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159 reviews

Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and A Legacy of Rage by Jeff Guinn

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

This book takes everything you thought you knew about Waco, and flips it on its head.

Waco is an historical event where wether you sat beside a tv screen or radio and heard these events unfold, or as you grew up you learned of this tragedy in history books, Waco is still an event that remains relevant in todays society. This was by far one of the best books I’ve read on this tragedy. Jeff Guinn effortlessly pulls you into the world of David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, so much backstory was given from the first moments this offshoot was created, the suspicion surrounding their activity, and finally the raid and demise of this group.

Wether you believe the ATF, and FBI botched the raid on the Davidian’s compound, one thing that remains true is this tragedy forever altered the landscape of peoples opinions on the FBI and ATF, along with sparking the uprising of similar militia movements.

While you may think Waco is a distant event prominent figures such as Timmothy McVeigh and Alex Jones, had links to Waco and sparked movements that would too make headlines for years to come. This book brilliantly connects these ideas, while still keeping the reader enthralled with David Koresh and The Branch Davidians. Up until the final moments of this book you have such a deep scope of these events it feels as though you are reliving, and witnessing the broadcast of the raid all over again.

Content Warnings

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

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challenging dark informative mysterious reflective fast-paced

Cults and Cult-like followings are ingrained into almost every part of our society, from mundane Instagram followings to the more extreme and downright dangerous cults such as Jim Jones's Jonestown and Marshall AppleWhites Heaven's Gate among many others. Cultish seeks to uncover the language and how these very prominent cults rise and maintain power over their followers. However, what this book fails to do is introduce its audience to any new ideas or way of thinking about Cults.

This book presents ideas about cults as if they are new ideas, such as how many of their "charismatic" leaders are white males, and usually get away with their behavior on that merit alone. I felt as if the cults themselves and their fanaticism were overlooked to discuss and seemingly punch down on its followers. More focus was put on the followers of different cult-like movements (not even cults themselves in reality) Yes the followers of these movements are a key to these movements' success, but more focus was on the money they spent on brand-name clothing or how outlandish their mantras were, versus the abusive, misogynistic, and borderline racist environments the leaders and creators of these 'cults' fostered.

I felt as if the cults themselves were mentioned but never actually talked about, especially cults that are still in existence such as The Church of Scientology. While the book's main focus is on the language these cults use, I feel as though you too need to understand what these cults are, how they operated, rose to prominence, and sometimes sustained prominence. Different cults were discussed in the text but were never given a clear or in-depth backstory, especially Scientology which is still popular among many celebrities, despite the church being accused of abusing its members, the children with the church, and covering up abuse in the church. Its new leader David Miscavige is barely even mentioned when he is at the forefront of the church's new leadership.

This is a great read if you are new to researching cults or just want to gain a surface-level understanding of cults, cult-like followings, and the language of cult followings. However, if you already have an understanding of cults or have done research into them, this book will not tell you anything you probably don't already know.

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A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Minor Detail by Adania Shibli

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5.0

I can honestly say this book has me at a loss for words. While short Adania Shibli has told this story in a way where it will have a lasting impact, from the very first page you are drawn into this story and are seeing through the lens the brutality of the Nakba and the events that followed.

Throughout the story you feel as if you are within the story as these events unfold, especially in the second half of this book it’s almost as if you are right beside the person within the story. Shibli has done a masterful job of pulling you into this book and not letting go until the very last page.

Content Warnings