What a stunning beautiful thought provoking book! Alice Hoffman is my favorite go to author and she writes beautifully. This one is written more like What a stunning beautiful thought provoking book! Alice Hoffman is my favorite go to author and she writes beautifully. This one is written more like a dream. One has to not ask very many logical questions, you sort of have to float through it, and wait for it to tie and weave together.
Alice Hoffman knows about a number of things that powerfully show up in her book. She knows about writers, curses, true and those we give the power to. She knows about the power of books and words. She knows about women, those who are trapped in time, and the confines of time, and those who can create possibilities. And she knows about the immense power of mothers and their children, particularly mothers and daughters.
This one was different than the others. I like that Alice Hoffman writes in a range of genres and for a range of authors and always tries new things. Some readers get upset when a writer changes their formula or style. Others get upset when your books become formulaic. Alice seems to find a way simply to write and let a new kind of story flow and emerge, each different and yet authentically hers. This one is different, and yet it feels seamlessly a part of her cannon. Spiritual, and powerful, and heart rendering, and quietly magical all at once. Bravo, once again. I can't wait to see what comes next. Still keeping my eyes open for you at the Waban Starbucks. All of your coffee is on me. ...more
Another 5 star winner from the girl who generally doesn't care for non-fiction! I was completely riveted and engaged in this. Getting acquainted with Another 5 star winner from the girl who generally doesn't care for non-fiction! I was completely riveted and engaged in this. Getting acquainted with the power and widespread nature of this insidious movement was naturally scary and disturbing. And by the end of the book, where it is clear how our past administration's political structure was embedded with these ideas - and gave clear green light to hate, and to the widespread dangerous growth of these ideas, well that is downright frightening, and the political climate we are standing in. I had never even heard of Stormfront. How naive indeed I was about the power and impact of White Supremacy. Deeper than I even understood and that my rose colored glasses could take in. Basically they put up Trump as the figurehead for how their ideas would help America and themselves. It became the underlying politic, and their hate and their power flourished to levels that are so frightening. We have deeply understood what is at stake. And yet their movement is flourishing, enjoying a revival of heights never imagined.
But the real grab of the story - is my obsession with resiliency and transformation. That has always been the thing that has kept me going. Growth mindset. My dissertation was even on resiliency from traumatic experience. I wouldn't have even picked up this book, if not for the knowledge, that a person was going to make a radical transformation, have a complete awakening, and naturally, I want to know how he did it. What are the circumstances that would make a person completely change every belief system they had ever held dear, and leave their family, community, religion, even when they were the 'heir apparent.' I had never even heard the name Derek Black before. I do not run in those circles. It takes a lot of courage to renounce all the beliefs and acts you have had a role in instigating, and believe me, we need that courage now more than ever, for folks to be able to stand up for humanity and each other. To be able to apologize and be accountable, and to be a part of the change and the healing. Throughout the book, I was asking myself a lot of the questions his liberal college community was asking themselves and each other. Does ostracizing him perpetuate the hate and divide? What do I make of the fact that at least five people thought otherwise, and that the college eventually also stood for that same principle, maybe he will learn and experience something if we befriend him. So numerous people, most of minority status, decided otherwise. They wanted to befriend him, get to know him, and more importantly, have him get to know them, and their stories. That is indeed what changed Derek's mind. His respect and love for the people he met and who had the courage to openly debate with him. Perhaps there is something in there we can learn from in our current situation. Perhaps there is a way where hate can be transformed with intimacy and relationship that cannot exist up against the irrational hateful arguments. And of course, in order to awaken, Derek had to lose not just the adoration and his role as the heir apparent, he had to lose his entire family and community and mentors. His parents, grandparents, sisters, and his beloved niece. You can't help wondering what will happen to the niece as she grows and remembers her extremely fond memories of Derek. Maybe she even reads the book. And lastly, would it have ever been possible for Derek to have separated, if he hadn't fallen in love. If he hadn't had someone to support him through it. If he hadn't had the community that was 'holding' him through this. What incredible courage of these five individuals to believe in their ability to change his mind, simply by love and friendship, humanity, rigorous debate, logic, and patience. What incredible courage that was, for folks to invest in his personhood, and take the chance they would invest in his. And to let yourself fall in love? The biggest risk of all. That was fascinating, and one can't help really being astounded by the power of one young girl who can change the world. Isn't that what we tell our kids and tell ourselves? That one person can change the world? That one person standing up for what's right against a mountain of hate, can make the entire tide turn? That is the story of Purim, the holiday during which I read the bulk of this riveting book.
Another question I have had, is where do we go from here with the deep divides? How is healing possible? We do not listen to former QAnon folks and former white supremacists to just be shocked and horrified. We want to know how to do it. How to connect with loved ones, with under-educated and under exposed people. We want to know how to stop the hate. Books like this, and the courageous people who undertook the journey, as well as the project to publish it, well add Eli Saslow to the list of people who are changing the world with Derek's Story and Life.
I wanted to mention something about Eli Saslow, and the access he was given, not just by Derek and his close current allies. But how Grand KKK wizard Don Black, and I think even David Duke sat for interviews with him as well. The author was permitted to come along on these vulnerable family visits, and listen in. He spent countless hours interviewing Don Black, Derek's father and scion of the White Nationalist/Supremacist world. And Don answered honestly and vulnerably. The let Eli in. I can only wonder now, what do they make of the book? If they couldn't understand what had happened to their beloved son and heir apparent, does any of this narrative shed some light for them? Is there a chance that like what happens in the Mormon community, where ex-Mormons have a hell of a lot of community support for the questioning and the exiled, could such a community exist for former white supremacists? For former QAnon, where the questioning go? Again, this takes me back to the neice. I want to know if there is a sequel.... How the family puts it together now.
But the access, I had the association to Michael Wolff's Fire and Fury. (Am I getting the name of that author right? That was like 15-20 exposes ago, I have read at least ten, and that was my first.) One of the astonishing things about Fire and Fury, especially to Michael himself, is how deeply they let him in. How open they were, how much access to the crazy he was actually given. You'd think they would hide it better, but they did not. He was invited in to see everything. That's how deeply the Trump administration believed they were doing right and were for the good of America. They were shocked when Fire and Fury did not give them the adolation they expected. They believed they were selling their ideology, when the world was getting to see first hand and inner look. Every subsequent book had backed that vision up, and Trump began and continued an outward distrust of the press or anyone who dared to criticize, judge, expose, and dim his light. But they let him in fully and completely. The way the book reads, Steve Bannon was his major source, and Steve himself pretty much co-wrote or ghost wrote the thing. This felt similar. One is deeply in the mind of Don Black, and whether or not you can sense any possible room for conflictual feeling, one thing is true. As much as he is deeply embedded in white power as the bulwark and stalwart of his identity and foundation of his relationships, he also loves and respects his son, and doesn't want to lose him entirely. And theirin, is the first crack of conflict. When your son and heir apparent leaves you, loves you and leaves you, and says We Were Wrong, there is no way that that doesn't bring in some room, however slight for reflection. Letting Eli Saslow in on your process, is yet another sliver of window, that allow one to see, like those brave five at New College, maybe the crack is indeed how the light gets in.
I really loved this. But I can't help feeling that I have read this theme before in virtually every single book. Something about brokenness and beautyI really loved this. But I can't help feeling that I have read this theme before in virtually every single book. Something about brokenness and beauty - and how each of the characters and relationships have to figure out how to live life with joy despite all of the pain. That growth and deeper love is both of these things. That life is both of these things. But what I love about this is that brokenness is honored, but always, beauty and love wins. Every single time! That is always the journey....more
Is there ever a more brilliant title than God Shot? What did you think the book was about when you saw it? I had a particular feeling about this book,Is there ever a more brilliant title than God Shot? What did you think the book was about when you saw it? I had a particular feeling about this book, and even while I was reading it, it was hard to separate myself from what I originally thought it would be, wanted it to be. But I have to remember that despite its beautiful title and the feeling it evokes, this is its own thing. Just not what I expected. Not that it's a bad book, it's just what God Shot means in the book isn't being being wrapped in the loving arms of God. It's exactly the opposite. The juxtaposition and the term, makes the title even more perfect and somewhat chilling, in the heat of Peaches, California.
Lacey May Herd is raised in a cult. At just 14 years old, Lacey has to go through suffering unimaginable. Trial and Loss after Trial and Loss. There are both situations and outsiders that make her begin to question what is happening to her. And yet she is powerless as a helpless child, with no support to truly break free, even in her mind. Every attempt is thwarted by the cult community, and the limitations of her situation. At 14, Lacey must find herself, and her own conception of God, and save her own life and the life of another. While God and her mother, and any kind of healthy powerful savior, remains woefully absent.
The story is a page turner, and beautifully written. It is absolutely a coming of age, far too early than a child should ever have to. It brings with it a lot of gratitude, that none of us have ever had to confront a situation like this. It deeply illustrates the power of cults and the bastardization of religion - where God is used as a reason for hatred, for abuse, for power and control. Just the opposite of what a loving God should be. This is Lacey's story, of what happens, when one is born into, or raised into a promise so desperately wanted and needed, that turns into a nightmare. But don't you count Lacey out. This girl has got some spunk and fire to her. She makes you want to root for her, and you should. Because Lacey has a deep sense of what is right, and where God truly resides. ...more
This was an extremely painful and difficult read. Very disturbing. I read it in a day, just to be able to get through it and put it away. I own the boThis was an extremely painful and difficult read. Very disturbing. I read it in a day, just to be able to get through it and put it away. I own the book, and I have no idea what to do with it. I almost want to burn the book to purify - but I would never burn a book. I feel like I don't want to give it away, because I don't want anyone else to read it. Could I possibly throw it away? Like in the recycling bin, so its gets changed for use and purpose? I certainly don't want it in my house or out in the world.
Naomi Ragen is an excellent writer and I love her books and her sharp incisive look at the darker side of what can happen in Orthodox communities. This one was hard though. And it has a current parallel for us. Maybe I start there. I really hate to give spoilers, so I won't. Plus I am in the process of purifying. Let me just say this. The book was written/published in 2015. But anyone who has kept their eyes open in the last five years has had to ask themselves an important question. How could it be that one person with a mental illness would be able to get others to see their version of reality? Actually believe they are doing higher good, and not see that they are doing harm. To do harm in the name of God or higher good, and somehow come to believe that is holy. When the evidence is clearly in front of you that it is one man's madness and needs that have clouded the more salient and higher good. That is disturbing enough. But child abuse and neglect and deliberate harm? Let me tell you, its going to be a long weekend to clear that out.
Again, its painful when you see the beauty of your religion tarnished by one very bad apple. And Naomi Ragen does that stellarly well. I am actually opposed to the idea of considering orthodox judaism as a cult. But in this case, when one is brainwashed not to no the difference between right and wrong, madness and reality, and serving a man's vicious psychological needs, over caring for your children, then Cult is absolutely spot on. And to subvert what is actually a beautiful religion in the name of that - well it leaves me unsettled.
Three starts for the writing and well crafted story. I cannot give more or less, because the topic was just so charged and disturbing. Don't read it though. Even if you love this author. It will not add to your life.
For those who care about such things - The Devil in Jerusalem happened to be my Trim the TBR book. It happened to fit International. I happen to own it, so it gets to leave my troubling pile, and it was in the top 100 oldest books on my TBR list. It also means that except for the newest one, I have read every single one of this author's works. And greatly enjoyed them I might add. So it ticked off a lot of boxes challenges wise. But.... my goal is to help it safely and gently leave this house and find its way somewhere for good. Possibly recycle?
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