Svu The Presence Of Absence

SVU: The Presence of Absence – Exploring the Power of the Unseen in Law and Order

Introduction:

For over two decades, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU) has captivated audiences with its unflinching portrayal of sex crimes and the individuals who investigate them. But beyond the graphic depictions of trauma and the relentless pursuit of justice, SVU masterfully employs a narrative technique that often goes unnoticed: the presence of absence. This isn't just about missing persons; it’s about the lingering impact of perpetrators, the unspoken trauma etched onto survivors, and the systemic failures that allow abuse to flourish. This post delves deep into how SVU uses this powerful dramatic device to enhance its storytelling, exploring its impact on viewers and the show's enduring legacy. We’ll examine specific examples, analyze the psychological impact, and discuss the broader implications of this nuanced approach to crime drama.


1. The Lingering Shadow of the Perpetrator:

Even after arrest, conviction, or even death, the perpetrator’s influence often casts a long shadow. SVU brilliantly demonstrates this through flashbacks, character interactions, and lingering anxieties of the victims. The absence of the physical perpetrator becomes a palpable presence in the lives of those they’ve harmed. Think of cases where a victim's life continues to be shaped by the actions of their abuser, even years later. The perpetrator may be absent physically, but their psychological presence is overwhelmingly felt, constantly shaping the narrative and the emotional arcs of the characters. This creates a chilling realism that goes beyond the immediate crime, emphasizing the long-term consequences of abuse.

2. Unspoken Trauma and the Weight of Silence:

Many SVU episodes highlight the profound impact of trauma that remains unspoken. Victims might struggle to articulate their experiences, or societal pressures might force them into silence. This unspoken trauma becomes a powerful presence, shaping their behavior, their relationships, and their path to healing. The absence of verbal articulation doesn't diminish the trauma; instead, it amplifies its insidious power. The show often uses subtle cues—body language, strained relationships, avoidance behaviors—to communicate the unseen weight of the past, making the audience acutely aware of the invisible wounds that linger long after the physical assault.

3. Systemic Failures and the Absence of Justice:

SVU often tackles the frustrating reality that justice isn't always served. The legal system's loopholes, bureaucratic hurdles, and the lack of resources can contribute to a sense of injustice, even when a perpetrator is apprehended. The show powerfully portrays the absence of justice as a tangible presence, leaving audiences feeling the frustration and outrage of the characters. This deliberate use of absence underscores the systemic failures that allow abuse to continue unchecked, adding layers of complexity and realism to the narratives. The show’s creators use this absence not just to highlight problems, but to provoke discussion and encourage change.

4. The Psychological Impact on Investigators:

The constant exposure to horrific crimes takes a toll on the detectives of SVU. The show masterfully portrays the emotional burden they carry, demonstrating the unseen scars left by years of investigating trauma. Even when cases are resolved, the memories of the victims and the perpetrators linger, creating a sense of weariness and emotional exhaustion. This presence of absence within the investigators adds another layer of depth, humanizing the characters and demonstrating the emotional cost of their dedication to justice.


5. The Power of the Unseen in Shaping Narratives:

The absence of certain information, details, or even characters adds suspense and allows the writers to build mystery around the crimes. This technique keeps the audience engaged, prompting them to question, analyze, and piece together the puzzle. It’s a potent narrative tool that enhances the overall storytelling experience.


Article Outline: SVU: The Presence of Absence

I. Introduction: Hooking the reader and providing an overview of the topic.

II. The Lingering Shadow of the Perpetrator: Analyzing how the absence of the physical perpetrator still impacts the narrative.

III. Unspoken Trauma and the Weight of Silence: Exploring the power of unspoken trauma and its subtle manifestations.

IV. Systemic Failures and the Absence of Justice: Examining the show's depiction of systemic issues that hinder justice.

V. The Psychological Impact on Investigators: Discussing the emotional toll on the detectives and its narrative impact.

VI. The Power of the Unseen in Shaping Narratives: Exploring how the absence of information enhances suspense and mystery.

VII. Conclusion: Summarizing key points and reflecting on the show's lasting impact.


(Detailed explanation of each point is provided above in the body of the blog post.)


FAQs:

1. How does SVU's use of "presence of absence" differ from other crime dramas? SVU uses it more subtly and consistently, weaving it into the fabric of the narrative rather than relying on shock tactics.

2. Does the "presence of absence" technique enhance realism in SVU? Absolutely. It reflects the long-term, often unseen, consequences of trauma and systemic failures.

3. How does the show portray the unspoken trauma of victims? Through subtle cues like body language, strained relationships, and avoidance behaviors.

4. What is the significance of systemic failures in the context of the "presence of absence"? It highlights how the absence of justice contributes to the ongoing impact of trauma.

5. How does the show depict the emotional burden on its investigators? Through showing signs of weariness, exhaustion, and post-traumatic stress.

6. Does the use of absence affect the suspense and mystery in SVU storylines? Yes, the lack of information creates intrigue and keeps viewers engaged.

7. How does the show use flashbacks to emphasize the "presence of absence"? Flashbacks often reveal lingering effects of past traumas, highlighting the lingering presence of the past.

8. What impact does the "presence of absence" have on the viewers? It allows viewers to empathize deeply with the characters and reflect on the complexities of trauma and justice.

9. Can "presence of absence" be used effectively in other genres of storytelling? Absolutely; it's a versatile narrative technique applicable across various storytelling mediums.


Related Articles:

1. SVU's portrayal of child sexual abuse: This article analyzes how the show tackles the sensitive issue of child sexual abuse and its lasting effects.

2. The evolution of SVU's female characters: An exploration of the development of female characters in the show and their role in tackling the issue of sexual violence.

3. The impact of trauma on the SVU detectives: A study of the emotional toll on the characters and the psychological impact of their job.

4. The effectiveness of SVU's storytelling techniques: This piece evaluates the effectiveness of the show's various storytelling techniques, including the use of "presence of absence".

5. Criticisms and controversies surrounding SVU: An examination of the criticisms leveled at the show and the controversies it has generated.

6. The role of law enforcement in SVU's narrative: This analyzes the portrayal of police officers and the judicial system in the show.

7. SVU's impact on public awareness of sexual violence: An evaluation of the show's contribution to public understanding of sexual assault.

8. The changing landscape of sexual assault laws as depicted in SVU: Analysis of the way the show reflects changing legal landscapes and attitudes towards sexual assault.

9. Comparing SVU's portrayal of sexual assault to real-life cases: A comparative study analyzing the show’s realistic depiction of sexual assault cases and comparing it to actual statistics and real life scenarios.


  svu the presence of absence: The Tâittirîya-Prâtiçâkhya, with Its Commentary, the Tribhâshyaratna William, 1871
  svu the presence of absence: Journal of the American Oriental Society American Oriental Society, 1871 List of members in each volume.
  svu the presence of absence: Advances in Computing and Communications, Part I Ajith Abraham, Jaime Lloret Mauri, John Buford, Junichi Suzuki, Sabu M. Thampi, 2011-07-08 This volume is the first part of a four-volume set (CCIS 190, CCIS 191, CCIS 192, CCIS 193), which constitutes the refereed proceedings of the First International Conference on Computing and Communications, ACC 2011, held in Kochi, India, in July 2011. The 68 revised full papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from a large number of submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on ad hoc networks; advanced micro architecture techniques; autonomic and context-aware computing; bioinformatics and bio-computing; cloud, cluster, grid and P2P computing; cognitive radio and cognitive networks; cyber forensics; database and information systems.
  svu the presence of absence: Language and Social Justice Kathleen C. Riley, Bernard C. Perley, Inmaculada M. García-Sánchez, 2024-02-22 Language, whether spoken, written, or signed, is a powerful resource that is used to facilitate social justice or undermine it. The first reference resource to use an explicitly global lens to explore the interface between language and social justice, this volume expands our understanding of how language symbolizes, frames, and expresses political, economic, and psychic problems in society, thus contributing to visions for social justice. Investigating specific case studies in which language is used to instantiate and/or challenge social injustices, each chapter provides a unique perspective on how language carries value and enacts power by presenting the historical contexts and ethnographic background for understanding how language engenders and/or negotiates specific social justice issues. Case studies are drawn from Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America and the Pacific Islands, with leading experts tackling a broad range of themes, such as equality, sovereignty, communal well-being, and the recognition of complex intersectional identities and relationships within and beyond the human world. Putting issues of language and social justice on a global stage and casting light on these processes in communities increasingly impacted by ongoing colonial, neoliberal, and neofascist forms of globalization, Language and Social Justice is an essential resource for anyone interested in this area of research.
  svu the presence of absence: Qualitative Dissertation Methodology Nathan Durdella, 2017-12-29 Designing and writing a qualitative dissertation methodology chapter can be done! Qualitative Dissertation Methodology: A Guide for Research Design and Methods functions as a dissertation advisor to help students construct and write a qualitative methodological framework for their research. Drawing from the challenges author Nathan Durdella has experienced while supervising students, the book breaks down producing the dissertation chapter into smaller pieces and goes through each portion of the methodology process step by step. With a warm and supportive tone, he walks students through the process from the very start, from choosing chairs and developing qualitative support networks to outlining the qualitative chapter and delving into the writing. By the end of the book, students will have completed the most challenging chapter of a qualitative dissertation and laid a strong foundation for the rest of their dissertation work. Corresponding videos featuring the author help concepts come alive for your students.
  svu the presence of absence: Indian Science Abstracts , 1988-04
  svu the presence of absence: Science of Wood Degradation and its Protection R. Sundararaj, 2022-03-16 This edited book covers all aspects of wood degradation from its formation and growing in trees to its end usages when it is put into human usage. Wood is an age-old traditional fascinating material with a sensory-rich immersive experience that kindles aesthetics and creativity. The utility, durability, and functionality of wood render it a cosmopolitan material. It constitutes an integral part of human lives from ancient times to modern societies being used by various sectors viz., construction, furniture, panel products, paper and pulp, sports goods, agricultural implements, etc., Wood, being a biological material, is susceptible to degradation both by physical and biological means, and the need to protect the wood and prevent heavy economic losses constitutes a major challenge. Also, wood formed by the trees is the major sinks of carbon and the carbon remains locked-up for the life of the wood, thereby serving as important tool to mitigate the climate change. But the carbon stored in wood returns to the atmosphere when it degrades and will have positive effect on climate change. Hence, wood protection aiming for extending the service life of wood plays a key role in locking the carbon for a longer period in the wood and also substantially reduce the demand and depletion of forest resources. The book focuses on wood as an important natural bio-resource, inventory of wood protection, usage, utilization, preservatives, protection technologies and wood protection from all forms of degradation. Special focus is given on the eco-friendly way of protecting wood and its importance in mitigating climate change. The book is useful for Indian and international readers, who are working in wood domains. It is of interest to wood technologists, teachers, researchers, climate change scientists, capacity builders, and policymakers. It is of immense importance as a guide and study material to the graduate and postgraduate students of wood science in various universities of India and abroad.
  svu the presence of absence: Combating Bacterial Infections Through Biomimetic or Bioinspired Materials Design and Enabling Technologies Gianluca Ciardelli, Ipsita Roy, Jochen Salber, Antonia Nostro, Aldo R. Boccaccini, 2022-01-31
  svu the presence of absence: Environmental Epigenomics in Health and Disease Randy L Jirtle, Frederick L. Tyson, 2013-05-16 There are now compelling human epidemiological and animal experimental data that indicate the risk of developing adult-onset complex diseases and neurological disorders are influenced by persistent epigenetic adaptations in response to prenatal and early postnatal exposures to environmental factors. Epigenetics refers to heritable changes in gene function that occur without a change in the sequence of the DNA. The main components of the epigenetic code are DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. The epigenetic programs are established as stem cell differentiate during embryogenesis, and they are normally faithfully reproduced during mitosis. Moreover, they can also be maintained during meiosis, resulting in epigenetic transgenerational disease inheritance, and also potentially introducing phenotypic variation that is selected for in the evolution of new species. The objective of this book is to provide evidence that environmental exposures during early development can alter the risk of developing medical conditions, such as asthma, autism, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and schizophrenia later in life by modifying the epigenome.
  svu the presence of absence: Playing the Canterbury Tales Dr Andrew Higl, 2013-05-28 Playing the Canterbury Tales addresses the additions, continuations, and reordering of the Canterbury Tales found in the manuscripts and early printed editions of the Tales. Many modern editions present a specific set of tales in a specific order, and often leave out an entire corpus of continuations and additions. Andrew Higl makes a case for understanding the additions and changes to Chaucer's original open and fragmented work by thinking of them as distinct interactive moves in a game similar to the storytelling game the pilgrims play. Using examples and theories from new media studies, Higl demonstrates that the Tales are best viewed as an interactive fiction, reshaped by active readers. Readers participated in the ongoing creation and production of the tales by adding new text and rearranging existing text, and through this textual transmission, they introduced new social and literary meaning to the work. This theoretical model and the boundaries between the canonical and apocryphal texts are explored in six case studies: the spurious prologues of the Wife of Bath's Tale, John Lydgate's influence on the Tales, the Northumberland manuscript, the ploughman character, and the Cook's Tale. The Canterbury Tales are a more dynamic and unstable literary work than usually encountered in a modern critical edition.
  svu the presence of absence: Definition of Serious and Complex Medical Conditions Institute of Medicine, Committee on Serious and Complex Medical Conditions, 1999-10-19 In response to a request by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), the Institute of Medicine proposed a study to examine definitions of serious or complex medical conditions and related issues. A seven-member committee was appointed to address these issues. Throughout the course of this study, the committee has been aware of the fact that the topic addressed by this report concerns one of the most critical issues confronting HCFA, health care plans and providers, and patients today. The Medicare+Choice regulations focus on the most vulnerable populations in need of medical care and other services-those with serious or complex medical conditions. Caring for these highly vulnerable populations poses a number of challenges. The committee believes, however, that the current state of clinical and research literature does not adequately address all of the challenges and issues relevant to the identification and care of these patients.
  svu the presence of absence: Hindu Spirituality Krishna Sivaraman, 1989
  svu the presence of absence: The Specter and the Speculative Mae G. Henderson, Jeanne Scheper, Gene Melton, 2024-05-31 The Specter and the Speculative: Afterlives and Archives in the African Diaspora engages in a critical conversation about how historical subjects and historical texts within the African Diaspora are re-fashioned, re-animated, and re-articulated, as well as parodied, nostalgized, and defamiliarized, to establish an “afterlife” for African Atlantic identities and narratives. These essays focus on transnational, transdisciplinary, and transhistorical sites of memory and haunting—textual, visual, and embodied performances—in order to examine how these “living” archives circulate and imagine anew the meanings of prior narratives liberated from their original context. Individual essays examine how historical and literary performances—in addition to film, drama, music, dance, and material culture—thus revitalized, transcend and speak across temporal and spatial boundaries not only to reinstate traditional meanings, but also to motivate fresh commentary and critique. Emergent and established scholars representing diverse disciplines and fields of interest specifically engage under explored themes related to afterlives, archives, and haunting.
  svu the presence of absence: Kosmas , 2007
  svu the presence of absence: Looks Madeleine George, 2008-06-12 An unforgettable debut novel about the way we look at others, and the way we see ourselves. Meghan Ball is both the most visible and the most invisible person in school. Her massive size is impossible to ignore, yet people freely spill their secrets in front of her, perhaps because they think she isn?t listening. But she is. Now her attention has turned to a new girl: Aimee Zorn, with her stick-figure body and defiant attitude. Meghan is determined to befriend Aimee, and when she ultimately succeeds, the two join forces to take down their shared enemy. This provocative story explores the ways in which girls use food and their bodies to say what they cannot: I?m lonely.
  svu the presence of absence: INIS Atomindex , 1981
  svu the presence of absence: 21st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook William F. Eadie, 2009-05-15 Highlights the most important topics, issues, questions, and debates affecting the field of communication in the 21st Century.
  svu the presence of absence: The Book of Dreams Jack Vance,
  svu the presence of absence: Black Sexualities Juan Battle, Sandra L. Barnes, 2009-11-24 Why does society have difficulty discussing sexualities? Where does fear of Black sexualities emerge and how is it manifested? How can varied experiences of Black females and males who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), or straight help inform dialogue and academic inquiry? From questioning forces that have constrained sexual choices to examining how Blacks have forged healthy sexual identities in an oppressive environment, Black Sexualities acknowledges the diversity of the Black experience and the shared legacy of racism. Contributors seek resolution to Blacks' understanding of their lives as sexual beings through stories of empowerment, healing, self-awareness, victories, and other historic and contemporary life-course panoramas and provide practical information to foster more culturally relative research, tolerance, and acceptance.
  svu the presence of absence: The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls, 2007-01-02 A triumphant tale of a young woman and her difficult childhood, The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience, redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and wonderfully vibrant. Jeannette Walls was the second of four children raised by anti-institutional parents in a household of extremes.
  svu the presence of absence: Czech and Slovak Culture in International and Global Context Miloslav Rechcígl, 2008
  svu the presence of absence: Sri Venkateswara University Oriental Journal Sri Venkatesvara University. Oriental Research Institute, 2000
  svu the presence of absence: Night Shield Nora Roberts, 2012-04-10 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts comes the fifth Night Tales novel—a story of forbidden love under the cover of night. Undercover cop Ally Fletcher knows that Jonah Blackhawk is bad news, which is why she’s determined not to fall for his charms while working at his nightclub. But the more Ally interacts with the seductive Jonah, the more she’s tempted to break her own rules. A NORA ROBERTS CLASSIC AVAILABLE DIGITALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME
  svu the presence of absence: Creating the Other Nancy M. Wingfield, 2003-10 The historic myths of a people/nation usually play an important role in the creation and consolidation of the basic concepts from which the self-image of that nation derives. These concepts include not only images of the nation itself, but also images of other peoples. Although the construction of ethnic stereotypes during the long nineteenth century initially had other functions than simply the homogenization of the particular culture and the exclusion of others from the public sphere, the evaluation of peoples according to criteria that included level of civilization yielded rankings of ethnic groups within the Habsburg Monarchy. That provided the basis for later, more divisive ethnic characterizations of exclusive nationalism, as addressed in this volume that examines the roots and results of ethnic, nationalist, and racial conflict in the region from a variety of historical and theoretical perspectives.
  svu the presence of absence: Introduction to Criminal Investigation Michael Birzer, Cliff Roberson, 2018-07-31 The manner in which criminal investigators are trained is neither uniform nor consistent, ranging from sophisticated training protocols in some departments to on-the-job experience alongside senior investigators in others. Ideal for students taking a first course in the subject as well as professionals in need of a refresher, Introduction to Criminal Investigation uses an accessible format to convey concepts in practical, concrete terms. Topics discussed include: The history of criminal investigation in Western society Qualifications for becoming an investigator, the selection process, and ideal training requirements Crime scene search techniques, including planning and post-search debriefing Preparing effective field notes and investigative reports Interviewing and interrogating Types of evidence found at the crime scene and how to collect, package, and preserve it The contributions of forensic science to criminal investigations and the equipment used in crime labs Investigative protocol for a range of crimes, including property crimes, auto theft, arson, financial crimes, homicide, assault, sex crimes, and robbery Specialized investigations, including drug trafficking, cybercrime, and gang-related crime Legal issues involved in criminal investigations and preparing a case for trial Bringing together contributions from law enforcement personnel, academics, and attorneys, the book combines practical and theoretical elements to provide a comprehensive examination of today‘s criminal investigative process. The accessible manner in which the information is conveyed makes this an ideal text for a wide-ranging audience.
  svu the presence of absence: Belgian Journal of Botany , 2006
  svu the presence of absence: Physics Briefs , 1987
  svu the presence of absence: Ask a Manager Alison Green, 2018-05-01 From the creator of the popular website Ask a Manager and New York’s work-advice columnist comes a witty, practical guide to 200 difficult professional conversations—featuring all-new advice! There’s a reason Alison Green has been called “the Dear Abby of the work world.” Ten years as a workplace-advice columnist have taught her that people avoid awkward conversations in the office because they simply don’t know what to say. Thankfully, Green does—and in this incredibly helpful book, she tackles the tough discussions you may need to have during your career. You’ll learn what to say when • coworkers push their work on you—then take credit for it • you accidentally trash-talk someone in an email then hit “reply all” • you’re being micromanaged—or not being managed at all • you catch a colleague in a lie • your boss seems unhappy with your work • your cubemate’s loud speakerphone is making you homicidal • you got drunk at the holiday party Praise for Ask a Manager “A must-read for anyone who works . . . [Alison Green’s] advice boils down to the idea that you should be professional (even when others are not) and that communicating in a straightforward manner with candor and kindness will get you far, no matter where you work.”—Booklist (starred review) “The author’s friendly, warm, no-nonsense writing is a pleasure to read, and her advice can be widely applied to relationships in all areas of readers’ lives. Ideal for anyone new to the job market or new to management, or anyone hoping to improve their work experience.”—Library Journal (starred review) “I am a huge fan of Alison Green’s Ask a Manager column. This book is even better. It teaches us how to deal with many of the most vexing big and little problems in our workplaces—and to do so with grace, confidence, and a sense of humor.”—Robert Sutton, Stanford professor and author of The No Asshole Rule and The Asshole Survival Guide “Ask a Manager is the ultimate playbook for navigating the traditional workforce in a diplomatic but firm way.”—Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together
  svu the presence of absence: Beyond Bombshells Jeffrey A. Brown, 2015-09-09 Beyond Bombshells analyzes the cultural importance of strong women in a variety of current media forms. Action heroines are now more popular in movies, comic books, television, and literature than they have ever been. Their spectacular presence represents shifting ideas about female agency, power, and sexuality. Beyond Bombshells explores how action heroines reveal and reconfigure perceptions about how and why women are capable of physically dominating roles in modern fiction, indicating the various strategies used to contain and/or exploit female violence. Focusing on a range of successful and controversial recent heroines in the mass media, including Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games books and movies, Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo novels and films, and Hit-Girl from the Kick-Ass movies and comic books, Jeffrey A. Brown argues that the role of action heroine reveals evolving beliefs about femininity. While women in action roles are still heavily sexualized and objectified, they also challenge preconceived myths about normal or culturally appropriate gender behavior. The ascribed sexuality of modern heroines remains Brown's consistent theme, particularly how objectification intersects with issues of racial stereotyping, romantic fantasies, images of violent adolescent and preadolescent girls, and neoliberal feminist revolutionary parables. Individual chapters study the gendered dynamics of torture in action films, the role of women in partnerships with male colleagues, young women as well as revolutionary leaders in dystopic societies, adolescent sexuality and romance in action narratives, the historical import of nonwhite heroines, and how modern African American, Asian, and Latina heroines both challenge and are restricted by longstanding racial stereotypes.
  svu the presence of absence: New York to Dallas J. D. Robb, 2011-09-13 #1 New York Times bestselling author J. D. Robb presents an intense and terrifying case for New York homicide cop Eve Dallas: one that will take her all the way to the city that named her—and plunge her into the nightmares of her childhood... When a monster named Isaac McQueen—taken down by Eve back in her uniform days—escapes from Rikers, he has two things in mind. One is to take up where he left off, abducting young victims and leaving them scarred in both mind and body. The other is to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago.
  svu the presence of absence: Notorious H.I.V. Thomas C. Shevory, 2004 Nushawn Williams, accused of deliberately infecting numerous individuals with AIDS, was subsequently dubbed an AIDS predator in the U.S. national media and is now incarcerated. His treatment by the media and the judicial system, argues Shevory (politics, Ithaca College), is unsupported by the evid
  svu the presence of absence: Somebody's Daughter Ashley C. Ford, 2021-06-01 INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NBCC John Leonard Prize Finalist Indie Bestseller “This is a book people will be talking about forever.” —Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Untamed “Ford’s wrenchingly brilliant memoir is truly a classic in the making. The writing is so richly observed and so suffused with love and yearning that I kept forgetting to breathe while reading it.” —John Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author One of the most prominent voices of her generation debuts with an extraordinarily powerful memoir: the story of a childhood defined by the looming absence of her incarcerated father. Through poverty, adolescence, and a fraught relationship with her mother, Ashley C. Ford wishes she could turn to her father for hope and encouragement. There are just a few problems: he’s in prison, and she doesn’t know what he did to end up there. She doesn’t know how to deal with the incessant worries that keep her up at night, or how to handle the changes in her body that draw unwanted attention from men. In her search for unconditional love, Ashley begins dating a boy her mother hates. When the relationship turns sour, he assaults her. Still reeling from the rape, which she keeps secret from her family, Ashley desperately searches for meaning in the chaos. Then, her grandmother reveals the truth about her father’s incarceration . . . and Ashley’s entire world is turned upside down. Somebody’s Daughter steps into the world of growing up a poor Black girl in Indiana with a family fragmented by incarceration, exploring how isolating and complex such a childhood can be. As Ashley battles her body and her environment, she embarks on a powerful journey to find the threads between who she is and what she was born into, and the complicated familial love that often binds them.
  svu the presence of absence: Detransition, Baby Torrey Peters, 2021-01-12 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The lives of three women—transgender and cisgender—collide after an unexpected pregnancy forces them to confront their deepest desires in “one of the most celebrated novels of the year” (Time) “Reading this novel is like holding a live wire in your hand.”—Vulture One of the New York Times’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Named one of the Best Books of the Year by more than twenty publications, including The New York Times Book Review, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Time, Vogue, Esquire, Vulture, and Autostraddle PEN/Hemingway Award Winner • Finalist for the Lambda Literary Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Gotham Book Prize • Longlisted for The Women’s Prize • Roxane Gay’s Audacious Book Club Pick • New York Times Editors’ Choice Reese almost had it all: a loving relationship with Amy, an apartment in New York City, a job she didn't hate. She had scraped together what previous generations of trans women could only dream of: a life of mundane, bourgeois comforts. The only thing missing was a child. But then her girlfriend, Amy, detransitioned and became Ames, and everything fell apart. Now Reese is caught in a self-destructive pattern: avoiding her loneliness by sleeping with married men. Ames isn't happy either. He thought detransitioning to live as a man would make life easier, but that decision cost him his relationship with Reese—and losing her meant losing his only family. Even though their romance is over, he longs to find a way back to her. When Ames's boss and lover, Katrina, reveals that she's pregnant with his baby—and that she's not sure whether she wants to keep it—Ames wonders if this is the chance he's been waiting for. Could the three of them form some kind of unconventional family—and raise the baby together? This provocative debut is about what happens at the emotional, messy, vulnerable corners of womanhood that platitudes and good intentions can't reach. Torrey Peters brilliantly and fearlessly navigates the most dangerous taboos around gender, sex, and relationships, gifting us a thrillingly original, witty, and deeply moving novel.
  svu the presence of absence: The Teachings of Don Juan Carlos Castaneda, 2016-05-03 In 1968 University of California Press published an unusual manuscript by an anthropology student named Carlos Castaneda.ÊThe Teachings of Don Juan enthralled a generation of seekers dissatisfied with the limitations of the Western worldview. Castaneda's now classic book remains controversial for the alternative way of seeing that it presents and the revolution in cognition it demands. Whether read as ethnographic fact or creative fiction, it is the story of a remarkable journey that has left an indelible impression on the life of more than a million readers around the world.
  svu the presence of absence: The World of P.G. Wodehouse Herbert Warren Wind, 1981
  svu the presence of absence: Come to the Edge Christina Haag, 2011-03-29 The Love Story of JFK Jr. and Christina Haag • New York Times bestseller When Christina Haag was growing up on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, John F. Kennedy, Jr., was just one of the boys in her circle of prep school friends, a skinny kid who lived with his mother and sister on Fifth Avenue and who happened to have a Secret Service detail following him discreetly at all times. A decade later, after they had both graduated from Brown University, Christina and John were cast in an off-Broadway play together. It was then that John confessed his long-standing crush on her, and they embarked on a five-year love affair. Glamorous and often in the public eye, but also passionate and deeply intimate, their relationship was transformative for both of them. Exquisitely written, Come to the Edge is an elegy to first love, a lost New York, and a young man with an enormous capacity for tenderness, and an adventurous spirit, who led his life with surprising and abundant grace.
  svu the presence of absence: Machine Drawing K. L. Narayana, 2009-06-30 About the Book: Written by three distinguished authors with ample academic and teaching experience, this textbook, meant for diploma and degree students of Mechanical Engineering as well as those preparing for AMIE examination, incorporates the latest st
  svu the presence of absence: Advances in Micro and Nano Manufacturing and Surface Engineering M. S. Shunmugam, M. Kanthababu, 2019-11-30 This volume presents research papers on micro and nano manufacturing and surface engineering which were presented during the 7th International and 28th All India Manufacturing Technology, Design and Research conference 2018 (AIMTDR 2018). The papers discuss the latest advances in miniature manufacturing, the machining of miniature components and features as well as improvement of surface properties. This volume will be of interest to academicians, researchers, and practicing engineers alike.
  svu the presence of absence: Tusk Tusk Polly Stenham, 2009-04-02 Come on troops. Let's take check: Finn Bar, slightly ruffled but still in fighting form. Maggie, could do with a full night's sleep but otherwise all in order... Stay here. Don't answer the door. I'll go out and get some proper food. In a new flat, three children play hide and seek. Eliot wears a crown, little Finn, King of the Wild Thing's, draws on the walls. Maggie climbs them. Hiding from the world, needing to be found, their one shared focus a mobile phone. Will it ring? Who will call? And what are they waiting for? Tusk Tusk is a tale of family loyalty as an uncertain future circles. Polly Stenham's second play premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in March 2009.
  svu the presence of absence: Lunar Park Bret Easton Ellis, 2005-08-16 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the New York Times bestselling author of American Psycho and Less Than Zero comes a chilling tale that combines reality, memoir, and fantasy to create a fascinating portrait of this most controversial writer but also a deeply moving novel about love and loss, parents and children, and ultimately forgiveness. “John Cheever writes The Shining.” —Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly Bret Ellis, the narrator of Lunar Park, is the bestselling writer whose first novel Less Than Zero catapulted him to international stardom while he was still in college. In the years that followed he found himself adrift in a world of wealth, drugs, and fame, as well as dealing with the unexpected death of his abusive father. After a decade of decadence a chance for salvation arrives; the chance to reconnect with an actress he was once involved with, and their son. But almost immediately his new life is threatened by a freak sequence of events and a bizarre series of murders that all seem to connect to Ellis’s past. His attempts to save his new world from his own demons makes Lunar Park Ellis’s most suspenseful novel. Look for Bret Easton Ellis’s new novel, The Shards!