'Not Without My Sister' is a harrowing memoir that delves into the lives of three sisters, Kristina, Celeste, and Juliana, who were born and raised in the Children of God cult. The book recounts the unimaginable physical, sexual, and emotional abuse they endured within the cult, shedding light on the disturbing practices and ideologies that shaped their upbringing. The narrative follows the sisters as they navigate through a childhood marked by violence, manipulation, and trauma, ultimately culminating in their courageous journey towards liberation and freedom. The writing style is raw and poignant, offering a candid portrayal of the sisters' experiences within the cult and their resilience in breaking free from its grip.
The book is praised for its unflinching honesty and compelling storytelling, providing readers with a powerful insight into the dark realities of life within a cult. Despite the difficult subject matter, the authors' narratives are both heartbreaking and inspiring, showcasing their strength and determination to overcome their past and create a new life for themselves outside the confines of the cult.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for Not Without My Sister include high levels of sexual abuse, emotional and physical abuse, cult dynamics, and trauma involving children.
From The Publisher:
The bestselling, devastating account of three sisters torn apart, abused and exploited at the hands of a community that robbed them of their childhood. It reveals three lives, separate but entwined, that have experienced unspeakable horror, unrelenting loyalty and unforgettable courage.
From as early as three years old, Juliana, Celeste and Kristina were separated from their parents and physically and sexually abused by their 'guardians' in the infamous religious cult known as the Children of God. They were made to watch and mimic orgies, received love letters and sexual advances from men old enough to be their grandfather, and were forced into abusive relationships. They were denied access to formal schooling and medical care, had to busk on the streets, beg for money, and were mercilessly beaten for 'crimes' as unpredictable as reading an encyclopaedia.
Finally, unable to live with the guilt of what had happened to her children, their mother escaped with Kristina and her younger siblings, cutting herself off from Celeste in a bid to save her remaining children. Desperate to save her sister, Kristina eventually began a search to find Celeste, but it would be many years until Celeste found the courage to escape, wanting freedom and a different future for the child she was carrying. The suicide of one of their sisters drove Juliana to exit the group a couple of years later.
Now the three sisters have finally come together to reveal in full and horrific detail their existence within the Children of God cult. Their stories reveal a community spread throughout the world and its legacy of anorexia, depression, drug abuse, suicide and even murder. Lives are ripped apart and painstakingly mended with a shared strength that finally enabled the sisters to free themselves from the shadows of their past.
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1 comment(s)
It feels very strange rating this at all as it's a memoir by sisters telling the story of their horror growing up in a cult. Used and abused daily. It was a painful read and I had to put it down repeatedly to gather my thoughts and what's some cute bird video. But I have to say that they are very talented with writing and as painful and infuriating the read was it was very well written. It felt like I got the whole picture of the cult in the same time as I got attached with the sisters. I can't imagine having to deal with not only living trough that but also building a new life trying to leave that behind
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Not Without My Sister?
About the Author:
Celeste, Kristina and Juliana were all born into the cult The Children of God to the same father, who remains a member. The three girls were separated from each other and their mothers at an early age and lived in communes throughout the world under the guardianship of foster parents.Kristina and her mother escaped when she was 11 years old, but Celeste and Juliana were hidden by the cult until they were adults. Celeste gathered the courage to escape in her mid-twenties when she became pregnant, wanting a better life for her daughter in freedom.The suicide of one of their sisters spurred Juliana to leave the cult and reunite with her sisters.Celeste graduated from university and is now a Play and Creative Art Therapist. Kristina runs a community cafe supporting people with learning difficulties. Juliana lives in Italy as a writer and ultra endurance cyclist with the first woman's Guinness World Record for circumnavigating the globe by bicycle.
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