Review by timd -- The Cult Next Door
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Tim Terry
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Review by timd -- The Cult Next Door
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Cult Next Door" by Elizabeth R. Burchard, Judith L. Carlone.]
Most people have heard about some of the horrific cults that have appeared in news headlines. Because they have often featured violent acts such as murder or suicide, and have taken place in more remote locations, most of us do not realise that there are often, smaller, but no less powerful and sinister groups that may exist in dwellings next door to us. This is the subject of the memoir by Elizabeth Burchard and Judith Carlone. The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir, is the personal story of Elizabeth's twenty year involvement with such a cult.
She relates the story of her life, beginning as a young girl who loses her beloved father when he dies unexpectedly. Left in the care of a mother who was emotionally and, for a while, physically abusive, she falls in love at a young age. Unfortunately, her lover is killed in a freak accident and she is heartbroken.
Her mother, an erratic person who jumps from quack to quack in an endless search for cures to imaginary health problems, takes her to a doctor who specializes in bio-feedback techniques. Working as a technician for this doctor, George Sharkman, attracts and then captivates her as a young and impressionable girl, casting his evil spell over her. As she is drawn into the sinister web of his influence, her mother also falls for his charms. The story of a cult which was to last more than twenty years, and destroy countless lives, began like this.
Most of the book is written in the first person narrative by Elizabeth. She recounts the story of her life, her long involvement with George Sharkman, and her eventual rescue from his clutches, by Judith Carlone. Judith also writes some of the chapters, giving a fascinating glimpse of the horror from her perspective, as a friend, but an outsider to the cult.
Most readers will be disgusted and horrified that people can fall under the spell of such an evil person. Most readers will also think that this could never happen to them. The truth of the matter is that this is not the case. Many highly intelligent and successful people actually fall for such cults. However, I believe that the leaders of these cults are able to sense when a person is at their weakest, and then they are able to successfully exploit them.
This gripping account is written in a frank and genuine style which offers few excuses other than her vulnerability. It is particularly interesting to read how, as a young girl, she could easily see through the many quacks that her mother visited, but in the end, she herself was caught by the worst and the most harmful of them all.
The book is logically divided into parts and chapters. There is also an appendix which is a written rendition of a television interview with George Sharkman. Also included, is a comprehensive reference section. This contains valuable links to sites which may be useful to people who themselves are caught in the same trap that she was, and who desperately need help. A final section, containing sets of comprehension testing questions for each chapter, may appeal to some readers as well.
I believe that this book will be fascinating reading for most people. However, I think that it will be really useful for anyone caught in a cult themselves. All of the illusions and the false arguments that are frequently used are discussed in illuminating detail. The fact that the author makes no excuses for her own gullibility makes them even more believable.
I think this book would be an ideal gift for a friend of someone who is trapped in such a situation. Trying to reason with such a person is clearly pointless, but this book could very well be the instrument that saves them.
The seductiveness, as well as the life and family destroying power of such cults and their leaders, is graphically portrayed in this book. No formal religions are depicted in an unfavourable light. Although scenes of abuse and sadism are described, there are no graphic or upsetting details. Sex is also mentioned, but there are no erotic scenes included. This will be suitable for any but the most sensitive of readers, and there is no profanity at all.
Logically and well written, there were no errors in punctuation, grammar, or typos that I could identify, except for one word, which appeared to be incorrectly spelled. This is a fascinating book, but also hugely entertaining as well. I have awarded it a rating of four out of four stars.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Most people have heard about some of the horrific cults that have appeared in news headlines. Because they have often featured violent acts such as murder or suicide, and have taken place in more remote locations, most of us do not realise that there are often, smaller, but no less powerful and sinister groups that may exist in dwellings next door to us. This is the subject of the memoir by Elizabeth Burchard and Judith Carlone. The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir, is the personal story of Elizabeth's twenty year involvement with such a cult.
She relates the story of her life, beginning as a young girl who loses her beloved father when he dies unexpectedly. Left in the care of a mother who was emotionally and, for a while, physically abusive, she falls in love at a young age. Unfortunately, her lover is killed in a freak accident and she is heartbroken.
Her mother, an erratic person who jumps from quack to quack in an endless search for cures to imaginary health problems, takes her to a doctor who specializes in bio-feedback techniques. Working as a technician for this doctor, George Sharkman, attracts and then captivates her as a young and impressionable girl, casting his evil spell over her. As she is drawn into the sinister web of his influence, her mother also falls for his charms. The story of a cult which was to last more than twenty years, and destroy countless lives, began like this.
Most of the book is written in the first person narrative by Elizabeth. She recounts the story of her life, her long involvement with George Sharkman, and her eventual rescue from his clutches, by Judith Carlone. Judith also writes some of the chapters, giving a fascinating glimpse of the horror from her perspective, as a friend, but an outsider to the cult.
Most readers will be disgusted and horrified that people can fall under the spell of such an evil person. Most readers will also think that this could never happen to them. The truth of the matter is that this is not the case. Many highly intelligent and successful people actually fall for such cults. However, I believe that the leaders of these cults are able to sense when a person is at their weakest, and then they are able to successfully exploit them.
This gripping account is written in a frank and genuine style which offers few excuses other than her vulnerability. It is particularly interesting to read how, as a young girl, she could easily see through the many quacks that her mother visited, but in the end, she herself was caught by the worst and the most harmful of them all.
The book is logically divided into parts and chapters. There is also an appendix which is a written rendition of a television interview with George Sharkman. Also included, is a comprehensive reference section. This contains valuable links to sites which may be useful to people who themselves are caught in the same trap that she was, and who desperately need help. A final section, containing sets of comprehension testing questions for each chapter, may appeal to some readers as well.
I believe that this book will be fascinating reading for most people. However, I think that it will be really useful for anyone caught in a cult themselves. All of the illusions and the false arguments that are frequently used are discussed in illuminating detail. The fact that the author makes no excuses for her own gullibility makes them even more believable.
I think this book would be an ideal gift for a friend of someone who is trapped in such a situation. Trying to reason with such a person is clearly pointless, but this book could very well be the instrument that saves them.
The seductiveness, as well as the life and family destroying power of such cults and their leaders, is graphically portrayed in this book. No formal religions are depicted in an unfavourable light. Although scenes of abuse and sadism are described, there are no graphic or upsetting details. Sex is also mentioned, but there are no erotic scenes included. This will be suitable for any but the most sensitive of readers, and there is no profanity at all.
Logically and well written, there were no errors in punctuation, grammar, or typos that I could identify, except for one word, which appeared to be incorrectly spelled. This is a fascinating book, but also hugely entertaining as well. I have awarded it a rating of four out of four stars.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Mobius by Garon Whited
