Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
I appreciate what Stott is trying to do here and the subject of a cult should be really interesting to an outsider. Instead, this feels like Stott is covering everything she can, without reasoning as to why it's included. The resulting account is unevenly paced, dragging on at times and plainly boring at others.
The more interesting elements are concerned with Rebecca and her father's mental health and its connection to the extremity of the religion they experienced, how her education and social skills were hampered by how she'd started life and her father's eventual demise. It's just a shame that we have to wade through an entire breakdown of the history of the Bretheren to get there.
The more interesting elements are concerned with Rebecca and her father's mental health and its connection to the extremity of the religion they experienced, how her education and social skills were hampered by how she'd started life and her father's eventual demise. It's just a shame that we have to wade through an entire breakdown of the history of the Bretheren to get there.
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I first read Stott's work in my fourth year of university. My advanced Victorian literature class focused on science in literature during the time period so Stott's "Darwin and the Barnacle" and "Darwin's Ghosts" was our jumping off point. Our professor wanted to give us a historical context to set us up for later works in the class. When "In the Days of Rain" popped up on NetGalley, it was automatic to request a copy.
Stott's narrative is engrossing, pulling you head first into the world she is describing whether it be Darwin or her own history. There are points in time where truth is stranger than fiction and Stott's childhood could easily be one of those points. Especially in the current world it is much better to be aware that we are not seeing everything as it truly is. Shiny, smiling faces hides worlds full of abuse, and control.
The Brethren are a cult plain and simple, Stott has no issues calling a spade a spade. Her aftermath, however, is much more real than what is shown through television documentaries. It is learning how to live in a world you were told to despise. It is figuring out for yourself where you are supposed to go and what you want to believe, not what you are told to believe. There is a jarring jump from creationism to evolution, and I expect when I re-read Stott's previous work my understanding of her own origins will give a new perspective to her portrayal and examination of Darwin.
Overall, I am exceedingly pleased with this book and am overjoyed that she has shared her story. While my review may be a little mangled, I have nothing but positive feelings towards this book as a whole.
Stott's narrative is engrossing, pulling you head first into the world she is describing whether it be Darwin or her own history. There are points in time where truth is stranger than fiction and Stott's childhood could easily be one of those points. Especially in the current world it is much better to be aware that we are not seeing everything as it truly is. Shiny, smiling faces hides worlds full of abuse, and control.
The Brethren are a cult plain and simple, Stott has no issues calling a spade a spade. Her aftermath, however, is much more real than what is shown through television documentaries. It is learning how to live in a world you were told to despise. It is figuring out for yourself where you are supposed to go and what you want to believe, not what you are told to believe. There is a jarring jump from creationism to evolution, and I expect when I re-read Stott's previous work my understanding of her own origins will give a new perspective to her portrayal and examination of Darwin.
Overall, I am exceedingly pleased with this book and am overjoyed that she has shared her story. While my review may be a little mangled, I have nothing but positive feelings towards this book as a whole.
This was certainly an interesting read but I'm in two minds about it.
Although I really enjoyed the parts that revolved around Rebecca and her father, the sections that delved more into the history of the Exclusive Brethren were very dry in my opinion. I went from being totally invested in Rebecca's life and the lives of her family, to being completely removed from the story as if I were reading a history textbook. It was very jarring. You would go from an incredibly intimate look into the life of this family to feeling utterly distant and like an outsider. It did help to illustrate the contrast between members of the Exclusive Brethren and "Worldies", but it could have been talked about less, in my opinion.
That being said, I still really enjoyed reading this book. I cried (a lot) and I learned about a cult which I had never heard about before. I thought it was very well written and insightful and would recommend listening to the audiobook as Rebecca herself narrates it.
Although I really enjoyed the parts that revolved around Rebecca and her father, the sections that delved more into the history of the Exclusive Brethren were very dry in my opinion. I went from being totally invested in Rebecca's life and the lives of her family, to being completely removed from the story as if I were reading a history textbook. It was very jarring. You would go from an incredibly intimate look into the life of this family to feeling utterly distant and like an outsider. It did help to illustrate the contrast between members of the Exclusive Brethren and "Worldies", but it could have been talked about less, in my opinion.
That being said, I still really enjoyed reading this book. I cried (a lot) and I learned about a cult which I had never heard about before. I thought it was very well written and insightful and would recommend listening to the audiobook as Rebecca herself narrates it.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Interesting and well put-together. Having read elsewhere about fundamental religious sects, the gravity the Brethren didn't come through as much, but I think that's due to a narrative more centered around her father. I was looking for more cult, less memoir, but that was my fault!
An honest and deeply felt story about the feelings and questions brought on by cult life, if not so much about the events and facts. It's a familiar story if you know cult stories and memoirs about complicated parent relationships, and it's well written. Didn't super grab me outside of her memories of girlhood (which made me wish we'd had more focus on her hardworking mom) but definitely worth reading.