Review of The Cult Next Door
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Review of 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 is a memoir of an impressionable young woman, Elizabeth aka Liz ensnared in a cult that has seemingly innocent origins and the events that follow. Liz and Rachel, her mother, meet George, an assistant technician to a biofeedback specialist. Seeking reprieve from plaguing health issues, a 17-year-old college freshman, Liz gains membership into a nefarious society. Lacking a supportive social life and disillusioned by prophecy, a woman of science gets sucked deeper into a duplicitous world with no way out. Claiming the end of the world at the hands of ‘Crazy’ people, George preaches that salvation can be attained only with him at the helm and through ‘ENERGY’. Digging his talons deep into the emotional void of naive people seeking guidance from a higher power, he is the epitome of deceit and corruption. Burchard through her narrative, painstakingly details her inner turmoil, helplessness, and total lack of control. A retelling of a horrid tale with the hope that’s available to those lost in the sea of despair, The Cult Next Door is a testament to second chances in life for those willing to leap. Redefining self, overcoming abuse, and finding the agency to advocate for herself. Burchard narrates an extraordinary tale of patience.
There are many positives in this book. From a psychological viewpoint, the book is written with clarity in regards to the portrayal of characters and their mechanisms. Terms like grandiose, mania, depression, anxiety, narcissism, suicide, Stockholm syndrome, escalation commitment, sexual deviance, necromancy, brain fog, megalomania, and hoarding to list a few are used responsibly and in context. In no way is it exaggerated, most times I found myself anguished at Liz’s plight. The scenarios Burchard paints could be happening to anyone in real-time. What I found astounding about the memoir was the isolation and constant berating that she suffered in constant silence. The inner workings of a cult, the recruitment process, the common nature of the victims, twisted diktat, inability to imply critical thinking, and twisted interpretation of the ‘law of reciprocity are some of the topics that are covered in the memoir. The slow steeping into the cult, the highs and lows, the stupefied life Liz leads, the abuse she undergoes, and the justified violence at the hands of others are some scenarios where the reader can't help but empathize with Liz. At every stage in life, she loses more than she gains because of the cult. An example to highlight the quack-like nature of George is his explanation and understanding of the ‘female game’. He is allowed extra-marital affairs to break 'social barriers' to heighten his awareness while accusing the women of playing the 'female game’.
There are many positives to Burchard's style of writing that are impossible to encapsulate here. Some skin-crawling metaphors employed to describe the cult were, "baby birds cheeping", and "siphoning my life’s blood". Though unpopular, George from an observer's perspective is fascinating in his commitment to cultivating his cult, which uses his teachings as a crutch, without which they cannot perform simple functions. This crutch becomes a parasite that slowly leeches out their life and finances, causing subsequent mental health problems. It’s truly incredulous how Elizabeth was able to convey the horrors she experienced and lived through in words that resonated and transported the reader into her shoes.
There were no negative aspects found in the book. The book is well-edited and comprehensive.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The Cult Next Door by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone provides an insight into the evils lurking next door. It is a warning of consequences, repentance, and time lost that can never be regained. Elizabeth’s account is a stark reminder of the evils in the world and how light can shine even in the darkest of places. Foul language is used extensively and is offensive. There are graphic and subtle descriptions of sexual acts that are mostly non-consensual. The book also contains discourse that might hurt religious sentiments as well as detailed accounts of sexual, verbal, physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. The book is well-edited with no grammatical errors.
I would recommend this book to teenagers and mature audiences. Very few people live the life Elizabeth has lived, offering her truth to the world, so their reality may not be repeated in the future. I only wish more people were privy to the existence of this book.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Cult Next Door is a memoir of an impressionable young woman, Elizabeth aka Liz ensnared in a cult that has seemingly innocent origins and the events that follow. Liz and Rachel, her mother, meet George, an assistant technician to a biofeedback specialist. Seeking reprieve from plaguing health issues, a 17-year-old college freshman, Liz gains membership into a nefarious society. Lacking a supportive social life and disillusioned by prophecy, a woman of science gets sucked deeper into a duplicitous world with no way out. Claiming the end of the world at the hands of ‘Crazy’ people, George preaches that salvation can be attained only with him at the helm and through ‘ENERGY’. Digging his talons deep into the emotional void of naive people seeking guidance from a higher power, he is the epitome of deceit and corruption. Burchard through her narrative, painstakingly details her inner turmoil, helplessness, and total lack of control. A retelling of a horrid tale with the hope that’s available to those lost in the sea of despair, The Cult Next Door is a testament to second chances in life for those willing to leap. Redefining self, overcoming abuse, and finding the agency to advocate for herself. Burchard narrates an extraordinary tale of patience.
There are many positives in this book. From a psychological viewpoint, the book is written with clarity in regards to the portrayal of characters and their mechanisms. Terms like grandiose, mania, depression, anxiety, narcissism, suicide, Stockholm syndrome, escalation commitment, sexual deviance, necromancy, brain fog, megalomania, and hoarding to list a few are used responsibly and in context. In no way is it exaggerated, most times I found myself anguished at Liz’s plight. The scenarios Burchard paints could be happening to anyone in real-time. What I found astounding about the memoir was the isolation and constant berating that she suffered in constant silence. The inner workings of a cult, the recruitment process, the common nature of the victims, twisted diktat, inability to imply critical thinking, and twisted interpretation of the ‘law of reciprocity are some of the topics that are covered in the memoir. The slow steeping into the cult, the highs and lows, the stupefied life Liz leads, the abuse she undergoes, and the justified violence at the hands of others are some scenarios where the reader can't help but empathize with Liz. At every stage in life, she loses more than she gains because of the cult. An example to highlight the quack-like nature of George is his explanation and understanding of the ‘female game’. He is allowed extra-marital affairs to break 'social barriers' to heighten his awareness while accusing the women of playing the 'female game’.
There are many positives to Burchard's style of writing that are impossible to encapsulate here. Some skin-crawling metaphors employed to describe the cult were, "baby birds cheeping", and "siphoning my life’s blood". Though unpopular, George from an observer's perspective is fascinating in his commitment to cultivating his cult, which uses his teachings as a crutch, without which they cannot perform simple functions. This crutch becomes a parasite that slowly leeches out their life and finances, causing subsequent mental health problems. It’s truly incredulous how Elizabeth was able to convey the horrors she experienced and lived through in words that resonated and transported the reader into her shoes.
There were no negative aspects found in the book. The book is well-edited and comprehensive.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The Cult Next Door by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone provides an insight into the evils lurking next door. It is a warning of consequences, repentance, and time lost that can never be regained. Elizabeth’s account is a stark reminder of the evils in the world and how light can shine even in the darkest of places. Foul language is used extensively and is offensive. There are graphic and subtle descriptions of sexual acts that are mostly non-consensual. The book also contains discourse that might hurt religious sentiments as well as detailed accounts of sexual, verbal, physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. The book is well-edited with no grammatical errors.
I would recommend this book to teenagers and mature audiences. Very few people live the life Elizabeth has lived, offering her truth to the world, so their reality may not be repeated in the future. I only wish more people were privy to the existence of this book.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
