The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster

The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster

  • Downloads:5815
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-11-09 04:55:06
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Sarah Krasnostein
  • ISBN:192560389X
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Homicides and suicides, fires and floods, hoarders and addicts。 When properties are damaged or neglected, it falls to Sandra Pankhurst, founder of Specialized Trauma Cleaning (STC) Services Pty。 Ltd。 to sift through the ashes or sweep up the mess of a person’s life or death。 Her clients include law enforcement, real estate agents, executors of deceased estates, and charitable organizations representing victimized, mentally ill, elderly, and physically disabled people。 In houses and buildings that have fallen into disrepair, Sandra airs out residents’ smells, throws out their weird porn, their photos, their letters, the last traces of their DNA entombed in soaps and toothbrushes。

The remnants and mementoes of these people’s lives resonate with Sandra。 Before she began professionally cleaning up their traumas, she experienced her own。 First, as a little boy, raised in violence and excluded from the family home。 Then as a husband and father, drag queen, gender reassignment patient, sex worker, small businesswoman, and trophy wife。 In each role she played, all Sandra wanted to do was belong。

The Trauma Cleaner is the extraordinary true story of an extraordinary person dedicated to making order out of chaos with compassion, revealing the common ground Sandra Pankhurst—and everyone—shares with those struck by tragedy。

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Reviews

Katrina

Raw & intense

Caithlin Power

Not really my cup of tea。 Didn’t live up to the hype。 A series of somewhat interest short stories, intertwined by the common protagonist, Sandra。 It all came together in the final chapter but took the whole book to slowly get there。I listened to the audiobook which further tainted my enjoyment of the book as the narrator had a blocked nose for the entire read。

Lois

Fantastic read。

M Moore

This was a fascinating book! I will say that I was not expecting the biography/memoir that I got when I read the title but thoroughly enjoyed the story of Sandra's life。 I had expected more "inside the work of a trauma cleaner" tidbits but this is actually a solid nonfiction story that reads like a memoir but is told from an outside perspective。 I will warn you that this one has nearly every trigger warning possible, so please reach out to me or research on your own before getting started if tha This was a fascinating book! I will say that I was not expecting the biography/memoir that I got when I read the title but thoroughly enjoyed the story of Sandra's life。 I had expected more "inside the work of a trauma cleaner" tidbits but this is actually a solid nonfiction story that reads like a memoir but is told from an outside perspective。 I will warn you that this one has nearly every trigger warning possible, so please reach out to me or research on your own before getting started if that's a concern。My reviews can also be seen at www。instagram。com/justonemoorebook。 。。。more

Rachael

This book is very well-written but significantly more biography than examination of the trauma cleaning industry。 Again, very well done, couldn't put it down but not what I expected。 This book is very well-written but significantly more biography than examination of the trauma cleaning industry。 Again, very well done, couldn't put it down but not what I expected。 。。。more

Joshua Bennett

What an amazing story Not only do we get some insights to some really hard done by people who are unable to look after their homes for various reasons, but we also get an insight into the woman's life who helps these people and her life story that led her to being so brilliant at her job What an amazing story Not only do we get some insights to some really hard done by people who are unable to look after their homes for various reasons, but we also get an insight into the woman's life who helps these people and her life story that led her to being so brilliant at her job 。。。more

Sandy Rechtsteiner

Interesting life story of a trans woman and her difficult life story。

Niamh Ellison

Genuinely fascinating; a story of trauma that begats trauma, and the woman who made it her mission to help。

Paige

This book focuses too much on the life before and not enough on the actual trauma cleaning。 Don’t get me wrong, Sandra had an extremely traumatic life, but I wanted to hear more about her time cleaning homes。 The title drew me in and I love CrimeSceneCleaning on Tik Tok。 Incredible life story but not enough gruesome images of hoarder homes, crime scenes, or post natural disasters。 🤷‍♀️

Li Hall

Enjoyed this biography, vicarious glimpse into a life so different from my own。 Demonstrates how we all need love and the journey to get there。 Written very well。

Fiona Purdon

Graphic, confronting, an extraordinary life, powerful, full of sacrifice and trauma, courage and immense determination。 A biography about a transgender。 A colorful identity, who survived child abuse and discrimination, who had a range of amazing f jobs and finished as a trauma cleaner, deepCleaning at crime scenes and at hoarding scenarios, memorable!!

Maz

I really like this view into the life of an incredible woman, who has fallen victim to so many horrific and grossly unfair things, and who has gone on to help others who are living with a core of trauma to their lives。

Suzanne Lyndon

An unexpected joy! Not a story about true crime clean up, but a well written tale of trauma and survival。

Shyamsundar

This is a story of compassion, for fellow beings and to yourself。 A must read❤️👌

Amara

A story well told about a life most of us couldn’t even begin to endure let alone live to its fullest。 The author captures Sandra‘s amazing journey, struggle, and epiphany about discovering who she is and fighting to belong。 Overcoming years of hatred Sandra still is able to show compassion and love to those who struggle in their own ways through life as a trauma cleaner。 Her compassion and kindness is what makes her great。 her ability to do this after years of neglect, abuse and rejection is in A story well told about a life most of us couldn’t even begin to endure let alone live to its fullest。 The author captures Sandra‘s amazing journey, struggle, and epiphany about discovering who she is and fighting to belong。 Overcoming years of hatred Sandra still is able to show compassion and love to those who struggle in their own ways through life as a trauma cleaner。 Her compassion and kindness is what makes her great。 her ability to do this after years of neglect, abuse and rejection is inspiring。 Highly recommend! 。。。more

Jeannette

Fascinating in every way。 Great and easy read。

Starre Vartan

This is one of the most extraordinary narrative nonfiction books I have ever read。 In the same category as The Spirit Catches You。 The deep compassion of the storyteller and her views on what it means to be alive have changed the way I look at the world。 I'm so grateful this book exists in the world。 This is one of the most extraordinary narrative nonfiction books I have ever read。 In the same category as The Spirit Catches You。 The deep compassion of the storyteller and her views on what it means to be alive have changed the way I look at the world。 I'm so grateful this book exists in the world。 。。。more

Alexis

This is different from what I thought it would be。 A friend recommended it to me ages ago, and I am sure at the time I was informed of its queer content, but I completely forgot。 I had a break in library holds and decided to clear it off my to-read list with no thought other than I would be learning about a form of labor I have seldom given thought to in spite of my interest in crime (which is what I associated the title with)。 I'm not sure with where to begin regarding the limited scope of my e This is different from what I thought it would be。 A friend recommended it to me ages ago, and I am sure at the time I was informed of its queer content, but I completely forgot。 I had a break in library holds and decided to clear it off my to-read list with no thought other than I would be learning about a form of labor I have seldom given thought to in spite of my interest in crime (which is what I associated the title with)。 I'm not sure with where to begin regarding the limited scope of my expectations。 Firstly, the book is about trauma cleaning。 The author writes about the clients and about the products and the homes she witnesses。 For the most part, those clients are hoarders or individuals unable to physically or mentally clean。 I was not expecting that。 Secondly, the book is not really about trauma cleaning。 It's about a politically conservative trans woman named Sandra who is radically compassionate and also personally detached who runs a trauma-cleaning business。 The real meat of this book is digging into Sandra's life, which is not always simple, as her memory is not good。 The author is clearly fond of Sandra while also being baffled by her。 There are some nice points about the trans identity not being incompatible with a politically conservative identity, which is not something I reconcile easily, and thus was delighted to read about。 I wouldn't say I loved the book, but I did genuinely enjoy listening to it, and I feel like I took away a few things as well。 。。。more

Emmy Petersen

I listened to this via audiobook and it was fantastic。 The narrator was a little slow so I do recommend putting it up to x1。5 speed。 This story was incredible。 It took a little while for me to get into it but the moment I did I couldn’t stop listening。 Sandra’s story is incredible and tragic。 This book deals with some very heavy topics and there are two graphic scenes written so perhaps look up the trigger warnings if you’re concerned this may effect you。 Definitely recommend。

Georgia James

3。5

Stephanie

Her life was fantastic to read about and I liked all the little touches of her different clients but I'm just not a fan of the writer's style。 Her life was fantastic to read about and I liked all the little touches of her different clients but I'm just not a fan of the writer's style。 。。。more

Diana-christie Biancardi

What did I just read? There was a lot of sex worker stuff going on and transgender stories。 I just thought I was getting more stories about cleaning up dead bodies or something!

Katie

Not an easy read as it covers a lot of trauma, but speaks to some important issues。

Tania

3。5 ⭐️ Sandra Pankhurst truly lived an “extraordinary” life, and I found Krasnostein’s portrayal of this life initially completely absorbing。 There are times it is difficult to like Pankhurst, and other times when she is nothing but admirable。 For me the biography suffered from Krasnostein inserting herself too much into the writing, including too much irrelevant conversation with Pankhust’s living clients, (especially in the chapter about Marilyn)and making sweeping assumed understandings of wh 3。5 ⭐️ Sandra Pankhurst truly lived an “extraordinary” life, and I found Krasnostein’s portrayal of this life initially completely absorbing。 There are times it is difficult to like Pankhurst, and other times when she is nothing but admirable。 For me the biography suffered from Krasnostein inserting herself too much into the writing, including too much irrelevant conversation with Pankhust’s living clients, (especially in the chapter about Marilyn)and making sweeping assumed understandings of why Pankhurst’s character was the way it was。 Still, Krasnostein gives a valuable insight to an unforgettably brave, and often incredibly compassionate person and her life。 。。。more

Sierra Hampton

For sure check trigger warnings before reading but I absolutely loved this book。 It read like a fiction but I can’t believe this is someone’s real life。

B2652

This is an important examination of trauma, love and connection。 Very thought provoking biography。

Natalie

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 My opinion of this book goes back and forth。 On the one hand I found the life story of Sandra fascinating, and was really impressed with how much she was able to overcome in her life (that is if it’s all true)。 However on the other hand, I initially read this book because of the trauma cleaning part which in reality was a pretty small part。 I also found the authors praise of Sandra and her generosity a bit incongruous with the fact that she left her sons and her wife with nothing, and didn’t rea My opinion of this book goes back and forth。 On the one hand I found the life story of Sandra fascinating, and was really impressed with how much she was able to overcome in her life (that is if it’s all true)。 However on the other hand, I initially read this book because of the trauma cleaning part which in reality was a pretty small part。 I also found the authors praise of Sandra and her generosity a bit incongruous with the fact that she left her sons and her wife with nothing, and didn’t really seem to care, even when her now adult son reached out for contact。 Is her apparent selfishness a defense mechanism to keep herself from being hurt? Or is she just a selfish uncaring person? 。。。more

Bonnie Randall

I need to read the fine-print; I thought this as going to be an exploration into vicarious trauma from mopping up crime scenes and what-not, and more of a procedural examination of how such an over-looked, yet necessary job is orchestrated。 The fine-print (had I read it, which is on me 100%) actually indicated a story of m-f gender transitioning ahead of the current (seeming) trend of same。 So。。。it was somewhat interesting, but not the story I'd expected。 I need to read the fine-print; I thought this as going to be an exploration into vicarious trauma from mopping up crime scenes and what-not, and more of a procedural examination of how such an over-looked, yet necessary job is orchestrated。 The fine-print (had I read it, which is on me 100%) actually indicated a story of m-f gender transitioning ahead of the current (seeming) trend of same。 So。。。it was somewhat interesting, but not the story I'd expected。 。。。more

c s dowgill

Really interesting from sevetal points og views 。。。 defo worth a read

Phoebe Pinnock

My heart goes out to Sandra; thank you for sharing your life with us。 I found it fascinating and enjoyed spending time with you through your life memoirs。 I related to you in many ways。 A great read/listen。