Review by redheadmargo -- The Cult Next Door

redheadmargo · Post by **redheadmargo** » 20 Feb 2019, 13:40

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

4 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

This is a review for the non-fiction book The Cult Next Door A Manhattan Memoir written by Elizabeth R. Burchard LSW and Judith L Carlone. After a careful treading of this book, I would rate it at 4 out of 4 stars. The book started a little slow, but as I continued to read, I found myself invested in the main character and eager to read her story. I enjoyed this book because the authors didn’t try to make excuses for being swept up into this cult, they just documented it and let the reader be the judge. The only thing that I disliked was the absence of more follow up on the main character’s recovery. After reading how far she had fallen, I really wanted to know more about her climb back out to her life.

This book starts in the early seventies with the main characters struggles as her parents separate and her life takes on new challenges. Her mother’s choices and behavior set the stage for a young girl to seek out relationships, whether they are healthy ones or not. Now, enter a charlatan, claiming to know how to help her and how to make her life fruitful and happy. As her interactions with this man become more frequent and personal, she is almost programmed to subject herself to vicious, and what I would consider evil, interactions with this man.

Each chapter takes you deeper into this conditioning she was exposed to constantly. Making things exponentially worse, she was paying enormous sums of money for the” privilege” of belonging to this group. As a reader, it seemed easy for me to challenge and scoff at the “therapy” and “stress relief “being offered to the main character. With further reflection though, I empathized with her situation and likened it to the tale of a frog put in a pot of cold water and then the water is slowly heated until he is cooked. Towards the end of her captivity, the things that were happening seemed incredibly bizarre but the reader must remember that all these things the group experienced seemed to be logical and truthful occurrences in tune with their past experiences.

This book is a deep and uncensored look into cult experiences but it also a book written in recovery and hope. When I finished this book, after reading through the book club questions, I was truly happy for the authors journey and wished her all the joy and luck in the world. I felt she had overcome and triumphed over evil.

Making this book easily read, the editing and proof reading seemed excellent. The use of the author Judy’s name at each chapter head that she narrating, made it easy to follow along with who was writing the chapter. It could have been a little confusing had this not been done.

******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Like redheadmargo's review? Post a comment saying so!

Kristin Ransome · Post by **Kristin Ransome** » 21 Feb 2019, 08:42

I enjoy when authors allow the reader to decide how they feel about events, instead of showing them how to feel! This sounds like an interesting, albeit dark read, that may shine some light on how people get swept up in this type of madness! Thanks for the review

InStoree · Post by **InStoree** » 25 Feb 2019, 10:24

Now you made me curious about this cult and what they experienced. I guess it's very easy to get caught in these vicious circles, especially when life hits you. Thanks for your review!