“Happiness is finding peace, joy and inspiration in the array of things one does in life. It is also moving on from what cannot be undone.”
Little Sister is vivid, heartbreaking and, ultimately, joyful.
Patricia Walsh Chadwick does an incredible job of illustrating how intelligent, kind people can get sucked into a cult (especially a cult tied to religion). It seemed like a noble idea at first – but then, bit by bit, freedoms were taken away. Identity was stripped from adults and children alike. Families were separated. The brothers and sisters in the community suffered physical and psychological abuse. The leaders of the community were manipulative hypocrites; it was frustrating and sickening to read about the ways they abused the members of the community (especially the children) in the name of God. (It has some Handmaids Tale vibes for sure.)
And yet, Chadwick’s story is one of resilience and triumph. Of the strength of a family’s love for one another. And ultimately the love of a community despite (or maybe because of) their shared trauma.
If you love memoirs, you have to get your hands on this book.
Thank you to Get Red PR for providing me with a free copy of this book.
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