Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Uncultured: A Memoir by Daniella Mestyanek Young

10 reviews

tayleigh's review against another edition

Such an important book to read. It’s a personal and heart breaking memoir of a young woman who grew up in a sex cult, she was able to get out, excellent in school then ultimately join the military. Though the military turned into being very similar to her time growing up in the cult. She was trained from childhood to be a soldier so she excelled in that as well. But being a woman in both scenarios she was seen as less than and a body to used. She experienced sexual abuse through out her whole life and is was overlooked in each of the organizations. Each time she thought she caught a break something would come crashing down. 

This book details horrific events and abuse of women and children while also showing systems that allow it to happen. It also shows how strong and important friendships between women can be. Women were the ones who supported her through her journey and saved her life. 

As someone who has experienced sexual trauma it can feel so isolating and overwhelming and it’s a reminder that healing can happen and so many women experience it and it shouldn’t be shameful for the women. And it’s never the victim’s fault. Like Daniella says it’s rarely a bad apple or two but a rotten tree and we should be looking for where the toxins are coming from. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, War, Death, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Rape, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Racism

azurae's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Sexual assault, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Islamophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Ableism, War, Xenophobia, Violence, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Addiction and Transphobia

oolymee's review against another edition

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Grief, Death, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, War, Xenophobia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Lesbophobia, Islamophobia, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

idontread's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, War, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Confinement, Xenophobia, Racism, Addiction, Ableism, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Blood, Sexism, Body shaming, Bullying, Grief, Islamophobia, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

amberinbookland's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual violence, War, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Medical content, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child abuse, and Religious bigotry

eruby's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.75

Of all the cult and fundie memoirs I've been reading and listening to recently, this one is unique because half of it is about her experience in the U.S. Army after leaving the fucked up cult she grew up in. Her insights about programming, group think, propaganda, and us vs. them mentality are interesting, but the biggest similarity she drew between CoG and the Army is the way men control and manipulate women. I found this to be a super interesting and unique perspective on group organization. Overall, a very good cult memoir, but I would warn that the child abuse, pedophilia, and sexual abuse is especially bad in this book even for a cult memoir. Children of God is a particularly heinous cult when it comes to child abuse and pedophilia. Look up Ricky Rodriguez for a horrifying example.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Pedophilia

Moderate: War, Islamophobia, Xenophobia, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Racial slurs

mondovertigo's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Gaslighting, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, War, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Cancer, Racism, Self harm, and Trafficking

Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion

raquelcanread's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Blood, Colonisation, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content

enchantressreads's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

4.0

I first heard of the Children of God cult a few years ago, while perusing random pages about cults. It wasn’t until January of this year when I read Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones did I realize how horrible this cult really was. I’m very glad that publishers are taking their time to publish these stories.

Daniella Mestyanek Young tells the story of her cult experience beginning from her youth, and through when she finally decided enough was enough. However, due to the trauma of her upbringing, she ended up joining another cult of sorts, the military. Uncultured follows how she was unprepared for a normal life because of the narrow view the Children of God cult had of the world.

Mestyanek Young brings up a very important topic to mental health, and that’s how traumatized people end up going back to what feels normal. In her case, it was another strict regimen with strict leaders. In other people’s cases, it means going back to an abusive relationship, or entering abusive relationship after abusive relationship. It’s a very important topic to discuss, and not one I’ve seen mentioned in relation to trauma very often.

As these brave women put out their stories, I believe we will see even more horror stories to come out of not only the Children of God cult, but more cults surrounding sex crimes. I hope telling her story was helpful for her, and I know it will be helpful for many other people who deal with trauma.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

CW for child abuse, sexual assault/violence, rape, injury detail, antisemitism, religious bigotry, pedophilia, suicidal thoughts, victim blaming, self-harm, sexism, mental abuse, war, death, racism, and trauma

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Death

Minor: Racism, War, Antisemitism, and Self harm

victim blaming

noellelovesbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Content Warnings: Child abuse [physical, verbal, sexual], rape [on page], pedophilia, indoctrination, kidnapping, child brides, forced family separation, conditioning, injury [burn], suicidal ideations, racism, toxic relationships, confinement, sexism, depression, homophobia, sexual harassment, war, violence, and death.

I received an ARC, ahead of release, through St Martin's Press through their influencer program. 

Daniella's story is incredibly powerful and inspiring...showing the strength of a woman who's been through so much. As the first memoir, I've ever read it had me extremely emotional and required a few breaks to get through. 

There were so many words that I strongly related to...some that reminded me of my teen years when I couldn't possibly fathom surviving until 18. The idea that I could survive my youth seemed impossible...either my abuser would end me or I'd end myself...I saw no other way. As an adult, I'm incredibly happy that some little tiny voice always told me to keep going no matter how much I tried to drown it out. Other words inspired me and had me wishing I read those words when I was going through my own trauma. 

Incredibly powerful and moving read... everything Daniella experienced and overcame...unimaginable pain and trauma that she endured and persevered through. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Violence, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Confinement, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Death, and Racism

Moderate: Suicide and War