Not My Circus: Triumph Over Abuse, Trauma, & Family Secrets by Delicia Niami is the second installment of a planned three-volume memoir of her challenging life. Delicia was abused sexually, physically, and emotionally as a young girl. As she navigated her teenage and young adult years, her earnest desire was to get away from her Californian upbringing and explore not only the world but also herself. After saving enough money, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery in Europe, eventually ending up in Switzerland where she finds peace, acceptance, and love from her new friends. Eventually, though, homesickness will send her back to California and a reunion with her beloved mother. Immersing herself in the hedonistic lifestyle of Hollywood at the height of the AIDs epidemic, she finds love, acceptance, and heartbreaking loss as she attempts to deal with rape, the murder of her dear mother, and a debilitating mystery disease that leaves her constantly wracked with pain.
Not My Circus is raw, tough, gritty, and at times, intensely personal yet author Delicia Niami is prepared to open herself completely, honestly, and fearlessly to scrutiny and introspection. The author holds nothing back in her recounting of these tumultuous days and it is a credit to her resilience and spirit that she was not only able to survive her experiences but that she can be an inspiration to readers everywhere who are facing trials and demons. I was initially stunned at the naiveté she so often displayed on her overseas excursions as she frequently put herself in the path of potential danger. However, it became quickly apparent that despite her harrowing childhood, she was still extremely open to seeing the best in people and would rather give them the benefit of the doubt than think the worst of them. It was this openness undoubtedly that led her to develop enduring friendships and relationships wherever she went. Her determination to see justice served on her mother’s murderer was just another example of her doggedness and relentless search for what was right. The overlying theme of this story is undoubtedly the triumph of the human spirit over intense adversity, and the author displays this on many occasions. Her illness alone would have been enough to have flattened most people but somehow she always found the strength to rise one more time and carry on with life. This is an inspiring read and a story that will linger long in my memory. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next chapter of this gutsy woman’s life.