Hiya!
I’m looking for book recommendations, especially fiction, that explore life within religious communities, cults, or fundamentalist groups.
I really enjoyed the I am not Esther series, but particularly I am Rebecca and Being Magdalene for their perspective on what it’s like to live inside that kind of belief system. I’ve also more recently read Unveiled, Daughter of Gloriavale, and Sins of the Father (all about an insular Christian community in New Zealand).
It’s the internal perspective I’m most drawn to, stories that show daily life, relationships, and how people navigate faith, rules, and doubt from the inside, and I’m open to any genre.
Thank you!
by lastjaybird
7 Comments
The sound of gravel by Ruth wariner and breaking free by Rachel jeffs are hard reads because they are non fiction but definitely fit that subject.
The 19th Wife (fiction, but has historical fiction weaved in)
Nonfiction, but try “Extraordinary Popular Delusions of Our Times” by Daniel Martin.
Non-fiction recommendations
The Quiet Damage – about QANON
Cultish- about cults both modern and recent history
Hey Hun- MLM downfall
*Educated*, by Westover
*Under the Banner of Heaven*, by Krakaeur
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham