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letsreadmorebooks's review
3.0
at the heart of this account is mass hysteria, a phenomenon that brings warmth to my heart. it's a fascinating story and i'm only giving it three stars because the ending left something to be desired. i think perhaps it was written a little too soon after the events unfolded and therefore lacked a satisfying follow up to what became of everyone involved as well as a broader perspective on how this story fits into american culture. wright does a good job providing context for the story but i wish he talked more about how this story might provide context for other events of mass hysteria.
no1coelocanthfan's review
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Abortion, Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Body horror, and Incest
mattgoldberg's review
4.0
An interesting book about psychology, and reading this after The Looming Tower and Going Clear, I have a clear picture of Wright's interesting belief. Remembering Satan was definitely a page turner since the truth was so mercurial, and how confirmation bias and sympathy stopped the detectives from thinking critically about the presence of a satanic cult.
I will also say that Wright makes a bold movie (and not one I'm sure I entirely agree with) by asserting that Ericka and Julie Ingram has a Freudian motive about wanting their father, and thus took revenge by concocting the story of sexual abuse. Even though such a motive would be self-conscious, there still had to be a moment where someone knew they were making a false accusation, although Wright likes to leave it muddled that perhaps a therapist/psychologist/counselor/etc. planted this idea in Ericka Ingram's head (she's the Patient Zero of the distorted memory epidemic). Planting the idea seems like a far more believable idea because then it's harder to find the origin, but I'm still inclined to believe that Ericka knew she was being untruthful and that she lied out of spite.
Whether Ericka lied or not, the book's larger truth is about mass psychosis and panic. Wright warned of a new Salem witch hunt, but this is back in the early 90s, and that witch hunt never materialized on a mass scale. But it's still a fascinating look at a true story, and like Wright's other books, it's an addictive page turner.
I will also say that Wright makes a bold movie (and not one I'm sure I entirely agree with) by asserting that Ericka and Julie Ingram has a Freudian motive about wanting their father, and thus took revenge by concocting the story of sexual abuse. Even though such a motive would be self-conscious, there still had to be a moment where someone knew they were making a false accusation, although Wright likes to leave it muddled that perhaps a therapist/psychologist/counselor/etc. planted this idea in Ericka Ingram's head (she's the Patient Zero of the distorted memory epidemic). Planting the idea seems like a far more believable idea because then it's harder to find the origin, but I'm still inclined to believe that Ericka knew she was being untruthful and that she lied out of spite.
Whether Ericka lied or not, the book's larger truth is about mass psychosis and panic. Wright warned of a new Salem witch hunt, but this is back in the early 90s, and that witch hunt never materialized on a mass scale. But it's still a fascinating look at a true story, and like Wright's other books, it's an addictive page turner.
emory's review
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Very insightful read on a cultural phenomenon that, as someone who was born after it's conclusion and canonization as a nationwide misstep, I have only just recently learned about. I do wish certain topics had been given more discussion, or alternate theories introduced; namely in regards to why the daughters of this man would have made such accusations if there were no truth to them at all. A few different causes were proposed (including a wholesale endorsement of the Oedipus complex theory, which I find a bit distasteful), but I feel as if this point was almost entirely passed over. Additionally, I think some postulation on why the identities of the accusers and those accused followed specific trends would strengthen the narrative; just saying women are starting witch hunts against their male family members left a bad taste in my mouth. There was almost no reference to the role misogyny almost certainly played within these events. The lack of this kind of analysis especially stood out as the author took us through the ways that the dynamics and authority of the church influenced Ingram's false memories; with the place women are given in the hierarchy within Christian fundamentalist sects, I feel like some consideration into the effects of this would've been a good addition to the breakdown of this event.
I did not know that the concept of repression itself was so contentious; I had assumed only hypnosis-based recovered memories were what was under fire at the time. The examination of this method of psychological understanding was very concise and thought-provoking.
The writing was at once intelligent and easy to follow. The amount of care and research put into creating this account are very apparent.
On a very personal note, even if most of these accounts of abuse appear to have been entirely fabricated false memories or wholesale lies originating from a comedy of investigative errors, quite a few of them did leave me shaken and disgusted. At a certain point I had to start skimming or skipping them entirely, as they contained a level of detail I couldn't stomach. Adds to the completelt bizarre feeling that this whole event is steeped in.
I did not know that the concept of repression itself was so contentious; I had assumed only hypnosis-based recovered memories were what was under fire at the time. The examination of this method of psychological understanding was very concise and thought-provoking.
The writing was at once intelligent and easy to follow. The amount of care and research put into creating this account are very apparent.
On a very personal note, even if most of these accounts of abuse appear to have been entirely fabricated false memories or wholesale lies originating from a comedy of investigative errors, quite a few of them did leave me shaken and disgusted. At a certain point I had to start skimming or skipping them entirely, as they contained a level of detail I couldn't stomach. Adds to the completelt bizarre feeling that this whole event is steeped in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Excrement, Pedophilia, Child death, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abortion, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Antisemitism and Suicidal thoughts
While the book is deconstructing these accounts of abuse as false memories or fantastical stories, they are still deeply upsetting to imagine, and quite a few are presented in their entirety. Very difficult to read.martynabrzana's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Abortion, Physical abuse, Rape, Animal cruelty, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Cannibalism, Body horror, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, and Child death
jorie's review against another edition
A measured record of a heartwrenching and oftentimes frustrating case. The epilogue did introduce some conclusions based in Freudian thought I consider to be unfounded, and ultimately unnecessary, as the author had not offered any personal explanations up to the point.
Overall, very strong, but strongly upsetting.
Overall, very strong, but strongly upsetting.