The moment that inspired CHASING TIGERS IN THE DARK, a Christian inspirational memoir by entrepreneur and opera singer Ally Shaw, came in the middle of the night in March 2021. While grieving the death of her beloved mother-in-law, Bette, from breast cancer, Shaw awoke with what she recalls as “the panic attack to end all panic attacks.” As her heart raced and tears flooded her eyes, a lifetime of long-suppressed traumatic memories erupted through layers of shame and denial: the death of her first love, life-threatening illnesses, sexual abuse by a family member, Shaw, a self-described “utopian optimist survivor fashioned with rose-colored glasses” and “glass is half full kind of gal,” embraced her breakdown as a gift. It was a wake-up call for her to confront her demons head-on and reclaim her voice from the years of adversity that had smothered it.
The title of Shaw’s memoir is inspired by her love of tigers, which represent resilience, confidence, and ferocious, unapologetic authenticity. Conceived as a therapeutic exercise to help process her pain, the writing that became CHASING TIGERS IN THE DARK inspired the “traumaniacal” (her term to describe unresolved, chronic trauma) Shaw to share her story, and the wisdom she has acquired through the process of healing, with other survivors. In each of the book’s ten chapters, she unpacks the darkest, most painful moments from her past as a way to illustrate her life lessons. Shaw urges readers to greet each day with positivity and gratitude, and approach life with fearless authenticity. “How do we live faithful truth, face our fears and traumas, and conquer anxiety in our daily lives when all things seem lost or broken?” The answer: “We get out of bed and show up!”
Perhaps Shaw’s most challenging lesson has been forgiveness—for those who have hurt her, but most importantly for herself. Even for a devout Christian (one amusing moment finds the author searching Google for “bible verses about forgiveness” and finding herself unmoved by the results), forgiving her abusers and letting go of her remorse and guilt has come only through years of work, prayer, and personal growth. But as she observes, “forgiveness means you no longer hide behind a veil of secrets and shame.”
Written in an informal, conversational style, the book is a bit rough around the edges, with some typographical errors and a tendency to drift out of focus during lengthier anecdotes. Ally Shaw’s voice, however, shines beautifully from each page with forthright honesty and open-hearted generosity. Combining practical wisdom and a profoundly moving personal story, CHASING TIGERS IN THE DARK offers comfort and inspiration for anyone in need of healing and self-transformation.
~Edward Sung for IndieReader