Review by parg28 -- The Cult Next Door
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parg28
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Review by parg28 -- 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 by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone is a fascinating memoir about how one woman joined a cult without even realizing it and her journey to leave and reclaim her life. Since she was eight years old, Elizabeth had seen a therapist. Combined with her mother’s insatiable need for a guru in her life, Elizabeth and her mother began seeing a therapist’s technician with questionable techniques, called George Sharkman. Over the years, she gave everything she had to listen to his teachings, to learn and to be controlled. Near the end, she met someone who challenged the long-held beliefs and became a true friend. Judith broke down George’s teachings and allowed Elizabeth to see the deception behind them. In time, Elizabeth realized she had been brainwashed and had become beholden to a narcissistic man’s needs. Slowly, Elizabeth wakes up and sees the truth that was in front of her the whole time. Follow along her journey to find out if she has the willpower to leave and the courage to start her life anew.
The honest portrayal is one of the things I liked most about this book. There is a general belief among most people about what a cult is and the type of people that fall victim to a cult. However, this book challenges that belief and shows how anyone, regardless of education or background, can find themself in a situation like this. Readers see how a young woman, desperate for love and attention, fell victim to a narcissistic man who promised all that and more. As outsiders, readers see the abuse and the dependence happening and feel powerless to stop it, all while knowing that it can happen to anyone. This memoir doesn’t hold back or try to gloss over the truth of what happened, which makes it a refreshing and candid depiction of a cult.
I also enjoyed the writing style. For much of the book, readers are told the story from Elizabeth’s perspective until she meets Judith. Then, the story switches between the two women and readers see both sides of the story through two pairs of eyes and two contrasting lifestyles. We see Elizabeth’s despair and her journey toward freedom while also seeing Judith’s struggle to help her new friend see the truth. This writing style adds more depth and perspective to the true story.
If I had to pick something I disliked most, it would be some of the subject matter. There is violence, sexual themes, and physical and mental abuse throughout that can be disturbing or that may trigger some people. At times, this was hard to handle even though the descriptions were not too explicit.
For those wondering what a cult is like and how someone who is educated can fall victim to one, this memoir provides an honest look. As a warning, this book is not for the faint-hearted, so if themes of abuse, sex and violence disturb you, then this book is not for you. However, the true story is well told, well written, well edited and thought provoking. As such, I give this memoir a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
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The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Cult Next Door by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone is a fascinating memoir about how one woman joined a cult without even realizing it and her journey to leave and reclaim her life. Since she was eight years old, Elizabeth had seen a therapist. Combined with her mother’s insatiable need for a guru in her life, Elizabeth and her mother began seeing a therapist’s technician with questionable techniques, called George Sharkman. Over the years, she gave everything she had to listen to his teachings, to learn and to be controlled. Near the end, she met someone who challenged the long-held beliefs and became a true friend. Judith broke down George’s teachings and allowed Elizabeth to see the deception behind them. In time, Elizabeth realized she had been brainwashed and had become beholden to a narcissistic man’s needs. Slowly, Elizabeth wakes up and sees the truth that was in front of her the whole time. Follow along her journey to find out if she has the willpower to leave and the courage to start her life anew.
The honest portrayal is one of the things I liked most about this book. There is a general belief among most people about what a cult is and the type of people that fall victim to a cult. However, this book challenges that belief and shows how anyone, regardless of education or background, can find themself in a situation like this. Readers see how a young woman, desperate for love and attention, fell victim to a narcissistic man who promised all that and more. As outsiders, readers see the abuse and the dependence happening and feel powerless to stop it, all while knowing that it can happen to anyone. This memoir doesn’t hold back or try to gloss over the truth of what happened, which makes it a refreshing and candid depiction of a cult.
I also enjoyed the writing style. For much of the book, readers are told the story from Elizabeth’s perspective until she meets Judith. Then, the story switches between the two women and readers see both sides of the story through two pairs of eyes and two contrasting lifestyles. We see Elizabeth’s despair and her journey toward freedom while also seeing Judith’s struggle to help her new friend see the truth. This writing style adds more depth and perspective to the true story.
If I had to pick something I disliked most, it would be some of the subject matter. There is violence, sexual themes, and physical and mental abuse throughout that can be disturbing or that may trigger some people. At times, this was hard to handle even though the descriptions were not too explicit.
For those wondering what a cult is like and how someone who is educated can fall victim to one, this memoir provides an honest look. As a warning, this book is not for the faint-hearted, so if themes of abuse, sex and violence disturb you, then this book is not for you. However, the true story is well told, well written, well edited and thought provoking. As such, I give this memoir a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Individual Influence by Brian Smith and Mary Smith
