Beth H. (suburbanalien) reviewed on 7/14/2010 + 63 more book reviews

From the point of view of an adult reading this book, the themes in the book were more interesting than the actual story. Although it's fiction, it was a retelling of the formation of an extremist religious doomsday cult and the wreckage the cult wreaks on the lives of those involved. I found the book interesting because the main characters were teenagers, dragged into the cult by their parents, and they were able to observe the methods a cult uses to ensnare followers. First, there is a common belief (the world is wicked and God will pass judgement), next, a demonstration of your devotion to the belief (going up the mountain to remove yourself from the wicked world and dedicate yourself to God). Next, the leader is presented as a proxy for God, so anything he says goes, and anything he wishes is carried out, and fear of disobeying is introduced to the group. Then, the cult tightens. Security guards are posted, then a fence is erected, then the fence is electrified, then the guards are armed, then the family members and legal authorities are forbidden to enter and the standoff begins. The cult members are kept isolated, in fear, doing exhausting work and provided with little nutrition to keep them weak and dependant, living conditions are harsh, and they bond with each other based on their work roles instead of their own families. Preparations for the future are made, the older men start jostling for position to see who gets which teenage "Eve" when the time to repopulate the world arrives, gardens are prepared since the canned food will run out, members are resigned to the fact they will never see their friends or remaining family again, that those left below are already dead. The actual story - the parts told by the two main characters - was less interesting to me than the cult aspect of it, but maybe if I was younger I might find more to that part. Well written and although the ending was abrupt and left a lot unexplained, I liked the book.

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