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If you‘re intrigued by books about getting out of cults, you‘ll probably like this one. Thankfully Amber‘s experience wasn‘t as traumatic as some (at least according to what‘s in the book), but it was still interesting to see how she learned to think for herself and not just believe what she was told by those in “authority”. #hauntedshelf #BlackCatCrew @BookwormAHN

Heartfelt

This is an imperfect book that didn‘t entirely hold my attention and included a tragic life event at the end that would have been better served in a separate narrative. That being said, I found the depiction of her life inside JW interesting and was saddened to see the religion is so controlling and encourages shunning of its members instead of supporting them. Between pick and so-so for me.

For a memoir about someone leaving a religion and finding a life, I was disappointed to discover that very little of the book focuses on the experience of questioning her beliefs and actually leaving the Jehovah‘s Witness religion.

Full review: https://www.facebook.com/262384764521804/posts/403621260398153/?d=n

Five good reads in November. The eye-opening Leaving the Witness and the melancholy A Piece of the World were my two favs. #novemberwrapup

Trigger Warning for a dead baby!
I was listening to this while feeding my daughter and all of a sudden the author is describing her 4 month old son‘s death. At most points in my life I could bear hearing that part of her story, but right now I‘m doing everything I can not to have those sorts of nightmares.
I love a leaving-a-cult memoir, but this was just average. The descriptions of JWs working within China was the most interesting bit.
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The book follows Amber's life from missionary work in China to being disfellowshipped from the Jehovah‘s Witnesses, with flashbacks to her upbringing and how belonging to this religion affected her life as a young person. She explores the beginnings of the religion, its inner workings, and beliefs and practices. The audible book was narrated by Amber and the narration was kind of flat but the story was so good that it didn't affect my interest.

Interesting memoir about Scorah‘s time as a Jehovah‘s Witness missionary in China, and how she began to question what she was preaching. A bit light on details in parts, and the end felt too rushed to me.

#audiobooks #leavingreligion #memoir

I‘ve always been curious about Amber Scorah‘s strange “religion.” Whenever I encounter Jehovah Witnesses in a hospital setting, they are by far the most anxious and fearful patients. Here Scorah reveals the beliefs and practices of her former “faith” and shares how she came to see otherwise. This brave memoir is sure to tick off some Read Harder categories; Scorah was an illegal missionary in China when she left Jehovah. #botm 👍🏻

For this one, I felt the author distanced herself too much from her story. It almost felt like she was writing about someone else most of the time. There are some good segments in the book, but overall the writing style was so-so. The author has, however, gone through some dark times and unique challenges and has some valuable perspective to give. 3⭐️

This was such a good read! I‘m a fan of memoirs, especially the ones about religion and this one has been one of my favorites. 4⭐️

A toss between a pick and a so-so. A pick because amazing courage to go alone to another country, especially like China, and realize you need to build a new life away from the Jehovah Witnesses. A so-so because this was simplistically written with a fairly immature voice.

My first of so many library holds came in. 😊😊

Partly the tale of a religious expat (she‘s a Jehovah‘s Witness in China) and partly the tale of a woman figuring out the meaning of family, community, and cult as it played out in her own life, this memoir offers a unique perspective on the courage it takes to make a dramatic shift in one‘s thinking. As Kirkus reviews said of the book: “An intriguing read about a mysterious religion.” #eryneckireads2019 #bookstagram #memoir #nonfiction

Next up...Been dying to read this! #24in48

So excited to start this one #amberscorah #exjw