Holy Disruptor: Shattering the Shiny Facade by Getting Louder with the Truth is an overly convoluted title for Amy Duggar King's memoir—and, unfortunately, it perfectly sets the stage for what follows. I tried not to judge a book by its title, but in this case, my instincts were right. Side note: Gypsy Rose Blanchard owes Amy a coffee. I would have given Gypsy’s book a lower rating, but after listening to Amy’s, I found Gypsy much more likable ...
Religion / Christian Living
Book Review: Unspeakable by Jessica Willis Fisher | Trauma, Faith, and Religious Harm
Unspeakable by Jessica Willis Fisher is a heartbreaking memoir that explores religious trauma, abuse, and survival. At times, it is difficult to digest — but it is absolutely worth the read. Because Jessica narrates the audiobook herself, I highly recommend listening to it in that format if possible. Hearing her gentle voice tell her own story — and sing her lyrics — creates a profound sense of intimacy, camaraderie, and understanding. The ...
Book Review: Satan’s Harvest by Robert David Chase | Victim Blaming in Paranormal Narratives
Satan’s Harvest is book #6 in the Ed and Lorraine Warren series, and the fourth one I’ve read. I’ve had some trouble tracking down a couple of the earlier titles (yes, I am glaring directly at my library for this), but honestly—that frustration pales in comparison to the reaction this book inspired. I’m just going to say it outright: writing this review may very well be the literary equivalent of setting fire to any chance of being accepted as ...
Book Review: Werewolf by Robert David Chase | Jacob Black Not Included
Werewolf by Robert David Chase is the fifth installment in the Ed and Lorraine Warren series. It’s the third book I’ve read so far, and honestly? At this point, every story involving them somehow circles back to extremely mentally ill people being turned into paranormal spectacles. Werewolf is no different. While it’s credited to the Warrens, the Ramseys, and coauthor Robert David Chase, no matter how many people were involved, the narrative ...
Book Review: The Haunted by Robert Curran | Terror in the Smurl Home
My first impression of this book? Not great. The author understandably uses pseudonyms for people who didn’t want to be revealed, which is fine. But then they admit that one character—Donald Bennett—is completely fictional, and that events were altered to make the story more dramatic. For a book billed as a “true story,” that’s a huge red flag. Because of that, I can’t in good conscience give this more than 2.5 stars. The preface really set ...
