sure quite wealthy as well as a household name! Doesn’t sound like her wealth and fame have done much for her private life though (can’t remember who posted a mini-bio on her!).
Thanks again, some good insight (as usual) with you Tood! (((hugs))))
Tilly
(((hugs))) xoxox (Oxy)
Whatdoyureckon?
witness protection programme.
Tilly
Clouds and rain and thunder,
well is it paranoia or just being smart ? I don’t think Rosa would do it. I have never done it and told you why.
But i think Oxy would do it. Just on principle.
Matt probably doesn’t believe it works…like me.
Ox Drover
Dear Tilly,
I am not sure what you know or how “bad” it is, or how much you can “prove” or what your authorities would do.
The “witness security” (Federal) here in US takes in and places mostly x-criminals who have testified about other criminals and gives them a “new idenity”—however, I have read (a book by the man who started the program) where they were very lax in doing this and some witnesses have been murdered as a result. A man named Barry Seal is one such person who was murdered while in “wit Sec” (also called witness protection in US) and I have also read about the wife of a small time hood who went into witness protection and they treated her HORRIBLY. She was not a criminal herself at all, but was treated worse than the real criminals they protect.
I;m afraid I don’t much trust “we’re the government, and we’re here to help you.” Call me a cynic.
Sometimes though, if you have knowledge of a crime, you might be in danger because the criminal knows you know and doesn’t trust you to keep your mouth shut so they will hunt you down and kill you to keep you from talking. So it is a damned if you do, and damned if you don’t, situation where it probably is better to gio to the cops first and maybe they WILL help you if you do have evidence they need.
sometimes your WORD alone is not enough “evidence” for a conviction and going to them only alerts the criminal tha tyou HAVE RUN YOUR MOUTH. So each situation is probably unique and should be assessed on the basis of what the facts and risks are.
I just read a story from a poster on another blog (which has been verified) about him advertizing for a room mate and getting a wanted and very violent psychopathic jewel thief as a room mate. He ended up having to testify after this man was caught, but the thief’s BROTHER is still out there and knows who testified against his brother…..so the guy lives in a bit of fear from the brother who has NOT been caught yet.
I knew of two murders (for sure) my sperm donor committed and he knew I knew, but I had nothing tangible to prove it. Just my word.
There probably wasn’t enough evidence that could have convicted him. Both took place outside of US too so that was another problem. I didn’t even bother going to the police. It would have been futile.
I wish we had some of your “clouds and rain and thunder” because it is unusually HOT here and HUMID as well, feels like coastal South florida instead of the Ozark hills of Central Arkansas. My clothes hung outside yesterday on the clothes liine to dry didn’t dry much at all. I am hoping the do today! If not will have to rewash them and dry in electric dryer (which of course heats the house up!)
Tilly, I try to do things “on principle” but at the same time, I am not going to throw myself out the window of a tall building on “princlple” or throw myself in front of a bus with the psychopath driving the bus! I am putting myself FIRST and taking care of my needs above all else. I suggest thatyou do as well. ((((hugs)))))
Tilly
The people my ex husband and his friends killed were witnesses to a court case. He killed them as a favour because they went to the police and gave his friends up for murder. After they found out there was a contract on them they then backed down and withdrew their statements. Too late!
They were killed anyway on principle because they had already been to the police.
I, more than anyone, have NO faith in the justice system.
Or it so called “witness protection”. Its all just a matter of time.
Prison walls are covered in writings like, “you will get yours in due course”. And they do.
i have kept my mouth shut for 25 years. Providing only enough info to to keep myself safe.
Isn’t it amazing what “no contact” will do to a blood – psychopath (my daughter)?. She can hide behind Daddy’s coats all the way to my so called demise.
Don’t worry Oxy, I know they( my ex husband and his psychopath friends) will try to prove I’m insane, try to make out I was part of it and definitely try to have me killed in an “accident” or a “suicide”. Or like they did to the other witnessess , force them to write notes and have them go missing forever.
All this needs to be said on the site so others know. Yesterday i was terrified because i was approached by detectives that i didn’t believe were detectives and i thought maybe they got their inf from here.
Well, if they did get it from here…FANF#KNTASTIC!! Then it has served its purpose well and truly.
And if they got it from my P daughter. nothing LESS was to be expected aye ROSA??
Dylan Thomas’s poem comes to mind…” RAGE RAGE AGAINST THE darkness of the Night!”
My younger son and I are closer than ever and he stands with me strong and courageous in this war with evil.
Tilly
This is my favourite poem in the world by Dylan thomas:
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
Tood
Donna and Oxy,
Glad to do it (the review). I wish I could post more, but post-P life keeps me too busy to participate here as much as I’d like. With a large family and so much damage to repair, some days it’s all I can just to log on and read, sending a silent “Towanda” to all you terrific people.
Tilly
I am standing up and raging against the death of the good, of the light of life and all that is bright in God. I will NOT go gentle into death, I will rage, rage against the murder of innocent people at the hands of psychopaths. Rage, rage against the heartless, cruel empty skins that do their best to destroy us. I pray that you do not lie down and wimp away into your death, but rage, rage against the dying of the light.
PInow
I am raging with you, Tilly. Get some support, where ever you are. You go girl~~ Open, and speak the truth to all when the time is right. Everyone cannot be a P. there will be people who will NOT shy away. Oh, and please be careful!?
I AM pressing Criminal charges. It took me 3 hours and a bad night sleep. With criminal charges in tow, the ass is going to get his true diagnosis: Antisocial Personality Disorder.
I shall die standing. Now or later, I will always protect my young. Good luck to you, Tilly. wish you safety.