Review by Jlbaird85 -- The Cult Next Door
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Jlbaird85
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Review by Jlbaird85 -- The Cult Next Door
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Cult Next Door" by Elizabeth R. Burchard, Judith L. Carlone.]
4 out of 4 stars
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The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir by Elizabeth R. Burchard, LSW and Judith L Carlone is a story of light conquering darkness. Once plagued by oppressive spirits that were literally killing her, Liz shares her story of conquering her fear and healing from years of abuse. Fighting the stigma that all who enter into cults are weak, stupid, and blinded individuals, Liz shares the mind control, emotional manipulation, verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse she experienced that led her to spend 20 years in the cult.
Elizabeth, or Liz as she is referred to in the memoir, had a difficult childhood. Her mother and father divorced when she was 3 years old. Her mother was critical of her every move, emotionally reserved, and verbally abusive. She was always on the quest for new forms of enlightenment. Her father, on the other hand, was her refuge; he was a kind, caring man she loved and adored. He died suddenly when Liz was 11 years old. This loss of her safe haven led her to a destructive path.
One of the new forms of enlightenment her mother sought after was through a biofeedback guru named George. George was the devil in disguise. He brought them in for sessions during which the master manipulator destroyed their relationships with the outside world. His approval became all that mattered. George slowly indoctrinated them into his society shaming beliefs that the world was “the program,” and they had to fight society’s norms. Liz chronicles her journey of being indoctrinated into and living as a member of this cult.
Then one day a miracle occurred. Judith, the second author, entered her life and was able to slowly lead her out of the cult. Judith, who is a Christian, immediately felt the evil associated with the members of the cult. Drawn inexplicably to Liz, they formed a friendship that withstood the abuse of the cult. Immediately, their friendship was challenged and belittled by members in an attempt to end the relationship. It took three years, but eventually, Liz’s eyes were opened to the demonic forces that were at work in the cult. She was able to escape and move forward with determination to conquer years of ingrained fears to heal from the abuse.
What I liked most about this book was that it was a testament to God's grace. Liz faces years of abuse that were physically taking their toll on her body. Exhausted, depressed, unable to eat, she struggled daily with the oppression and abuse she faced in the cult. However through God's amazing grace, he sent Judith into her life to infuse hope into Liz's hopeless existence. As the reader, I felt profound darkness wondering how this women was ever going to escape, so when Judith starts sharing her story, the hope I felt was overwhelming. I was so thankful that God brought someone into Liz's life to help her off the destructive path she was on.
I tried to think of something that I disliked most about this book, but it was hard to come up with something. The only thing that I can say is that because this was written chronologically, there are some things that are introduced long before the readers understand why they are significant. It interrupted the flow; although when those pieces were revealed later, it was clear why the authors felt the need to mention them.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was impeccably written with no proofreading errors that I found which seems to indicate it was professionally edited. There was nothing major that I disliked about this book, only what was previously mentioned. It is an intense, but excellent read for those who are interested in how people enter cults and for those that love books that recount peoples’ journeys to overcome the strongholds in their lives. I would recommend this book for adult readers. There are some 18+ scenarios that occur that would be inappropriate for some readers. Additionally, there are some very disturbing scenes having to do with animals to which readers may be sensitive. I was extremely repulsed by the treatment of animals (not at the hands of the authors, but of George, the cult leader) though the stories were necessary to show the downward spiral of George into a deranged psychopath.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
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The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir by Elizabeth R. Burchard, LSW and Judith L Carlone is a story of light conquering darkness. Once plagued by oppressive spirits that were literally killing her, Liz shares her story of conquering her fear and healing from years of abuse. Fighting the stigma that all who enter into cults are weak, stupid, and blinded individuals, Liz shares the mind control, emotional manipulation, verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse she experienced that led her to spend 20 years in the cult.
Elizabeth, or Liz as she is referred to in the memoir, had a difficult childhood. Her mother and father divorced when she was 3 years old. Her mother was critical of her every move, emotionally reserved, and verbally abusive. She was always on the quest for new forms of enlightenment. Her father, on the other hand, was her refuge; he was a kind, caring man she loved and adored. He died suddenly when Liz was 11 years old. This loss of her safe haven led her to a destructive path.
One of the new forms of enlightenment her mother sought after was through a biofeedback guru named George. George was the devil in disguise. He brought them in for sessions during which the master manipulator destroyed their relationships with the outside world. His approval became all that mattered. George slowly indoctrinated them into his society shaming beliefs that the world was “the program,” and they had to fight society’s norms. Liz chronicles her journey of being indoctrinated into and living as a member of this cult.
Then one day a miracle occurred. Judith, the second author, entered her life and was able to slowly lead her out of the cult. Judith, who is a Christian, immediately felt the evil associated with the members of the cult. Drawn inexplicably to Liz, they formed a friendship that withstood the abuse of the cult. Immediately, their friendship was challenged and belittled by members in an attempt to end the relationship. It took three years, but eventually, Liz’s eyes were opened to the demonic forces that were at work in the cult. She was able to escape and move forward with determination to conquer years of ingrained fears to heal from the abuse.
What I liked most about this book was that it was a testament to God's grace. Liz faces years of abuse that were physically taking their toll on her body. Exhausted, depressed, unable to eat, she struggled daily with the oppression and abuse she faced in the cult. However through God's amazing grace, he sent Judith into her life to infuse hope into Liz's hopeless existence. As the reader, I felt profound darkness wondering how this women was ever going to escape, so when Judith starts sharing her story, the hope I felt was overwhelming. I was so thankful that God brought someone into Liz's life to help her off the destructive path she was on.
I tried to think of something that I disliked most about this book, but it was hard to come up with something. The only thing that I can say is that because this was written chronologically, there are some things that are introduced long before the readers understand why they are significant. It interrupted the flow; although when those pieces were revealed later, it was clear why the authors felt the need to mention them.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was impeccably written with no proofreading errors that I found which seems to indicate it was professionally edited. There was nothing major that I disliked about this book, only what was previously mentioned. It is an intense, but excellent read for those who are interested in how people enter cults and for those that love books that recount peoples’ journeys to overcome the strongholds in their lives. I would recommend this book for adult readers. There are some 18+ scenarios that occur that would be inappropriate for some readers. Additionally, there are some very disturbing scenes having to do with animals to which readers may be sensitive. I was extremely repulsed by the treatment of animals (not at the hands of the authors, but of George, the cult leader) though the stories were necessary to show the downward spiral of George into a deranged psychopath.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Jlbaird85's review? Post a comment saying so!
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts
Shakespeare-As You Like It Act II, Scene VII
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts
Shakespeare-As You Like It Act II, Scene VII
Latest Review: The Crystilleries of Echoland by Dew Pellucid
