The Effects of Childhood Trauma

In a number of the essays in her collection, Hough explores the ways that her childhood trauma affected her later on in life. She introduces this theme in the first paragraph of the book, saying, "If you ask me where I'm from, I'll lie to you. I'll tell you you my parents were missionaries. I'll tell you I'm from Boston. I'll tell you I'm from Texas. Those lies, people believe. I'm better at lying than I am at telling the truth because lies don't make me nervous. It's the truth, the thought of telling it, that triggers my awkward laugh and my sweaty palms, make me not want to look you in the eye. I know I won't like what I'll see" (3). From the very beginning of the book, Hough establishes that she, as an adult, is prone to lying. As the first essay...