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Jesus Land: A Memoir
Jesus Land A Memoir
Author: Julia Scheeres
Julia Scheeres was raised as a fundamentalist Christian in the Midwest by a brutally violent father and a negligent mother obsessed with religion. Raped by one adopted brother, Scheeres forms a bond with David, her other brother, who is black, and the two manage to survive--barely--a truly horrific childhood, and then are sent away to a fundamen...  more »
Info icon
ISBN-13: 9781582433547
ISBN-10: 1582433542
Publication Date: 11/1/2006
Pages: 363
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 204

4 stars, based on 204 ratings
Publisher: Counterpoint Press
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

candieb avatar reviewed Jesus Land: A Memoir on + 239 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 18
Wow. I hated this book. I loved this book.

I hated the story. I hated that people like this exist/ed - her parents, the teachers, her older brother. Where do these people come from?

The writing was simply amazing. Julia has real talent and it shows. I had no idea the first sentence in the epilogue was coming. Tears sprang to my eyes for David, for what he had and what he lost. What a sad end of the book. Having said that, my copy had an interview with the author that made me feel better about it *laugh*

I was WAY invested in this book from the get go... she pulls you in, and even after it's over, won't let you go. I finished reading this last night and I simply couldn't come write about it until now. I needed time to think about it, to get over my anger at her teachers - and her family. Her parents... what horrible people.
ThreeCats avatar reviewed Jesus Land: A Memoir on + 34 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 10
I read the book three weeks ago and I cannot get it out of my mind. Heartlessness and cruelty, all in the name of Jesus. Riveting. Harrowing. And somehow, the author is not bitter. The story is above all about love.
L avatar reviewed Jesus Land: A Memoir on
Helpful Score: 9
Oh my gosh! I read this in two days. Undoubtedly THE most depressing book I have ever read! Maybe it just hit too close to home for me since my son is African American, but how in God's name anyone could mistreat, hurt and BEAT children like those supposed "parents" did is beyond me. Poor David - what a horrid, sorrowful life that child had, and despite it all, he remained hopeful and relatively cheerful. It broke my heart. That this was done in the name of religion is abhorrent. That this goes on today in the name of religion is even more abhorrent. I am absolutely SICK from reading this. I will repost it, get rid of it and try to erase its horror from my mind, but I doubt I will ever be able to.
reviewed Jesus Land: A Memoir on + 31 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
A chiller. A true account of a missionary family more intent on religious teachings than caring for the family.
reviewed Jesus Land: A Memoir on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
A compelling book, but it was difficult to read through the awful stuff this author and her brother went through.
Read All 30 Book Reviews of "Jesus Land A Memoir"

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sharonc9630 avatar reviewed Jesus Land: A Memoir on + 63 more book reviews
Enthralling book. Knowing it is a true story locked me in from the beginning.
I would recommend it especially to anyone who was brought up in church and taught
attendance was considered a requirement. Every Sunday morning, Sunday evening,
Wednesday service and other church functions were mandatory.

The bond between the sister and brother was wonderfully written and captivating
to read. Great book by Julia Scheeres
reviewed Jesus Land: A Memoir on + 73 more book reviews
This book is so captivating that I didn't want to put it down. Its also really hard to read because these kids had a truly horrible childhood.
I kept wondering how the parents felt if/when they read it. Did they agree with their daughter's portrayal of them and if they did, how do they live with themselves? I am a Christian but I am also the first to admit that if I weren't, some of the Christians I have met would've had me running screaming in the other direction.
This book is not a light read but it's really well written and worth the heart ache you will endure while creating it.


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