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946 reviews for:
Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church
Megan Phelps-Roper
4.15 AVERAGE
946 reviews for:
Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church
Megan Phelps-Roper
4.15 AVERAGE
I received a copy of this book via the Goodreads' giveaway program.
I thought that it was a great story, but at times, the writing felt disjointed- sometimes the narrative jumped back and forth and was a little confusing. The writing and story got stronger as it went along, and I couldn't wait to read how she managed to escape. I wish that she had gone into more detail about how she planned this and was able to support herself and her sister afterwards. Additionally, some things that would have been challenging (dating her now-husband, cutting her hair, getting a job) were glossed over but would have been interesting to read about.
I thought that it was a great story, but at times, the writing felt disjointed- sometimes the narrative jumped back and forth and was a little confusing. The writing and story got stronger as it went along, and I couldn't wait to read how she managed to escape. I wish that she had gone into more detail about how she planned this and was able to support herself and her sister afterwards. Additionally, some things that would have been challenging (dating her now-husband, cutting her hair, getting a job) were glossed over but would have been interesting to read about.
I have been appalled and curious about Westboro Baptist Church for some time. I have never been able to wrap my mind around a group of people who claim to love Jesus acting as they did. Megan Phelps-Roper grew up in the church -- it is her family. From her earliest days she was on the picket lines beginning in Gage Park in Topeka, Kansas. Later including her own school and military funerals. Her new memoir unpacks the complex and painful experience she had both growing up in Westboro and ultimately leaving it. One of the primary influences to her leaving was people she met on social media who challenged her thoughts and actions but left room for a relationship. Ultimately people don't change because you yell at them, they change because you commit to discuss with them and love them. I can't imagine the strength it took for her and her sister to leave everything they had known for more than 20 years. For Westboro you are either in or out. There is no middle ground.
Her journey from true believer to advocate for tolerance is worth reading. I'm still pondering it all.
"Other stories like mine have shown me repeatedly that the root of Westboro's ideology -- the idea that our beliefs were the "one true way" is not by any means limited to Westboro members. In truth, that idea is common, widespread and on display everywhere humans gather from religious circles to political ones. It gives a comforting sense of certainty freeing the believer from existential angst and providing a sense of stability, a foundation on which to build a life. But the costs of that certainty can be enormous and difficult to identify. Ultimately, the same quality that makes Westboro so easy to dismess -- its extremism-- is also what helps highlight the destructive nature of viewing the world in black and white, the danger of becoming calcified in a position impervious to change."
Her journey from true believer to advocate for tolerance is worth reading. I'm still pondering it all.
"Other stories like mine have shown me repeatedly that the root of Westboro's ideology -- the idea that our beliefs were the "one true way" is not by any means limited to Westboro members. In truth, that idea is common, widespread and on display everywhere humans gather from religious circles to political ones. It gives a comforting sense of certainty freeing the believer from existential angst and providing a sense of stability, a foundation on which to build a life. But the costs of that certainty can be enormous and difficult to identify. Ultimately, the same quality that makes Westboro so easy to dismess -- its extremism-- is also what helps highlight the destructive nature of viewing the world in black and white, the danger of becoming calcified in a position impervious to change."
This is not the first (or even the second!) book that I've read by someone who left Westboro Baptist Church. One thing that I've so appreciated about these books (and about THIS book, by Megan) is how the authors are able to show the multi-dimentionality of their lives. Neither Megan nor her family members are horrible people, nor are they blameless. They are- like all of us- humans who are somewhat flawed but trying their best to do what they think is right, sometimes with horribly painful results. Megan does a great job of speaking transparently to that quandary.
This book, uniquely, is filled with KJV scriptures running like a constant commentary throughout Megan's life, offering explanation for the inexplicable. Though the majority of the book centers on the lives of Megan and her immediate family during her time at Westboro, I was most interested in the story of her deconstruction- the first thoughts she had that were contrary to her teaching and how she worked through her beliefs after leaving. I do wish she had shared more about her current beliefs, though it may be that her beliefs are still in flux. She has interesting thoughts on political discourse in the Trump era, and I admire her desire to make a bridge for her WBC loved ones while expanding the idea of walking together, in spite of some disagreement.
I wish her the absolute best in her efforts....
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which I am always happy to share. ;) #NetGalley #Unfollow
This book, uniquely, is filled with KJV scriptures running like a constant commentary throughout Megan's life, offering explanation for the inexplicable. Though the majority of the book centers on the lives of Megan and her immediate family during her time at Westboro, I was most interested in the story of her deconstruction- the first thoughts she had that were contrary to her teaching and how she worked through her beliefs after leaving. I do wish she had shared more about her current beliefs, though it may be that her beliefs are still in flux. She has interesting thoughts on political discourse in the Trump era, and I admire her desire to make a bridge for her WBC loved ones while expanding the idea of walking together, in spite of some disagreement.
I wish her the absolute best in her efforts....
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which I am always happy to share. ;) #NetGalley #Unfollow
This is not the first (or even the second!) book that I've read by someone who left Westboro Baptist Church. One thing that I've so appreciated about these books (and about THIS book, by Megan) is how the authors are able to show the multi-dimentionality of their lives. Neither Megan nor her family members are horrible people, nor are they blameless. They are- like all of us- humans who are somewhat flawed but trying their best to do what they think is right, sometimes with horribly painful results. Megan does a great job of speaking transparently to that quandary.
This book, uniquely, is filled with KJV scriptures running like a constant commentary throughout Megan's life, offering explanation for the inexplicable. Though the majority of the book centers on the lives of Megan and her immediate family during her time at Westboro, I was most interested in the story of her deconstruction- the first thoughts she had that were contrary to her teaching and how she worked through her beliefs after leaving. I do wish she had shared more about her current beliefs, though it may be that her beliefs are still in flux. She has interesting thoughts on political discourse in the Trump era, and I admire her desire to make a bridge for her WBC loved ones while expanding the idea of walking together, in spite of some disagreement.
I wish her the absolute best in her efforts....
This book, uniquely, is filled with KJV scriptures running like a constant commentary throughout Megan's life, offering explanation for the inexplicable. Though the majority of the book centers on the lives of Megan and her immediate family during her time at Westboro, I was most interested in the story of her deconstruction- the first thoughts she had that were contrary to her teaching and how she worked through her beliefs after leaving. I do wish she had shared more about her current beliefs, though it may be that her beliefs are still in flux. She has interesting thoughts on political discourse in the Trump era, and I admire her desire to make a bridge for her WBC loved ones while expanding the idea of walking together, in spite of some disagreement.
I wish her the absolute best in her efforts....
Unpacking the fanatic fundamentalist
In the age of Donald Trump and his fanatical followers, I 've become very curious about how people come to abandon their beliefs even at the cost of family. So I've been seeking out the stories of those who have left strong faith traditions, first A Woman is no Man, then Unorthodox now Unfollow.
This page turner of a memoir is a deeply reflective and extraordinary look inside the Westboro Baptist Church.
In the age of Donald Trump and his fanatical followers, I 've become very curious about how people come to abandon their beliefs even at the cost of family. So I've been seeking out the stories of those who have left strong faith traditions, first A Woman is no Man, then Unorthodox now Unfollow.
This page turner of a memoir is a deeply reflective and extraordinary look inside the Westboro Baptist Church.
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book--but whatever it was, I got something much better. This is a shockingly powerful book in spite of the fact that most of it takes place during Megan Phelps-Roper's years as a member of the Westboro Baptist Church. I would not have thought it possible to feel any compassion for such a hateful group, but Phelps-Roper does a masterful job of balancing her love for her family with her growing realization that their message of hate is toxic and anything but biblical. In the end, the only thing I found myself wondering was whether, in her shoes, I would have been able to walk away from the only reality I'd ever known (not to mention all the people I had loved, and by whom I had been loved, for my entire life.)
Phelps-Roper takes care to show how the WBC isn't much different from the world outside it; ultimately, the church crumbles under the weight of misogyny and patriarchal authoritarianism, leaving even its founder, the notorious Fred Phelps, ostracized and destroyed. I would never have imagined it possible to find myself weepy in reading about his death, but imagining him as someone's beloved Gramps, all alone in his final days and struggling with dementia, left me no choice other than compassion for him as a human being. Any book that can take me to that place is just phenomenal, as far as I'm concerned.
Phelps-Roper takes care to show how the WBC isn't much different from the world outside it; ultimately, the church crumbles under the weight of misogyny and patriarchal authoritarianism, leaving even its founder, the notorious Fred Phelps, ostracized and destroyed. I would never have imagined it possible to find myself weepy in reading about his death, but imagining him as someone's beloved Gramps, all alone in his final days and struggling with dementia, left me no choice other than compassion for him as a human being. Any book that can take me to that place is just phenomenal, as far as I'm concerned.
A bad attempt at copying Uneducated and The Glass Castle. Could have cut out half of its pages.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Leaving unrated as this was a REALLY abridged version of the book.
Overall though: meh.
Overall though: meh.