Welcome to Litsy!

I should have read it when it was recommended years ago by a coworker, as I‘m sure I‘d have enjoyed it more, when the particular horrors of Scientology were a bit more novel. The book was long and felt authentic, and perhaps told as life actually was for Jenna, living under control of the higher order of Scientology. But it felt too long and repetitive. Still glad to have read it in his honor, and I miss him. #roll100 Jan

Finished one book (nonfiction) featuring Tom Cruise only to begin another (bizarre fiction) filled up with this man. Seriously hoping I won‘t read anything else this year with this guy 🫠

Oops I did it again…another #libraryhaul from this week. The bottom 4 are for my boys—Harry Potter obsessed! Heartstopper vol. 2 is just as adorable as the first. And even though I have a hard heart and cannot stomach romance of any kind typically, I LOVE Charlie and Nick. Another #auldlangspine (American Sunrise) and a #roll100 (tagged) plus two for #bookspinbingo.
Ps—I actually returned some books this week too 😉

@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks - This is one of my favorite Cult books. Scientology is one of those cults that sneak up on you. Like I have read/seen talks with people who have “escaped“ Scientology, and in hindsight they get it, but... they got so wrapped in it.

Wow....I feel like I'm reading in an unending loop of brainwashing and insanity. So. Much. Gaslighting. This first-hand experience is well-written that keeps you listening/reading.

#unbelievable #crazy #scientology #nonfiction #readKY #audiobook #winter #cult

3.5 stars- I thought for a memoir the narration was excellent. It was quite slow-moving, yet there was a lot going on. I was so glad in the end that the outcome was what it was. I never realized quite how bad Scientology was. I knew it was bad, but not this much of a total cult. The fact it has been declared a religion in the US is terrifying!

Started this one last night and so far horrifying!

#scientology #relgion #nonfic #nonfiction #audiobook #memoir

#2021Book66
Out of all the books I've read about Scientology, I think this one made me the angriest. Hill doesn't hold back from describing all of the horrific ways the church leaders brainwash members, even children as young as four. As with every book like this, I'm glad Hill and her family were able to get out of the church and I hope that her story will help others to do the same.

I didn't know very much about Scientology, except that it cost a literal shit-ton of money to progress up the Bridge to the higher levels. This memoir tells in intimate detail, the way a child grows up in the cult. Jenna Hill is the niece of the current leader, Dave Miscavige, and her story is wild.

Thank you again @KaylaD for giving this one to me! It‘s an amazing story. I just lent it out to a coworker :) #TBRCrew
@jessinikkip , @jb72 , @AkashaVampie , @AsYouWish , @AnansiGirl , @Catherine_Willoughby , @MissAimz_55 , @cortg , @Squidget , @Bookworm54 , @katy4peas

Yay for another
#BookSpinBingo mark! I‘m l loving this challenge! I should have started this a long time ago!!!
@TheAromaofBooks

I started this book earlier this week. I love love love it so far. The stories are so interesting. I don't know anything about Scientology but learning more about it so interesting! Cults terrify me but fascinate me as well! Thank you again @KaylaD for gifting me this in one of the swaps (don't remember which one)

This was a fascinating story. I don't there's much of a scientology presence in Canada, so it seems like most of what I've heard about the church is based on Southpark episodes. I had no idea about the way children were raised in the religion. I'm so glad I read this and I'm sure I'll be reading more on the subject in the future.

I first became fascinated/ horrified with Scientology from watching Leah Remini's TV show. It definitely seems to be more of a money hungry cult than a religion. I just can't get enough of hearing stories from those who have left/ escaped the "church". ?

I find Scientology like a cult and it‘s fascinating to me that people actually follow along. This book was really interesting to learn about Jenna‘s first hand experience of being raised by Scientology (her uncle is the head of the church) and how her disillusionment finally came to be.

I knew nothing about Scientology before reading this. Wow, the manipulation – of kids, no less! I guess you brainwash from a young age... There is a lot of terminology that she has to define, and much of it I forgot, even as I read the words later, but mostly had the gist of them. Of course, I would like to read more now. I think I have one celebrity biography on the tbr, so hopefully I can get to that one sooner rather than later

Let me just say that if not for audio, I never would have made it through this. There was too much mind-numbing detail. However, here‘s what I got from it: staff members (Sea Org) would either make very good prisoners or very good prison guards. The forced isolation, ongoing punishments and interrogations, forced labor, snitching, family separation, adherence to policy & rules are unreal. And get this: women in authority are addressed as ‘Mr.‘

There aren't many surprises here if you've followed the topic at all, but the book was well written and the author has a unique and important perspective. I thought the audio version was well done as well.

I can't even believe the craziness surrounding this "religion". I was horrified and fascinated by Jenna's memoir about her experience in scientology and as the niece of the current leader. How do they get away with all the forced child labor and separation from their parents? After finishing it last night I found Remini's interviews about her experiences and went down a wormhole about the whereabouts of Shelly Miscavige. I want to read more!

I read this as an ebook when it came out in 2013, but I picked up the #audiobook at a recent #audible sale. In the intervening years, I have read two non-memoir books about Scientology. All three books confirmed this “religion” and its leaders are seriously off the rails. It seems to be a money-making, publicity scheme. The child labor and forced separation of families were the worst, IMO, with Sea Org members being paid $45 a week a close 3rd.

Pros: interesting inside account of the workings of Scientology by the niece of the current leader. Jenna is very detailed about her time there.

Cons: Jenna is VERY detailed about her time there. I feel like this book could have been made significantly shorter because there was a lot of repetition. Sometimes this helps emphasize the horrors, but ultimately I just found myself waiting impatiently for her to be ready to leave.

Starting this today, as it‘s due back at the library soon! I didn‘t get near as much reading done on the first leg of my vacation as I had planned!

• 3/5 ⭐️ Now that I have a basic understanding of Scientology, I approached this one casually. It was a good book, but not particularly enlightening. The most rewarding part of these cult memoirs is, of course, the "a-ha" moment when the author finally realizes they're done with the insanity and they go on to live happy, fulfilling lives without the abuse and human rights violations so prevalent in cults. On audiobook, Hill's story comes alive •

I couldn‘t get into this. Seemed boringly detailed.

Book 37: I thought this one would be a page-turner, but it needed some heavy editing and an editor to tell her to stop slowing the book down with every detail of her day-to-day life. There were also parts that seemed heavily exaggerated in order to make her appear more badass... this just wasn‘t my cup of tea. But good for her for getting out of a cult that believes they are aliens from another planet. (The escape wasn‘t harrowing btw)

Meh! This started off good but then got way too bogged down in the day-to-day coursework that these people have to do. It was like reading about someone filling out their tax rebate forms! 🙄 what a crazy religion/cult tho! 😧

• Have you read this book? It's been on the TBR for almost 3 years and I love a good cult memoir. Leah Remini's book was awesome, this one looks good as well. Please leave your thoughts on the book •

I am fascinated by cults. The disregard for basic human rights under the pretext of the church of Scientology is jaw-dropping. The narrator of the audiobook is very easy to listen to (although at times she seems a bit too chipper considering the negative experiences she is describing).

David Miscavige is dangerous, violent and the leader of a cult worth billions of dollars... but he‘s also kind of a pathetic loser. He tries so hard to keep the evil he does hidden but it‘s all so obvious. He‘s just another a$@hole with a Napoleon complex. He‘s a crappy villain. #lovehate @ErinSueG @WhiskeyMistress

I am really into the boom of Scientology controversy from watching Leah Remini's TV show and this book kept me turning the pages every day! Sometimes seems a little mediocrely written but it's coming from her entirely so it just makes it seem more authentic that it's coming from her since she isn't a professional writer. Nevertheless, awesome story!

So close to reaching my reading goal for the year, cause I want to spend December rereading Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. 4 books away from 50 #readinggoals #novemberreads

Wow. Creepy.

#kindledeal #kindledeals #ebooksale

I throughly enjoyed finishing this book up while waiting 5 hours for the ferry today. 🙄 apparently one of the major downsides to Vancouver island is that there‘s like two major highways and when there‘s an accident on one the whole island clogs up. Alas. I did enjoy the cult narrative and reading about Jenna‘s escape from #Scientology I always love cult stories though so 🤷🏻‍♀️⛴

Honeymoon thangs. 📖😋🏖

A perfect way to end another perfect night of honeymooning- with wine and books in our enormous jetted tub. 🛀

Audiobook- well narrated, very interesting and pretty disturbing insight into her life growing up in Scientology. It‘s intriguing and well told.

My third read for the MMD reading challenge, a memoir. I really trudged through the first 80% of this though the last few chapters were much more engaging.

Listened to this on audible. I cannot understand how people are lead to believe to lead a life like this. How is scientology allowed to treat kids this way in this country? It‘s a cult and a shame that people need such beliefs. I still do not understand what their goal truly is other than to better themselves through auditing mumbo jumbo

3.5/5 stars. Important story was told, but the writing quality is lacking, due to Hill‘s rather sketchy educational background. Still I‘m glad to have read her story.

Starting this tonight

Here are some pretty good books on Scientology, that mysteriously secretive religious cult... #Scientology #NoteworthyNovember

Interesting

#24in48 review

I've read a few books on Scientology. This was my favorite. And doing it via Audible worked extra-well: the narrator sounds like a very young woman. And since this tells the story of Jenna Miscavige from her early childhood until she left Scientology, this really adds to the story.
Hearing how distorted her worldview was from growing up in this cult is both fascinating & distressing. It's scary how easy things become "normal."

Starting this tonight.
The narrator makes this sound like a little girl is telling you this - quite effective so far.

🙀🙀🙀🙀

Today's #labsoundtrack is a deep dive into one of the weirdest religions out there. 'You're in a cult - call your dad!' #ssdgm #myfavoritemurder #cults

I'm fascinated by Scientology (and cults in general), so I thought this book was going to be really interesting. But it was just boring and felt flat. Even though Scientology is really creepy and pretty terrifying, I felt like there was no tension. Maybe it's because there was so much focus on the day to day activities of Jenna's life or maybe it was the audio book narrator.

Not knowing much about Scientology, this book gave me background on the religion and told the impressive story of Jenna Miscavige Hill. It's hard to believe how young she was and all that she went through #roguebookbingo