Welcome to Litsy!

🎧📖 True Crime and cults are right up my alley so this should have been an easy pick. Unfortunately it was an absolute slog. I guess it was the writing style, think it could have used some editing. It was just really hard to get through as it didn't hold my attention at all. Disappointing.

Currently starting. We‘ll see how it goes.
#Weekendreads

A couple of weeks late with this, but I've only just discovered that I've completed #almostachunkster for #chunksterchallenge2023 @Amiable .

One left to do and I'm 17 issues away from completing The Count of Monte Cristo! 😁😂

This should probably be a DNF, but it gets #guyana done for #readingtheamericas2023 done. @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB .

Changing books for #14books14weeks23 @TheHeartlandBookFairy - this is book #1

#weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

Continue Count and A History of Treason
Finish tagged
Start The Mistress and The Bandit Queens

#firstlinefridays @ShyBookOwl

Cults fascinate me, this one especially. I can 100% see the original appeal of The Peoples Temple, they did some good things and fought for good things. In the beginning Jim Jones did good work, then he went off the rails.
What happened is horrific and heartbreaking.
There were some details in this that I hadn‘t realized or caught in any of the things I‘ve seen or read previously.
4.5 ⭐️
Recommend

Listening to this while I work today. I know most of the information and history. There are details of this things that I was not as aware of.

@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks - So so good! I mean, the Johnstown and just the numbers involved! it's intense!

I can't believe this book! This is my #April 2022 Pick

@12BooksOf2022
@Andrew65

To my endless frustration, I‘m still struggling with post-Covid brain fog, which means I have a foot high stack of books I‘ve tried to force myself to read. What do you do when reading is your life & the ability disappears? Here‘s to hoping it‘s not permanent🙏 Trying #audioknitting tonight to the tagged NF audiobook. We‘ll see if I can keep interest in this one. And maybe I‘ll finish Jaxons baby blanket in time for his 1st birthday in September!

Wow! I mean, what else can I say. Such a great read!

#DogsOfLitsy

#CrimeADay
@Bookworm54 @AkashaVampie @AsYouWish @jb72 @DieAReader @Jessinikkip @AnansiGirl @Read4Life

#the52bookclub2022 29: Over 500 Pages Long

Tackling this one as my #AudioCommute book! I am loving it so far!

#CrimeADay
@Bookworm54 @AkashaVampie @AsYouWish @jb72 @DieAReader @Jessinikkip @AnansiGirl @Read4Life

#WeekendReading #20in4 #BookNookBuddies2022 #KickTheSlump #BookSpinBingo

So very hard to put this one down! Extremely well written imo. I was enthralled/addicted right from the get go. Definitely a recommended read📚

No, it's not a particularly Christmasy book, and I don't know what it says about me that I can go from reading Hallmark like books to True Crime cult books, but I can. This made for a super engaged book club discussion, and even though the book was chunky as hell, we all ended up deep diving into documentaries and blogs to learn even more. #WinterGames #MistletoeManiacs #TBRread @Clwojick

After reading this book, I felt I came away with a better understanding of how this tragedy could have happened. It was the insidious grain of truth in Jim Jones's message that killed them. Most of these people meant to do good in the world and found themselves in the thrall of a demagogue.

The book was well written. I think the author could have used a sensitivity reader when he wrote about race.

2nd bk
#dashingdecember #readathon @Andrew65

An in depth look at Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. It was a wild ride, especially once they start in Guyana.

#WinterGames2021 #TeamGameSleighers

#AVeryMerryReadathon #Wintercosy #WrapItUpReadathon @TheSpineView @puddlejumper @keys_on_fire #DecemberChill @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

Other than wishing that this book was a tad bit shorter, I found myself caught up in the crazy world Jim Jones created.

I only new the highlights of this cult, but this book has a ton of information on Jim Jones and his followers. I liked that it started before he formed Peoples Temple and went all the way to the mass suicide.

Audio. I actually didn‘t know much about Jim Jones or his followers, so this was new to me except the “Kool Aid” suicide. I can see where he would have been very charismatic and appealing with his outlook on life, initially, at least. I would have liked to know more of the aftermath and the people left behind. The narrator was good. It was long, so yes, I did lose interest occasionally, but not often and overall, I thought it was well done

Am I the only one who feels like most non-fiction books can really just be summed up in an hour long podcast?? I‘m about half way through and getting bored with this one, I just wanna know why they drank the kool-aid already!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book covers the very beginning of The Temple up until the mass suicide. The author also gives us background information on many of the members and leaders. Such a sad part of history. Hard to believe so many so willingly followed this man.

In summary, this is a great book with a lot of very incredible information that I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in the subject.

You can read my full review here:
https://sumisbooks.weebly.com/book-reviews/the-road-to-jonestown-by-jeff-guinn

I'm old enough to remember this event, but didn't know the whole story. This book details so much. It really gives a good example of the blind devotion people have for some "leaders", as well as how power can drive someone to do horrible things. I swore I would read lighter fare this year, but it hasn't happened yet. Good book, interesting and tragic story, but definitely heavy.

#audiopuzzling on my rainy day off. The puzzle looks fun, but this book is disturbing.

#Audible

1. Tagged (audio), and Grace (Eventually) by Anne Lamott
2. When All is Said by Anne Griffin - staff pick at my favorite indie bookstore
3. The Girls of Atomic City was pretty good.

#weekendreads
@rachelsbrittain

Started “Schizo” from the wonderful @TorieStorieS this afternoon and joining the amazing @SumisBooks in a buddy read of The Road to Jonestown.”

Thank you #Litsylove for bringing the gift of these women and so many others folks into my life!! I‘m feeling grateful.

Starting this one today. Just read the prologue... DAMN!!!
😱😱😱

Soooo I thought reading a book about a cult would be a good idea right now. 😳 This is an exhaustive account of the man behind the massacre at Jonestown. It is very thorough and honestly if it wasn‘t on audio I don‘t think I could have made it through the whole thing. Well written and researched but utterly heartbreaking.
“On Jones‘ instruction Larry Schacht ordered 1 pound of sodium cyanide, enough for 1800 lethal doses. It cost $8.85.”

#hiselderliness #bookreport #weeklyforecast

I‘m either early for this week @Cinfhen or late for last week! 😂😂 As you predicted Dad bailed on the Jonestown book #greatmindsthinkalike
He enjoyed Journeys in the Wild but reckons “men with children should stick around and not take up dangerous jobs far away from them”. He loved and highly recommends Buried in the Sky.
Just added the two books on the bottom right to his pile.

This has been on my TBR for a long time and I finally picked it up after noticing it on countless lists recently for past decade favorites.

Cult life dynamics
and abduction stories
Ghosts that will haunt you
and dogs in their glory
Books that embrace
the myth of changelings
These are a few
of my favorite things

These books DO represent some of my favorite themes in books! What themes and tropes do you gravitate towards?

#Top10oftheDecade #NonfictionEdition | Here are my top 10 nonfiction reads from the last 10 years. This was TOUGH. Thanks for starting this, Cindy!

Share your NF picks, too, and be sure to tag @Cinfhen !

My top 5 books of the decade (by genre) -- History and Biography

An exhaustive and rich account of human tragedy. Cults fascinate me. (As an aside, I found a great number of similarities between the Peoples Temple and Scientology)

This book is crazy. I didn‘t realize that Jones was instrumental in integrating Indianapolis, partly as a result of the death of his daughter. The Joneses had adopted some Korean kids, and some African American ones. One Korean daughter died in a car accident, and she wasn‘t allowed to be buried in a regular cemetery bc of her race — it was against Indiana law. She had to be buried in a “Negro cemetery”. This was in the late 1950s. 😱😑

This was a really informative book. Well written. I wished though there were more pictures and spaced through the book instead of on a photo spread of 6 pages or so just past the middle.

#BFCr2 #BookSix

Google Fit says I passed 25,000 steps yesterday at work. Ive been home since midnight. Its 330AM. Little Man is asleep on my foot. My wife @anewton91 isnt in bed doing God knows what, and I cant sleep. Why not read about Jonestown?

#BFCr2 #DogsofLitsy @wanderinglynn @Laughterhp

Audiobooking during the work commute. Anyone else find it makes the drive better?

This is what I might read next, but I‘m not sure if I can get through it.😬

When I told a coworker what I was reading, she said, “I just don‘t understand how people would follow someone like that.” The thing is? After listening to this book, I DO. I get it. I don‘t quite get how those in his inner circle *kept* following him, but I understand the initial draw. And it has nothing to do with “charisma,” or whatever BS you normally hear about cult leaders. 👇🏻

This #JourneysEnd is one of the most tragic that I‘ve read about and watched documentaries about. Jim Jones‘ decent into delusions and paranoia led to tragic consequences in the jungles of Guyana. Heartbreaking! Excellent #audiobook.

The episode is probably one of the worst of the series. It‘s basically to write Wesley off of all future (cannon) storylines. And Beverly giving him the blanket - lame! #StarTrekSummerMay

Learning about cults can only ever be enhanced by the spring weather. Really brings out that commune vibe.

I‘m really enjoying this so far: detailed, well researched and quick paced. #SSDGM

#amreading #nonfiction #truecrime

Very interesting story. I certainly learned a lot about Jim Jones. I like how Jeff Guin gives so much family background in his books. I was surprised to learn ways in which Jim Jones promoted integration (even though he could have done better). #MountTBR #LitsyAtoZ #LetterR

My favorite line in the song #wonderwall is “maybe you‘re going to be the one that saves me”. I‘ve thought about it many times, and this time I thought of Jonestown.

Did, even after he moved them Guyana, these people think Jim Jones was going to save them? Did they see Leo Ryan as a savior? Tough questions, great #audiobook. #anglophileapril

This was a really comprehensive, full look at the religious radicalism of Jim Jones and how he became the infamous man we have heard about. It really brings this entire tragedy to life and gives a hard look at the terror of Jonestown.

An amazing and detailed history of the rise and tragic fatal fall of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. Jones started out with good intentions, fighting for the poor and minorities, but in the end was done in by his megalomania and paranoia. To this day, it amazes me how all these people willingly killed themselves for him. 5 💥💥💥💥💥 out of 5. Highly recommended.