Review of The Cult Next Door
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Tsanda H Correa
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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.]
Hoping to find a warm human connection, chance introduces Elizabeth to a man who seems to have all the answers. After her loving father passed away when she was twelve, and having an emotionally unavailable mother, Elizabeth longed for stability and the love her father took with him when he died. Without a real support system, her bond with Rachel, her mother, is normally one-sided and cold. Rachel, hopping from one trend to another, came across biofeedback therapy, a method to learn how to control some of the body's functions. This is where they met George. The process that followed was slow, creeping ever so gently to the point of no return.
George's following was small at first, although it never grew exponentially. That was enough for him, though. Emotional manipulation followed by a fostered codependency towards him and his group were key factors at play. In The Cult Next Door by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Caroline, we accompany Elizabeth from the very beginning of the formation of this cult and learn how George obtained such influence over people. Giving him practically everything they have, from money to their bodies, these young women spent decades of their lives struggling to eat, pay bills, and neglecting their health in order to appease this sadistic man whom they so admired.
Her experiences are gut-wrenching and somber, with glinting shimmers of hope spread throughout her life. Immersed in her storytelling, I felt for Elizabeth and rooted for Judith to make it through to her. Surrounded by negative influences masquerading around as if they were holier-than-thou, it's no wonder she struggled so much to break free. It amazed me to read how George warped all these bright, intelligent women into former shells of themselves, only to fill his pockets and satisfy his egocentric needs.
Mike, Serena, and Rachel stood out to me the most. As I became more and more sympathetic towards Elizabeth, I got so frustrated with each of them for taking advantage of such a gullible and kind person. Specifically with Rachel, who, as her mother, was supposed to give unconditional love and support to her child. Thankfully, she met Judith, who slowly but surely watered the seeds of doubt that were already planted in Elizabeth's mind. With her help and support, she regained some of her confidence that was stomped on time and time again. I adored reading this book and honestly don’t have anything negative to say.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. It is wonderfully edited and written. I like how the chapters are separated by dates; it made me really grasp how much time Elizabeth spent in the cult and how it was a slow process to finally separate from them. I easily dove into every word, sentence, and paragraph and found myself incredibly emotionally invested in Elizabeth's inevitable separation from her abuser. I recommend this book to mature audiences as it deals with sexual and financial manipulation, as well as physical and emotional abuse.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Hoping to find a warm human connection, chance introduces Elizabeth to a man who seems to have all the answers. After her loving father passed away when she was twelve, and having an emotionally unavailable mother, Elizabeth longed for stability and the love her father took with him when he died. Without a real support system, her bond with Rachel, her mother, is normally one-sided and cold. Rachel, hopping from one trend to another, came across biofeedback therapy, a method to learn how to control some of the body's functions. This is where they met George. The process that followed was slow, creeping ever so gently to the point of no return.
George's following was small at first, although it never grew exponentially. That was enough for him, though. Emotional manipulation followed by a fostered codependency towards him and his group were key factors at play. In The Cult Next Door by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Caroline, we accompany Elizabeth from the very beginning of the formation of this cult and learn how George obtained such influence over people. Giving him practically everything they have, from money to their bodies, these young women spent decades of their lives struggling to eat, pay bills, and neglecting their health in order to appease this sadistic man whom they so admired.
Her experiences are gut-wrenching and somber, with glinting shimmers of hope spread throughout her life. Immersed in her storytelling, I felt for Elizabeth and rooted for Judith to make it through to her. Surrounded by negative influences masquerading around as if they were holier-than-thou, it's no wonder she struggled so much to break free. It amazed me to read how George warped all these bright, intelligent women into former shells of themselves, only to fill his pockets and satisfy his egocentric needs.
Mike, Serena, and Rachel stood out to me the most. As I became more and more sympathetic towards Elizabeth, I got so frustrated with each of them for taking advantage of such a gullible and kind person. Specifically with Rachel, who, as her mother, was supposed to give unconditional love and support to her child. Thankfully, she met Judith, who slowly but surely watered the seeds of doubt that were already planted in Elizabeth's mind. With her help and support, she regained some of her confidence that was stomped on time and time again. I adored reading this book and honestly don’t have anything negative to say.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. It is wonderfully edited and written. I like how the chapters are separated by dates; it made me really grasp how much time Elizabeth spent in the cult and how it was a slow process to finally separate from them. I easily dove into every word, sentence, and paragraph and found myself incredibly emotionally invested in Elizabeth's inevitable separation from her abuser. I recommend this book to mature audiences as it deals with sexual and financial manipulation, as well as physical and emotional abuse.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: House of Eire by June Gillam
