The Unthinkable cover art

The Unthinkable

A Story of Control, Violence and My Mother

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The Unthinkable

By: David Challen
Narrated by: David Challen
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About this listen

"David is one of the most courageous men I know . . . His book is one that everyone should read to understand coercive control, and what it is like to be a child growing up in a house where there is domestic abuse." Melanie Brown OBE, aka Mel B

"When my mum struck, it was with the cumulative rage of thirty years of hurt."

David Challen grew up in the perfect home with the model family.

He also grew up inside a house which concealed his father's manipulation and control.

One Saturday in 2010, David's mother struck more than twenty blows to the back of her husband's head with a hammer after thirty years of abuse. She then washed the dirty dishes from the lunch she had just cooked and left the house. In those few minutes, David's life was changed forever.

Over the next decade, he led the fight to overturn her conviction; and in doing so he not only freed his mother and helped change the legal system, but also became a voice for the countless victims of coercive control across the country.

This is a powerful story of a son's love for his mother; of an insidious form of abuse that must be better understood if we are to truly tackle it; and fight that reshaped how society understands domestic abuse.

©2022 David Challen (P)2022 Octopus Publishing Group Abuse Domestic Partner Abuse Dysfunctional Families Law Parenting & Families Relationships Emotionally Gripping

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A brilliant and sad true story about domestic abuse and eventual getting justice for his mum x would definitely recommend x

Brilliant x

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Having followed Sally Challen’s story and been deeply moved by it, I felt compelled to read this book as a tribute to her strength and to David’s unwavering support. It’s a powerful and emotional read that clearly explains how coercive control impacts not just individuals, but entire families. A must read for survivors and the loved ones who stand beside them

Inspiring

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Listening to David narrate his story through a child’s eyes with adult reflections and new knowledge, was very powerful. Many of us will relate to not being able to quite name or comprehend the atmosphere of coercive control in our homes, that can become normalised over decades. It is not sensational, the ordinariness is why this book is so valuable. it is deeply personal and raw, highlighting how many of us affected struggle to make sense of the messiness of CCB, self blame and are pathologised by a system that is meant to support us. If we can change our understanding of CCB I truly believe the domino’ effect in wellbeing, understanding our trauma could save lives and the economy. CCB is often at the core of many of societal issues. Thank you David I hope your next chapter is a happy one.

A child’s trauma, through adult reflection

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