Review by Manaluu -- The Cult Next Door
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Manaluu
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- Latest Review: The Cult Next Door by Elizabeth R. Burchard, Judith L. Carlone
Review by Manaluu -- The Cult Next Door
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Cult Next Door" by Elizabeth R. Burchard, Judith L. Carlone.]
The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir by Elizabeth R Buchard and Judith L. Carlone is the story of a shy, vulnerable young woman who surrenders herself to the dangerous, manipulative control of a pathological liar named George Sharkman.
Starving for a role model after an unfortunate chain of events (her father’s passing, her loveless mother’s addiction to alternative medicine, the sudden death of her first love) Elizabeth found herself gripped by the charismatic personality of George Sharkman, who claimed that he alone could harness the “truth” and “pure power” of God-like energy.
This book takes us through Elizabeth’s initiation into the dark, oppressive world of cult life, being persuaded and groomed by her shameless mother and eccentric “friend” Sharkman, to then finding strength in an unexpected friend, Judith, who helps to gradually pull her out of the brainwashed mentality that depraved her for so long.
I was very thankful to reach the end of The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir, not because I disliked the book, but because it was an exhausting experience to look in on how easily manipulated this vulnerable individual was. You want to reach in and shake her! A few times I had to put the book down just because it was so frustrating to see what easy prey she was to this “Sharkman” – as if his name wasn’t the perfect denotation to his predatory character. He was creepy, narcissistic, sociopathic, and a complete and utter lunatic.
Judith was Elizabeth’s saving grace – and mine too! I cannot stand seeing vulnerable people being exploited and so it was relieving to see Judith gradually destroying this awful cult mentality through patience and an undying support. Judith has her own chapters interspersed throughout the book offering a true outsider’s perspective which I think lended an interesting dynamic to the storytelling that didn't feel jolted or out of place.
This book was brilliantly edited with no grammatical mistakes anywhere. There are also no swear words used.
Overall, it was a fascinating book, experiencing a real journey from mental imprisonment to eventual liberation. I had never watched or read about cult activity from the perspective of a victim who escaped its control, so Elizabeth’s story was an eye-opener. I give it 4/4 stars.
I’m not sure I’ll read another book like this again anytime soon. I think I need some respite from the dark realities of abuse and mind control by reading a chick-lit or something. I recommend this to anyone who is fascinated by the idea of learning how a person is manipulated into cult life, why they fall under the charm of such eccentric personalities, and how they eventually escape that hellhole of an existence.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir by Elizabeth R Buchard and Judith L. Carlone is the story of a shy, vulnerable young woman who surrenders herself to the dangerous, manipulative control of a pathological liar named George Sharkman.
Starving for a role model after an unfortunate chain of events (her father’s passing, her loveless mother’s addiction to alternative medicine, the sudden death of her first love) Elizabeth found herself gripped by the charismatic personality of George Sharkman, who claimed that he alone could harness the “truth” and “pure power” of God-like energy.
This book takes us through Elizabeth’s initiation into the dark, oppressive world of cult life, being persuaded and groomed by her shameless mother and eccentric “friend” Sharkman, to then finding strength in an unexpected friend, Judith, who helps to gradually pull her out of the brainwashed mentality that depraved her for so long.
I was very thankful to reach the end of The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir, not because I disliked the book, but because it was an exhausting experience to look in on how easily manipulated this vulnerable individual was. You want to reach in and shake her! A few times I had to put the book down just because it was so frustrating to see what easy prey she was to this “Sharkman” – as if his name wasn’t the perfect denotation to his predatory character. He was creepy, narcissistic, sociopathic, and a complete and utter lunatic.
Judith was Elizabeth’s saving grace – and mine too! I cannot stand seeing vulnerable people being exploited and so it was relieving to see Judith gradually destroying this awful cult mentality through patience and an undying support. Judith has her own chapters interspersed throughout the book offering a true outsider’s perspective which I think lended an interesting dynamic to the storytelling that didn't feel jolted or out of place.
This book was brilliantly edited with no grammatical mistakes anywhere. There are also no swear words used.
Overall, it was a fascinating book, experiencing a real journey from mental imprisonment to eventual liberation. I had never watched or read about cult activity from the perspective of a victim who escaped its control, so Elizabeth’s story was an eye-opener. I give it 4/4 stars.
I’m not sure I’ll read another book like this again anytime soon. I think I need some respite from the dark realities of abuse and mind control by reading a chick-lit or something. I recommend this to anyone who is fascinated by the idea of learning how a person is manipulated into cult life, why they fall under the charm of such eccentric personalities, and how they eventually escape that hellhole of an existence.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
