First Edition of Sabrina Reads!
Sabrina Reads
Happy Thursday!
Welcome to the first edition of my newsletter, Sabrina Reads! Each time I finish a book, I’m going to write up a review, then make suggested related things to read and watch. Please feel free to share this with anyone who likes to read about books or talk about books. And let me know what you’re reading!
The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir
The title The Book of Essie suggests a connection with the Book of Esther, but this is not a retelling or an updated modern take. It’s somewhat connected to the idea of solving a crisis through action and solidarity: Essie finds solidarity with a chosen few people and creates a way to escape the life she is trapped in, while Esther has solidarity with the Jewish people and helps save them from slaughter. Definitely not a direct and obvious connect between the two.
For a book about Christian community, it touches very little on the main characters’ beliefs or faith. By the end, I don’t know if Essie truly believes in God or emerges with any of her faith intact. The story is more focused on revealing hypocrisy and undermining those who are more concerned with appearances than truth, love or any of the core values they claim to hold dear.
Some of the plot points are fairly implausible, but I recognize this story and these people from American pop culture: the Duggar family, Jon & Kate Plus 8, and the stories of American politicians who hope their “family values” will help them win elections.
What really struck me was how complicit everyone outside the family was. We’d all like to think we aren’t star struck or awed by famous people, but if we’ve learned anything from the last American election, it’s that fame and celebrity give people an extraordinary amount of power. Reality television and social media can make us feel like we know the people we follow, and we tend to trust the people we know. Intellectually, we’re aware that we’re being manipulated, but we don’t feel that way. We’re all so sure we’ve made up our own minds.
Essie shatters illusions in this book. She is so much more than anyone gives her credit for and she forces them all to confront who she really is, acknowledge her, and let her go.
Extracurricular reading and watching on power in faith communities:
I started re-watching Big Love and thinking about the patriarchal power that is displayed there. Everyone is supposed to be freaking out about the polygamy, but I’m more concerned that Bill can’t ever let his wives (or any woman for that matter) say no to him. (Currently on Crave in Canada)
I watched Wild, Wild Country on Netflix and let the filmmakers take me on a ride from sympathetic to horrified. Early in the series I told my partner (who knew how the whole thing ended) how sympathetic I found the cult, and he gave me a look that told me it wouldn’t last. He wasn’t wrong.
I read this heartbreaking story of a girl who grew up in a Quiverfull household and is still being attacked by her family (mostly her father) for daring to leave.
Last fall I read The Miseducation of Cameron Post which wasn’t about male power exactly, but certainly heteronormative expectations. My Goodreads review. I haven’t watched the movie yet, but I’ve heard good things.
I added a few books to my to-read list:
Boy Erased by Garrad Conley (I watched the movie version on Crave. It was powerful and more disturbing than The Miseducation of Cameron Post.)
Please send recommendations for further reading and watching! Most of the extra reading and watching I did was Christianity-based, but I'd like to expand that in future reading and watching.
Let me know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. Book recommendations are always appreciated!
Until next time,
Sabrina
2019 Reading Challenge
Sabrina has read 42 books toward her goal of 75 books.
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