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theartolater's review against another edition
4.0
A decent book about a woman's childhood as a Christian Scientist, and dealing with her parents as an adult. A fairly straightforward book overall, the book only really picks up when her entire family has to start making a moral decision about a parent's health while at odds with the basic beliefs of the religion. Worth reading if you're interested in learning a few new things.
nhreader's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book from the very first page. Greenhouse did a tremendous job revealing a great many of her family's secrets but in such a way that leaves the reader aware of how difficult is truly was for her. She also maintains a fair perspective and never attempts to speak for anyone else in her family. This is the story of an adult woman who rejects her family's faith, her own religious upbringing, and is forced to watch her mother die from disease, something that is never acknowledged in the world of Christian Science. Sometimes the read is difficult (I will admit to imagining myself in her position and it sickened me) but it is an eye-opening introduction into a mysterious religion.
nferre's review against another edition
3.0
More than a memoir of how the author left the church, it's a familiar memoir of what the Church and its teachings did to divide her family. Lucia had had enough of the Christian Science Church by the time she was a teenager in high school. Respectful of her parents, she kept most of her feelings to herself until her mother fell very ill. Then all hell broke loose.
My grandmother, born in 1866, lived in Lynn, Massachusetts, the home of CS founder, Mary Baker Eddey. She became a follower and died an awful, painful death without medical assistance and against the wishes of her husband in 1935. Her daughter, my aunt, lived to be 98 years old, in a wheelchair for the last 20 years of her life. She had false teeth and eye glasses, but refused medical care. Her daughter, my cousin, was diagnosed with breast cancer in the 1980s. Their solution was to pray, sell the house, buy an RV and travel the country and stay happy. As my cousin got sicker, she and her husband decided to seek medical help. It was too late and she died in her mid 40s.
I have never understood this religion and I can't say that this book enlightened me. I still scratch my head in wonderment at how normal, intelligent people can follow this sort of very unscientific religion.
My grandmother, born in 1866, lived in Lynn, Massachusetts, the home of CS founder, Mary Baker Eddey. She became a follower and died an awful, painful death without medical assistance and against the wishes of her husband in 1935. Her daughter, my aunt, lived to be 98 years old, in a wheelchair for the last 20 years of her life. She had false teeth and eye glasses, but refused medical care. Her daughter, my cousin, was diagnosed with breast cancer in the 1980s. Their solution was to pray, sell the house, buy an RV and travel the country and stay happy. As my cousin got sicker, she and her husband decided to seek medical help. It was too late and she died in her mid 40s.
I have never understood this religion and I can't say that this book enlightened me. I still scratch my head in wonderment at how normal, intelligent people can follow this sort of very unscientific religion.
katrinaburch's review against another edition
4.0
wow... what a powerful book. As someone who was raised in faith and educated about other religions, CS wasn't one we really touched on. I knew certain things (like no doctors, no meds) but other things I did not know... I can't even imagine her life or how she dealt but Lucia Greenhouse has written one hell of a book. It was a little hard to follow all the relatives (hence no 5 star) but that's about my only complaint.
elephant's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a sad story! Lucia tells of her childhood and how her parents raised her and her brother and sister in the Christian Science religion. Her father was a Christian Science "Practitioner" and the family moved to London for a few years where the children went to Christian Science boarding schools. Most of the book, however, deals with Lucia's mother's illness - which according to Christian Science, does not exist, and the way her family dealt with her illness and death.
I do not understand why anyone would forgo medical care when they are dying just for the sake of a religious belief. It just goes to show that there is a very fine line between religious belief and stupidity - a thought that came to me today when I read about the Tibetan monks who self-immolated as a form of protest.
My favorite quote from the book is from a Presbyterian minister who Lucia spoke to about her mother's illness and Christian Science beliefs and her refusal of medical treatment. He told her "When someone is drowning, he - or she - will grab on to the closest thing in reach. And they will hold on for dear life..., even if that thing doesn't float."
This book is wonderfully written and very touching.
I do not understand why anyone would forgo medical care when they are dying just for the sake of a religious belief. It just goes to show that there is a very fine line between religious belief and stupidity - a thought that came to me today when I read about the Tibetan monks who self-immolated as a form of protest.
My favorite quote from the book is from a Presbyterian minister who Lucia spoke to about her mother's illness and Christian Science beliefs and her refusal of medical treatment. He told her "When someone is drowning, he - or she - will grab on to the closest thing in reach. And they will hold on for dear life..., even if that thing doesn't float."
This book is wonderfully written and very touching.
mysticfaerie's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
First person inside look into Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy's religious following that eschews all medical practices: medications, doctors, hospitals, etc., in favor of prayer and avoidance to cure and mend all health ills. Startling in its honesty, shocking in its beliefs, this book will leave you with more questions than answers about this not-very-well-known Christian sect.
mamers's review against another edition
3.0
Let me clear, I really liked this book, as is required for a 4 star status, but it made me really angry and the writing in the beginning is pretty choppy, so for that, I cannot give it 4 stars. Lucia Ewing is (if my calculations are correct!) rapidly approaching 50 years old, the same age her mother was during a large part of this story. Lucia relays her experiences growing up in the world of Christian Science. (Until reading this book, I did not realize Christian Science is different from Scientology. Oops. Tom Cruise, don’t hate me!) (No wait, Tom Cruise is kinda psycho. I don’t care what he thinks.)
The book is broken into 3 sections, with the first section about Lucia’s childhood, the second about her mother’s illness, and the third being a very short wrap up. I felt a real disconnect from the author and her writing until suddenly, around page 58,Lucia’s parents throw a curveball at the kids and tell them they are moving to London and Lucia’s dad becomes a great big douche bag. A father who was once fully committed and involved with his children quickly becomes nonexistent in their lives. Their mother is a waffling buffoon who goes along with whatever the dad says, simply because he is the man. 70’s or not, Women’s Lib was in full swing.
It is at this point in the book that I find myself remaining equal parts frustrated and angry through to the end. One part of me wants to shake Lucia for not standing up for herself or anyone around her (brainwashed or not, it was obvious she had a big brain filled with all kinds of common sense), while the other part of me wants to repeatedly throw a brick at her parent’s heads. How dare you place the burden of your choices on a child?!?
Overall, it is a necessary read if you desire an understanding of how children are forced into a cultish lifestyle. By the end, I understood why the mom chose the Christian Science lifestyle (and how she quietly revolted against it). Lucia really tried to explain why the dad originally turned to CS, but I was left without fully understanding how someone could be so completely brainwashed.I mean, for real. The guy got remarried to a young chippy on the 1st anniversary of his wife’s death and expected his kids to show up and support him. Aside from dinner with Lucia once every couple of months, he very quickly eliminated all familial ties. The guy was one of those crazies who believed the turn of the century was really going to be the end of the world and moved into the endtimes compound in Colorado so he would be taken with all the other crazies to Heaven. I suspect that is the problem as a whole. We have no idea why people ultimately give their lives to these kinds of cults, so we have no idea how to get them out. As my coworker says on a daily basis, “You can’t cure stupid.”
The book is broken into 3 sections, with the first section about Lucia’s childhood, the second about her mother’s illness, and the third being a very short wrap up. I felt a real disconnect from the author and her writing until suddenly, around page 58,
It is at this point in the book that I find myself remaining equal parts frustrated and angry through to the end. One part of me wants to shake Lucia for not standing up for herself or anyone around her (brainwashed or not, it was obvious she had a big brain filled with all kinds of common sense), while the other part of me wants to repeatedly throw a brick at her parent’s heads. How dare you place the burden of your choices on a child?!?
Overall, it is a necessary read if you desire an understanding of how children are forced into a cultish lifestyle. By the end, I understood why the mom chose the Christian Science lifestyle (and how she quietly revolted against it). Lucia really tried to explain why the dad originally turned to CS, but I was left without fully understanding how someone could be so completely brainwashed.
onejordo's review against another edition
4.0
If you want to learn all about the beliefs, practices and secrets of Christian Science this is not the book for you. That’s not to say you cannot gain an understanding of the religion, but there are many secrets about Christian Scientists not told in this book.
However, if you want to sink into a novel about a quirky family, in which several people are Christian Scientists, try this story out. Told by Lucia, she and her siblings suffer through their Mother’s devastating illness. Her parent’s beliefs prevent the family from seeking medical attention. A large supporting cast of extended family members, who have conflicting views, give us a peak into a large loving, yet dysfunctional, family.
The book does become a bit slow about two thirds through. Lucia has many questions that she just does not know the answer to. Still, after a twenty year journey of preparing her story for us, Lucia seems to receive closure on her experience with Christian Science.
3 ½ stars
However, if you want to sink into a novel about a quirky family, in which several people are Christian Scientists, try this story out. Told by Lucia, she and her siblings suffer through their Mother’s devastating illness. Her parent’s beliefs prevent the family from seeking medical attention. A large supporting cast of extended family members, who have conflicting views, give us a peak into a large loving, yet dysfunctional, family.
The book does become a bit slow about two thirds through. Lucia has many questions that she just does not know the answer to. Still, after a twenty year journey of preparing her story for us, Lucia seems to receive closure on her experience with Christian Science.
3 ½ stars