The speaker of this semester's first Literary Reading Series was adopted by a family of devout Jehovah's Witnesses at birth.
She ran away at age 14.
Joy Castro,now a professor of literature and award-winning author, will be reading and discussing her memoir, "The Truth Book: Escaping a Childhood of Abuse among Jehovah's Witnesses," at 7:30 tonight in the Hicks Undergraduate Library Bookstall.
Castro said the book was emotionally difficult to write, and that it was often intense to resurrect the sorts of memories that are found within the pages.
"It was rough," she said. "I had nightmares.
"But, by re-experiencing it all again in memory - as an adult with a healthy life and good coping strategies - and by shaping it into art, I was able to let it go. The difficulty was worth it."
The book is a harrowing and detailed account of the years of abuse in her youth, but it also focuses on the possibility of forgiveness.
"The Truth Book' is about self-discovery, about trying to understand my past and my parents, and about forging my own identity and defining my own beliefs," said Castro.
That personal journey can have great appeal.
"Not everyone comes from a traumatic background, but I think a lot of students do find themselves in that process of defining their identities during their college years," Castro said.
Daryll Lynne Evans, assistant director of creative writing, said the reading should interest more students than just those in English majors.
"Students in women's studies, psychology, religion, childhood development and education will all find something in Castro's writing and discussion," said Evans.
For those who are English majors or are simply interested in the memoir form, Evans said that Purdue has begun to offer more classes in creative non-fiction.
"It is exciting to be able to bring in writers who are working in that genre, to hear their work and talk to them about the craft of writing memoir and personal essay," she said.
The reading is free and open to the public.