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Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'
Remembering Satan: A Tragic Case of Recovered Memory by Lawrence Wright
1 review
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.
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