Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Debiut zainspirowany prawdziwymi wydarzeniami z życia autorki.
W wieku 19 lat autorka trafia do Kościoła scjentologicznego, w którym szybko awansuje i w 2004 roku ucieka z niego w dramatycznych okolicznościach. Napisana przez nią powieść, zostaje wydana dopiero 25 lat później, kiedy autorka do dobre wyzwala się spod władzy scjentologów i zaczyna głośno mówić o swoich doświadczeniach.
Może nie jest to mrożący krew w żyłach thriller, ani fenomen na skalę "Millennium", nie mniej jednak fabuła wciąga i w niektórych momentach potrafiła nieźle zagrać mi na emocjach.
Ta historia jest kolejnym dowodem na to, jak w podstępny sposób sekta potrafi wypaczyć myślenie człowieka i zrobić z niego całkowicie ubezwłasnowolnioną ofiarę.
Pierwsza część zaciekawiła mnie na tyle, że z chęcią zabiorę się za kolejną.
W wieku 19 lat autorka trafia do Kościoła scjentologicznego, w którym szybko awansuje i w 2004 roku ucieka z niego w dramatycznych okolicznościach. Napisana przez nią powieść, zostaje wydana dopiero 25 lat później, kiedy autorka do dobre wyzwala się spod władzy scjentologów i zaczyna głośno mówić o swoich doświadczeniach.
Może nie jest to mrożący krew w żyłach thriller, ani fenomen na skalę "Millennium", nie mniej jednak fabuła wciąga i w niektórych momentach potrafiła nieźle zagrać mi na emocjach.
Ta historia jest kolejnym dowodem na to, jak w podstępny sposób sekta potrafi wypaczyć myślenie człowieka i zrobić z niego całkowicie ubezwłasnowolnioną ofiarę.
Pierwsza część zaciekawiła mnie na tyle, że z chęcią zabiorę się za kolejną.
Hvad får en tilsyneladende stærk og velfungerende kvinde til at blive opslugt af en kult? Vi har set det før, og vil vi sandsynligt se det igen – og stadig vil det spørgsmål som regel stå ubesvaret. Sekten på Tågeøen forsøger at besvare netop det spørgsmål, og det gør bogen meget interessant og fascinerende.
Bogen er meget velskrevet og giver læserne et helt unikt indblik i en ellers ukendt verden. Det er både skræmmende og oplysende at læse om, hvordan nogle mennesker udelukkende ved brug af karisma og charme kan fortrylle mennesker. Franz Oswalds evne til at manipulere mennesker i en grad, så de ikke længere vil kæmpe for deres selvstændighed, kan være utrolig læsning. Til tider virker hændelserne direkte bizarre og urealistiske – og det er måske de mest skræmmende dele af bogen, fordi de nok er baseret på virkelige hændelser.
Personligt savner jeg en smule mere indsigt i Sofias inderste følelser, tanker og bevæggrunde. Hvorfor blev hun ved så længe? Hvorfor fandt hun sig i den udvikling? Var det drømmen om at det en dag ville vende tilbage til den lykkefølelse og frihed hun fandt i starten? Måske vil man aldrig kunne forstå det, med mindre man selv har været i situationen.
Det i sagen natur realistiske præg over bogen fremhæves også af de tydelige paralleller mellem Franz og tidligere i historien beskrevne sektledere. Fælles for dem er deres uimodståelige karisma og charme, og deres manglende empati og ansvarsfølelse. (og helt uden for referat, så kan noget af den anvendte retorik overføres til en nuværende amerikansk politiker).
Personskildringerne er gode og giver afrundede billeder af hovedkaraktererne. Øens til tider barske naturforhold er på glimrende vis inddraget i handlingen, og er med til at hæve bogens billedmæssige side. Og selvom bogens handling foregår i et stille og roligt tempo, så er der hele tiden en underliggende stemning af frygt, der vil ramme alle læsere.
“Du vælger ikke dem. De vælger dig.”
Bogen er meget velskrevet og giver læserne et helt unikt indblik i en ellers ukendt verden. Det er både skræmmende og oplysende at læse om, hvordan nogle mennesker udelukkende ved brug af karisma og charme kan fortrylle mennesker. Franz Oswalds evne til at manipulere mennesker i en grad, så de ikke længere vil kæmpe for deres selvstændighed, kan være utrolig læsning. Til tider virker hændelserne direkte bizarre og urealistiske – og det er måske de mest skræmmende dele af bogen, fordi de nok er baseret på virkelige hændelser.
Personligt savner jeg en smule mere indsigt i Sofias inderste følelser, tanker og bevæggrunde. Hvorfor blev hun ved så længe? Hvorfor fandt hun sig i den udvikling? Var det drømmen om at det en dag ville vende tilbage til den lykkefølelse og frihed hun fandt i starten? Måske vil man aldrig kunne forstå det, med mindre man selv har været i situationen.
Det i sagen natur realistiske præg over bogen fremhæves også af de tydelige paralleller mellem Franz og tidligere i historien beskrevne sektledere. Fælles for dem er deres uimodståelige karisma og charme, og deres manglende empati og ansvarsfølelse. (og helt uden for referat, så kan noget af den anvendte retorik overføres til en nuværende amerikansk politiker).
Personskildringerne er gode og giver afrundede billeder af hovedkaraktererne. Øens til tider barske naturforhold er på glimrende vis inddraget i handlingen, og er med til at hæve bogens billedmæssige side. Og selvom bogens handling foregår i et stille og roligt tempo, så er der hele tiden en underliggende stemning af frygt, der vil ramme alle læsere.
“Du vælger ikke dem. De vælger dig.”
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Många var de som läste Sekten på Dimön när den kom. Och typ alla verkade vara överens om att den var vansinnigt bra. Själv köpte jag den när den kom i pocket och sedan har den blivit stående. Under åren som gått så har jag läst två andra böcker av Mariette Lindstein och de har varit bra, men denna tog det emot lite att börja läsa. För några år sedan plockade jag i alla fall fram den och ställde den i den prioriterade hyllan. När jag planerade vilka böcker jag skulle läsa i september så tyckte jag att det fick vara nog.
Från början har jag för mig att den här serien skulle bli en trilogi, men nu är det uppe i sju böcker. Något som påverkat min lust att börja läsa. Förmodligen så har min ovilja också haft sin grund i tjocklek, upphaussning och tema. Jag har så otroligt svårt för att tycka att psykopater är intressanta. För mig är de bara skrämmande och läskiga. Och tyvärr alldeles för vanligt förekommande i verkligheten för att jag ska tycka att det är spännande.
Jag önskar så att jag kunde hävda att det som händer i Sekten på Dimön aldrig skulle kunna hända i verkligheten. Tyvärr så räcker det ju att bara titta på nyheterna för att bli överbevisad. Världen är full av psykopater och andra vettvillingar. Om serien håller för sju delar återstår att se. Jag har i alla fall de fem första, men kanske skulle jag ha varit nöjd med bara den här första boken.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg.
Från början har jag för mig att den här serien skulle bli en trilogi, men nu är det uppe i sju böcker. Något som påverkat min lust att börja läsa. Förmodligen så har min ovilja också haft sin grund i tjocklek, upphaussning och tema. Jag har så otroligt svårt för att tycka att psykopater är intressanta. För mig är de bara skrämmande och läskiga. Och tyvärr alldeles för vanligt förekommande i verkligheten för att jag ska tycka att det är spännande.
Jag önskar så att jag kunde hävda att det som händer i Sekten på Dimön aldrig skulle kunna hända i verkligheten. Tyvärr så räcker det ju att bara titta på nyheterna för att bli överbevisad. Världen är full av psykopater och andra vettvillingar. Om serien håller för sju delar återstår att se. Jag har i alla fall de fem första, men kanske skulle jag ha varit nöjd med bara den här första boken.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg.
While on the hunt for a read that was dark and fit my mood at the time, I found this book in my ebook collection. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I liked the cover of this book, and the tag-line in conjunction with the idea of cults is what drew me in. There is also something special about the title; fog is a spooky and mysterious substance. Some of my scariest nights have been driving through the fog with no other cars around and just that feeling of otherworldliness.
This book was originally published in Swedish but is being translated into English. I'm really excited because this is part of a trilogy. What is even more interesting is that the author, Mariette Lindstein was a member of the Church of Scientology for 25 years. I learned this after I started reading this book and could definitely see places where that background bled into this book and the ideas she unpacks within it. If you read her biography page on her literary website, it talks about how Lindstein was living in a compound in California that was eerily similar to the one she writes about on Fog Island and how she had to escape after it became more than she had signed up for. It goes on to say that Lindstein is dedicated to speaking out about cults and cult mentality that can perpetuate those circumstances. I love this so much and find it fascinating.
Other than being a book that can be too close to home for some, it also stands as a gripping thriller. At first, I had a little trouble getting into it and just understanding the general flow and movement of the novel because it is told through two viewpoints. The main story revolves around Sofia and her indoctrination into the cult of ViaTerra and her later escape. The second point of view is from a character named Fredrik and details some interesting parts of his life. What is really cool for me about these two storylines is how they intersect; near the end when it becomes clear I had a really neat "a-ha!" moment and thoroughly enjoyed that little addition to the plot. It was well thought out, especially for something that seemed so confusing at first.
This book was long for me; I read it slowly, but it was still something that I kept thinking about and didn't want to put down because I just needed to know how the story was going to pan out. Something specifically that I loved is how well Lindstein writes trust and reliability in this book. In the end, after Sofia escapes, I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because of the previous instances in the book and occurrences, I as the reader had a difficult time trusting characters. It's fascinating to see how this is written and projected onto the reader; I can't imagine what Sofia or anyone facing a similar or same situation would feel like. While the story caught me, this transfer of paranoia from the book to the reader was what I really appreciated. It makes perfect sense to use this in a book like this, it adds exponentially to the thriller factor and makes it an even more memorable story. I don't think I will ever forget this book and the things that I read in it.
I have no problems with this book, even when it comes to writing. This book was translated from Swedish; this becomes apparent in some of the word choice and a few places with word order. For me, however, that sort of thing isn't a deal-breaker for me as it is just a minor translation issue. It doesn't stem from a poorly written sentence, but just differences in languages. Otherwise, the writing was well-done, the use of tension and expectation was also on point, and I really enjoyed the details placed on the setting and the foreboding feeling the book had. It was very atmospheric and it works perfectly for the cult setting.
I'm excited to see what the other two books of this series detail. I know that roughly, the second is more focused on how cults keep going and how they still bother past members, and the third book is apparently from the viewpoint of a child growing up in the cult. Regardless, I want to read them both as soon as they are available to finish up this trilogy and see what else Lindstein has to say on the subject.
I am easily giving this book five stars. I had no major issues with it, I loved the storyline and how well it shows the progression of cults and how people can just get too caught up in something before they can even begin to realize how wrong something may be. It is sad, but it is a reality that still occurs today. Above all, it was a strongly written thriller with an even stronger message about cult mentality and the dangers of becoming to close to it.
This book was originally published in Swedish but is being translated into English. I'm really excited because this is part of a trilogy. What is even more interesting is that the author, Mariette Lindstein was a member of the Church of Scientology for 25 years. I learned this after I started reading this book and could definitely see places where that background bled into this book and the ideas she unpacks within it. If you read her biography page on her literary website, it talks about how Lindstein was living in a compound in California that was eerily similar to the one she writes about on Fog Island and how she had to escape after it became more than she had signed up for. It goes on to say that Lindstein is dedicated to speaking out about cults and cult mentality that can perpetuate those circumstances. I love this so much and find it fascinating.
Other than being a book that can be too close to home for some, it also stands as a gripping thriller. At first, I had a little trouble getting into it and just understanding the general flow and movement of the novel because it is told through two viewpoints. The main story revolves around Sofia and her indoctrination into the cult of ViaTerra and her later escape. The second point of view is from a character named Fredrik and details some interesting parts of his life. What is really cool for me about these two storylines is how they intersect; near the end when it becomes clear I had a really neat "a-ha!" moment and thoroughly enjoyed that little addition to the plot. It was well thought out, especially for something that seemed so confusing at first.
This book was long for me; I read it slowly, but it was still something that I kept thinking about and didn't want to put down because I just needed to know how the story was going to pan out. Something specifically that I loved is how well Lindstein writes trust and reliability in this book. In the end, after Sofia escapes, I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because of the previous instances in the book and occurrences, I as the reader had a difficult time trusting characters. It's fascinating to see how this is written and projected onto the reader; I can't imagine what Sofia or anyone facing a similar or same situation would feel like. While the story caught me, this transfer of paranoia from the book to the reader was what I really appreciated. It makes perfect sense to use this in a book like this, it adds exponentially to the thriller factor and makes it an even more memorable story. I don't think I will ever forget this book and the things that I read in it.
I have no problems with this book, even when it comes to writing. This book was translated from Swedish; this becomes apparent in some of the word choice and a few places with word order. For me, however, that sort of thing isn't a deal-breaker for me as it is just a minor translation issue. It doesn't stem from a poorly written sentence, but just differences in languages. Otherwise, the writing was well-done, the use of tension and expectation was also on point, and I really enjoyed the details placed on the setting and the foreboding feeling the book had. It was very atmospheric and it works perfectly for the cult setting.
I'm excited to see what the other two books of this series detail. I know that roughly, the second is more focused on how cults keep going and how they still bother past members, and the third book is apparently from the viewpoint of a child growing up in the cult. Regardless, I want to read them both as soon as they are available to finish up this trilogy and see what else Lindstein has to say on the subject.
I am easily giving this book five stars. I had no major issues with it, I loved the storyline and how well it shows the progression of cults and how people can just get too caught up in something before they can even begin to realize how wrong something may be. It is sad, but it is a reality that still occurs today. Above all, it was a strongly written thriller with an even stronger message about cult mentality and the dangers of becoming to close to it.
This book had some nice qualities. The vivid and bleak depiction of Fog Island was a well-formed world which often felt dream-like and haunting. The author cleverly weaves the web of cult behaviour which traps all its subjects, in a manner that’s plausible though not entirely suspenseful.
My criticisms are that the novel is far too long, slow in many places and unfortunately doesn’t quite draw Oswald, the cult, leader, in quite a convincing enough manner.
My criticisms are that the novel is far too long, slow in many places and unfortunately doesn’t quite draw Oswald, the cult, leader, in quite a convincing enough manner.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book irritated me. As I read, I couldn’t help thinking how this book perpetuates the idea of women who can’t think for themselves, who don’t trust their instincts, and need a man. It would’ve made for a more intriguing novel had the main character followed her instincts AND still ended up in a cult.
The other irritating factor was that by about 100 pages in you could tell what the ending would be.
The other irritating factor was that by about 100 pages in you could tell what the ending would be.