Review by TuyetMai -- The Cult Next Door

Mai Tran · Post by **Mai Tran** » 06 Oct 2018, 07:22

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Cult Next Door" by Elizabeth R. Burchard, Judith L. Carlone.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Elizabeth “Liz” Burchard was three years old at the time of her parents' divorce. From then on, her mother turned abusive toward her, leaving Liz yearning for love and approval. Liz’s only safe haven was weekends spent with her father. Much to her despair, he passed away unexpectedly just before her 12th birthday. Her mother’s obsession with trendy health gurus eventually led them to meet George Sharkman, a handsome, charming, master manipulator. By then a gullible and impressionable 17-year-old, Liz got lured into his trap, hoping that “George’s mission for higher truth would carry [her] beyond despair” (Kindle Location 499). When George got fired from his job and had no office, Liz’s mother let him hold group therapy sessions in their apartment. Thus, the “Group” was born. As the years went by, George’s ideas became more and more bizarre, and Liz began to distance herself from the group but only in thoughts. If it wasn’t for her friend, Judith “Judy” Carlone, she would never have thought of leaving.

The Cult Next Door offered valuable insights that helped to dispel myths about cultists regarding their characters as well as their reasons for joining and staying in a cult. Contrary to popular beliefs, it was clear from the writing that Liz Burchard was an intelligent person capable of critical thinking. I found her need for love and pursuit of happiness extremely relatable, and I was rooting for her the whole time. In hindsight, it couldn’t be said that Liz joined the Group out of her own free will. It was chilling to see how the guru tricked Liz into thinking her only chance of survival lay with him. I found George Sharkman to be an extremely observant individual who always seemed to know what his followers were thinking. The book also stressed the importance of support from family and friends in winning back a loved one from a destructive cult. Liz was fortunate to have a friend outside the Group like Judy. Even though Liz found the guru ideas questionable, it took two years of patiently coaxing from Judy and a close encounter with bankruptcy for Liz to finally cut back her hours with the Group.

On a side note, it was interesting for me as a nutritionist to read about nutrition trends from half a century ago. Examined in the light of modern scientific knowledge, the instructions given by all the health gurus were absurd. It pained me to see how Liz’s mother followed them so religiously and how easy it was for a clinician to abuse their patients’ trust.

I was impressed at how well written and professionally edited this book was. The authors told the story as it happened with a bit of foreshadowing, so it was easy to read and follow. There were some uncommon word choices, but they didn’t affect my understanding of the book. The shifts in narrative between Liz and Judy were utilized well to tell the story from both sides. Their narratives were separated by chapter, and the chapter titles announced when it was Judy’s turn. At first, I found the narrative shifts disruptive and confusing because I didn’t pay much attention to the chapter titles. It got better once I noticed them.

My only issue with this book was the length. It couldn’t be helped since the story spanned over three decades. It was a problem for me only because I read it in one sitting. Even though the official summary clearly stated that Liz was freed from the cult, I needed to see for myself that it was indeed the truth. By the time I put this book down, I was exhausted.

The Cult Next Door offers valuable first-person accounts of experience with a cult. The book is very well written. It is long and a bit slow-paced but all in all engaging. Even though the language is non-explicit, this book does touch on violence, group sex, and suicide. For these reasons, it can be physically and mentally demanding to read. I think this book is more suitable for mature and emotionally developed readers. I appreciate Liz Burchard’s bravery in telling her story, and I’m happy how things turned out for her. I’m glad I picked up this book. It was an eye-opening read. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.

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The Cult Next Door
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crediblereading2 · Post by **crediblereading2** » 09 Oct 2018, 00:14

Poor Liz who had to lose her father at such a tender age and then being exposed to the cult. Her mother should have known better. This is a very interesting book. Thank you for your comprehensive review.

Mai Tran · Post by **Mai Tran** » 09 Oct 2018, 00:38

crediblereading2 wrote: ↑09 Oct 2018, 00:14 Poor Liz who had to lose her father at such a tender age and then being exposed to the cult. Her mother should have known better. This is a very interesting book. Thank you for your comprehensive review.

I agree. It's such a tough world without proper parental guidance. Thanks for stopping by!