Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Unfollow
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
TheBookgeekFrau
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

The writing was so-so. My mind wondered a lot during the first half. BUT the content was compelling, thought provoking, and important in these times of extreme extremism.

48/62

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

#MountTBR #ReadAway2024 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

DieAReader 🥳Great! 4mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 4mo
40 likes2 comments
quote
TheBookgeekFrau
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

"I didn't understand what was going on, not at first."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

ShyBookOwl Intriguing 4mo
34 likes1 comment
blurb
TheBookgeekFrau
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

Made it home before the storm ⛈️
Rage away Mother Nature, I've got my coffee and book 😁

Leftcoastzen Yay! Readers are lucky that way! 4mo
TheBookgeekFrau @Leftcoastzen Raging storms, hot temps, cold temps, windy, high pollen counts; all lucky weather for a reader! 😁 4mo
43 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
Martta
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

The first encounter I had with the Phelps family was through Louis Theroux's documentaries. I was intrigued to learn that Megan had written a book. This book tells her story through childhood to when she left the family religion. I enjoyed to learn about her thought process and reasons to leave and the insights to the family dynamic entwined with the religion. It was a fascinating read!

blurb
Donna1980
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

Finally warm enough to read in the garden! Finished the tagged this weekend. Really dragged my heels on this one as the first 100pages were pretty hard going. However you needed to understand exactly what growing up in this family was to understand that to walk away from it took incredible strength. I was surprised how tearful I felt at multiple points during the last 80 pages. A difficult but interesting read.

review
TrishB
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Mehso-so

I genuinely have no clue what I feel about this book or Megan.
Brain washing, grooming and abusive relationships happen in every walk of life. It‘s just here it‘s based on religion, a very extreme interpretation of scripture.
This Church is abhorrent and probably goes against every mainstream tenet of religions.
I didn‘t get Megan after she left the church, I‘m conflicted totally on her musings and think it totally demonstrates 👇🏻

TrishB how difficult it is to break away completely. 4y
Caroline2 I got annoyed when she was studying law. Come on, once you get to university level, you develop critical thinking skills. It seemed like the only thing that made her want to level, was when her mum was pushed out of power. 🤷‍♀️ 4y
TrishB @Caroline2 agreed. She only wanted to leave when the internal governance of the church changed. 4y
Reggie I‘ve been curious about this one and you‘ve only made me more curious. 4y
TrishB @Reggie it‘s definitely one to make your own mind up on! 4y
96 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
KathyWheeler
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

My daughter checked this out but is letting me read it first. I‘m having some real issues with the book. Roper-Phelps dedicated the book to her parents, says she is humbled to be their daughter, and talks about their analytical minds. I find it difficult to reconcile that picture with people who would raise children in that hateful church and teach them to call people “fags” and “whores” (which are some of the milder words the children learned.)

blurb
dariazeoli
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

#12Booksof2020

(I originally posted the words above last January, but they still apply.

50 likes2 stack adds
review
Karmapen
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
Pickpick

An unsettling look at the deeply loving, deeply dysfunctional upbringing of former Westboro Baptist Church member Megan Phelps-Roper. As a member of the LGBT community, I didn‘t expect to feel so much empathy or grief for Megan and her family— but I did.

review
thewallflower0707
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

I‘ve only heard about this specific church in passing, so this was interesting. I also recommend checking out the documentary “Most Hated Family in America” and then the author‘s twitter feed, just to understand how far this woman has come since leaving her hateful church.

#nonfiction #unfollow #kindle

13 likes3 stack adds
blurb
Verity
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

New to my tbr: I share a kindle account with Little Sis and this is the latest she requested. She‘s read it already and says I have to read it.

AlaMich I heard her in an interview and she is so intelligent and articulate. After hearing her speak I‘d like to do the audio of this. 4y
17 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Caroline2
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Mehso-so

It‘s hard to imagine what it‘s like to grow up in a hateful, deluded & arrogant religion that was invented by your Grandfather but then also be part of a loving, intelligent and well educated family?! This memoir is written with gut clenching honesty, I felt physically sick & so angry at times. A great memoir of someone over coming their twisted upbringing although it is so frustrating that it took her so long!!

TrishB I have this one on the tbr 👍🏻 5y
squirrelbrain So do I @TrishB - it sounds really good doesn‘t it? 5y
Caroline2 @TrishB @squirrelbrain It‘s good but a frustrating read! She‘s clearly intelligent but it seems to take ages for her to realise how awful her family‘s cult is. 🙄 She had a law degree for crying out loud!!!!! 5y
TrishB I suppose it‘s even more complicated when you introduce family 🤷‍♀️ 5y
Caroline2 @TrishB Yep! Her whole family runs the religion (or cult really, let‘s be honest) So weird and such awful twisted beliefs!!! I‘d be going straight to hell on several counts according to them!! 😉 bothered!!!! 😆 5y
107 likes6 stack adds5 comments
review
Magpiegem
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

As a counsellor I am forever fascinated by just how multifaceted, complicated and resilient us human beings are. This book is an excellent example of that. Megan does a fantastic job of showing all sides of her family, her childhood, her church. The good and the very very ugly. I found the first couple of chapters less engrossing but once it hooked me I wizzed through this book which at its core is a book about love, loss and revelations.

14 likes1 stack add
blurb
Magpiegem
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

Up next!

11 likes1 stack add
blurb
TrishB
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

#99ponkindle today in U.K.
Not a big NF fan, but this sounds interesting 😁

Cathythoughts Sounds good ! Thanks for the tip ❤️👍🏻 5y
squirrelbrain Ooh I took a picture of this one in Waterstones in Manchester...! Have you seen this @oryx? Thanks for posting Trish! 😘 5y
Cinfhen Hope it becomes a #USDeal too 🤞🏽🤞🏽 5y
See All 27 Comments
ElaineR Oh this is tempting! 5y
Caroline2 Ohhhhh this does sound good! Stacked! 😉 5y
TrishB @Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain @Cinfhen fb seems to have caught on that I‘m fond of 99p deals and is sending me adverts. First time I‘ve been grateful for fb adverts as there‘s been some I would never have spotted! 5y
TrishB @ElaineR I have so many excuses for buying the 99p offers.....feel free to use some.....cheaper than a coffee (most everyone I know buys one everyday), doesn‘t go off (if you don‘t get to it for ages!), it‘s 99p for a book (cheaper than most charity shops). 😁😁 5y
TrishB @Caroline2 👍🏻😘 5y
Cinfhen Maybe I need to FINALLY get on FB 😘😜 5y
ElaineR @TrishB haha I like it. Environmentally friendly as well of course. It would be irresponsible not to buy a Kindle a version at this price ;-) 5y
ElaineR @TrishB oh, and I have indeed bought it. 5y
AlaMich This family...🤬!! 5y
TrishB @Cinfhen would absolutely not recommend!! 5y
TrishB @ElaineR 👍🏻😁 I like that one too. I have ordered 17 99p books since the start of the year. Maybe a bit obsessed! 5y
TrishB @AlaMich ohhh - that makes it even more interesting. 5y
AlaMich @TrishB If you are unfamiliar with the Phelps family, I can promise you that you would be hard-pressed to find more despicable people. 5y
TrishB @AlaMich I will get ready to swear at them!! (edited) 5y
GingerAntics I watched her TEDtalk. This seems interesting. 5y
MicheleinPhilly Ugh! The struggle is real. I REALLY don‘t want to give her my money as I have very strong feelings about this family. I don‘t outright hate very many people but I HATE the Phelps family. HATE THEM. I actually celebrated when Fred Phelps died. @AlaMich 5y
AlaMich @MicheleinPhilly Yes. Everything you just said. 5y
TrishB @MicheleinPhilly @AlaMich I don‘t know anything about them, but am now glad it was only 99p!! Do I still read? 5y
MicheleinPhilly She has since left the “church” and has no contact with her family. She has renounced everything they stand for. But I am a petty bitch and I hold grudges like a bank vault! @AlaMich 5y
AlaMich @TrishB @MicheleinPhilly Having not read the book, I‘m not sure how to answer that question. Maybe do a quick google skim about the Phelps family and see if that piques your interest, before you commit. 5y
TrishB @MicheleinPhilly that‘s me too (scorpios!) 5y
TrishB @AlaMich thanks 👍🏻 will do. 5y
Magpiegem @TrishB I‘ve just finished this one and it is an the story of an incredible journey. The family is despicable but the author is brave and very honest in her account of leaving the church behind. I think 99p well spent 😊 5y
TrishB @Magpiegem cool, thanks 👍🏻 I‘ll definitely get to it! 5y
109 likes4 stack adds27 comments
blurb
DebinHawaii
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

The finished soup from earlier: Ellie Krieger‘s Red Bean Tortilla Soup from Whole in One. A very easy, satisfying & good vegan soup. I added the 🥑 on the top & their creaminess is a nice contrast to the crushed tortilla chips. Lunch & my #soupersundays blog post. 🍲Recipe link👇🏻
With one of my current reads. I‘m not too far in but it is interesting & ire-raising too.

Panic70 The soup looks really yummy. I hoped it helped you feel better, and that you‘ll be at 100% soon. 5y
Megabooks I really enjoyed this book. 5y
See All 8 Comments
Soubhiville That looks excellent! 5y
Soubhiville There is a small typo- “to serve, place 14 cup of the tortilla chips”... I bet it‘s 1/4. 😊. I‘m adding these ingredients to my shopping list to make this soup next weekend! Thanks Deb! 5y
DebinHawaii @Soubhiville Yes it‘s a 1/4 cup. Whoops! Thanks for the catch—I blame the cold medicine I‘m still on. 😉 It‘s fixed now. Hope you enjoy the soup! 🤗 5y
Soubhiville I got everything to make it! I‘m looking forward to it. I hope you feel better! 5y
DebinHawaii @Soubhiville Thanks! I swear this cold is unending but I am feeling a bit better! 🤗 5y
72 likes2 stack adds8 comments
review
dariazeoli
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

The WBC has always fascinated me. How could a family of educated people be brainwashed into such hateful beliefs? Phelps-Roper explains her perspective in her memoir. She‘s a talented writer & really made me think about some of my opinions on social media and the belief systems we‘re born into. She left the church in 2012 and tries to atone for how she treated “outsiders” in speaking appearances. It‘s worth seeking those out on YouTube.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Megabooks Is it weird that I felt empathy for her grandfather dying alone despite the fact he brought such hate into the world. I have such strong feelings about abandoning parents. I guess some people would say he got his “just desserts”. I‘d like to think having empathy is a more appropriate response. 5y
dariazeoli @Megabooks I was conflicted when I read that scene. Last week I found an old episode of Ricki Lake on YouTube and Fred was so nasty on it! But WBC deserted him, then barred anyone from seeing him. There is nothing “loving” or “rebuking” about that, to use their words. 5y
dariazeoli @Megabooks You would think that a church turning on its founder would be enough of a reason for the others to wake up. Shirley is just as nasty in the Theroux docs, but the way they‘ve “put her in her place” is despicable. 5y
Megabooks @dariazeoli it‘s definitely a shit show. A chauvinist, bigoted shit show! 5y
48 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
Megabooks
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

I have a visceral reaction of anger at this family, yet so much love for Megan for having the strength to question and leave.

Some people believe Twitter should be depopulated of people spouting hate. I thought so, too, but Megan‘s interactions with gay and Jewish people there are what made her begin to question Westboro‘s beliefs. Sometimes it seems there are so many hateful people, though. 4⭐️

MicheleinPhilly Twitter is a cesspool. I gave up on it years ago. 5y
Megabooks @MicheleinPhilly I‘m not on it very often anymore, and she left the church back in 2011 and Twitter was different then. She made some very good points about confirmation bias and other things that are causing the polarization so badly right now. 5y
MicheleinPhilly I‘m sure this book is probably fascinating but like you, I have very visceral reactions to this “church.” I can‘t bring myself to read it because I am a petty bitch who holds grudges. 5y
See All 26 Comments
Megabooks @MicheleinPhilly They have done some beyond terrible things, especially to the LGBTQ+ community, and I don‘t begrudge you that at all. I find cults and indoctrination interesting, which is the main reason I read this, and from that perspective, it is a good book. But yeah, definitely not going to force anyone to face anybody from this church, current or former. 5y
Megabooks @MicheleinPhilly oh and next up on audio for me is Long Bright River. Have you read that yet? What are your thoughts as a Philadelphian? 5y
sb3626 I really enjoyed this book!!! 5y
Megabooks @sb3626 it was fascinating! 5y
MicheleinPhilly I did and I gave it a rave review! Loved it! 5y
dariazeoli She really made me rethink my opinion about social media a bit. Do I think fake news should be passed off as real? No. But we can‘t sit in an echo chamber and expect change. 5y
LauraJ @dariazeoli Well said. 5y
Cinfhen How‘s the audio??? 5y
Bookzombie I would also like to know how the audio is. 🙂 5y
Megabooks @MicheleinPhilly yayayay!! Excited for tonight! 5y
Megabooks @dariazeoli that‘s the message that really got to me as well. 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen @Bookzombie The audio grew on me. For a picketer, she has a surprisingly soft voice. Overall, I would recommend audio. 5y
Bookzombie @Megabooks Thanks! I will have to see my library has it on audio. 5y
Megabooks @Bookzombie I went back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook, but I found the Bible verses easier to understand in the audio fwiw. There are a lot interspersed. 5y
KT1432 Your remarks about the social media aspect makes me want to read this now. I feel Twitter and Facebook are cesspools and grew really discouraged that rampant hatred is allowed to spread thru those mediums for the sake of “free speech.” I quit Twitter 2 years ago and rarely post on FB/IG. I‘m glad she had interactions that helped her change though. 5y
Megabooks @lele1432 I feel like they have become much worse in the Trump era. She left Westboro in 2012, and Twitter was a different place. In a way, I think both the left and the right have become echo chambers with very little of the meaningful engagement that brought Megan out of the church. It‘s unfortunate. I think her warning about confirmation bias and not listening at all to the other side, no matter how vile I think they are, is important. 5y
Megabooks @cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft I think I‘m going to use this for #bookclubworthy because I‘m just itching to discuss it. My friend and I have thought of starting a nonfiction book club. Maybe it will happen. 🤷🏻‍♀️ #booked2020 5y
Cinfhen I‘d love a NF bookclub 🥰 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen yaaasss!! 5y
KT1432 I agree with everything you said! 5y
Megabooks @lele1432 👍🏻👍🏻💜 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Megabooks I‘ve been anxious to read this, after reading an excerpt a while ago. Glad for your review! And yes, it sounds like a fit for that prompt. 📚♥️👊🏻 5y
Megabooks @BarbaraTheBibliophage fantastic! I hope you do read it. I think you‘d like it. 5y
97 likes5 stack adds26 comments
blurb
DebinHawaii
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

This weeks smallish #libraryhaul was 3 NF books. I‘m especially interested in the tagged book since 2 members (the author‘s parents I believe) of the Westboro Baptist Church were on Maui being their usual hateful selves & protesting a transgender high school athlete. There were counter-protesters at 2 different schools that overshadowed them but they say they‘ll be back.🙄 I had the book on hold before the protest but it brings it closer to home.

DebinHawaii The 🐔🐔🐔protest ignorant intolerant trolls & say always love one another & live aloha! 🌺🌈 5y
Emilymdxn Unfollow is a fantastic book, I love it! 5y
DebinHawaii @Emilymdxn Good to hear! I am looking forward to starting it! 🤗 5y
Smrloomis Hmm, I can‘t decide if I can handle reading this one or not. Hope it‘s good! Also those chickens are fantastic! 😁 5y
74 likes4 comments
review
LauraJ
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

Bravo, Megan Phelps-Roper! She bravely questioned authority and learned that life doesn‘t have to be ‘us vs. them‘. She does an amazing job of explaining the mindset of the Westboro Baptist Church and why it‘s not easy to just walk away. If only we all had the strength to question our beliefs and seek truth. All 18 members who attended my book club loved this too.

Leftcoastzen Adorable 🐶 5y
LauraJ @Leftcoastzen she always looks guilty 5y
61 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
dariazeoli
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

#BookReport

I feel pretty good about my progress this week! Finished one and started another for #AuthorAMonth, finished one #NewYearWhoDis with two others in progress, and started the tagged book, which is fascinating so far! I should be all ready for #ATreeGrowsInBrooklynBuddyRead tomorrow 👍🏻

blurb
LauraJ
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

Starting this for my book club that happens next week. And there‘s Abby. Some of her stitches burst open, so she‘s going to the vet in the morning. Her biopsy showed atypical squamous cell growth, so cross your fingers for her.
#catsoflitsy

TheDaysGoBy Your kitty looks so sweet and adorable! Hope she gets better! 5y
effani Best wishes to you and Abby! 5y
Susanita Lots of scritches for the kitty. 5y
See All 18 Comments
Scochrane26 Poor kitty! Hope she‘s ok. 5y
claudiuo Hope your kitty gets to feel better soon. All the best to you and her! 5y
AmyG I hope all goes well for her. 🤞🏻 5y
vivastory Hope your kitty recovers quickly! 5y
heylaurenmack Sending healing vibes and headbonks 5y
readordierachel Crossing fingers and toes. Hope she's OK. 5y
Tamra 🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾 5y
NeedsMoreBooks Hope she recovers quickly 🤞🏼🤞🏼 5y
Leftcoastzen 🤞🤞🤞 5y
LauraJ @TheDaysGoBy Thank you! 5y
LauraJ @Susanita lots! 5y
LauraJ @heylaurenmack If you ask her for a headbonk, she‘ll actually give you one. 5y
heylaurenmack @LauraJ oh my goodness! 5y
62 likes1 stack add18 comments
blurb
Hoopiefoot
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

Starting off 2020 in my little reading nook. I‘ve always heard that anything you do on New Year‘s Day, you‘ll do all year long. So I‘m reading and ignoring my other household duties today 🥳

Mccall0113 My husband bought me this book for Christmas ! 5y
Lindy My day: reading and cooking for a potluck with friends this afternoon. A fine template for the days ahead. 👍 5y
Reviewsbylola I‘ll be cleaning and reading. May as well accept that cleaning is something I‘ll be doing all year long. 🤣🤣 5y
CoffeeK8 That‘s my dad‘s theory. He also jingles money all day to bring money in the new year. 5y
61 likes3 stack adds4 comments
blurb
sb3626
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

Excited to start my new year with this book!

review
Christine
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

This was a fitting final read of 2019. Not only was it compelling and beautifully written, but its focus on issues like extremism, black-and-white thinking, and group identity fueled by constant othering feels so relevant to our current moment. Thankfully, so does its overall message of hope for an ever more open, thoughtful, and compassionate world. Here‘s to many more books in 2020 that confront hard truths and present pathways for change.

LauraJ This is my book club‘s January read. Looking forward to it. 5y
Christine @LauraJ Such a great book club selection! Hope you enjoy. 5y
38 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Emilymdxn
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

Very moving and thought provoking book and I‘m so glad it exists. Megan‘s journey to leaving the westboro Baptist church is difficult to read at times but always fascinating, and inspiring to read about someone so willing to question their worldview and learn new ways of thinking and showing compassion. It gives me hope to think that a book like this can exist.

#wintergames #merryreaders #impulseread @Clwojick @StayCurious

linipanini This was a good book. Hard to read and learn so much about Westboro from an insider‘s perspective, but I think it‘s a necessary think-piece to remind us how radicalized minds work. 5y
32 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
DyAnne
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

Phelps-Roper tells how she left the fanatical Westboro Baptist Church, which she was born into, and found a new life. It‘s a hard read. Phelps-Roper has a heart full of kindness and empathy.

blurb
DyAnne
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

Placement essays are done. Students are working on the final project. A weekend with no grading.

review
tholmz
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

Very interesting and tough to read at times. I was not raised any kind of religious and consider myself an atheist but I am always fascinated at how religion — especially extremism — even happens or how people stick with it. This is thoughtfully written and sad and brave and lots of other things.

12 likes4 stack adds
review
Decalino
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

This extraordinary memoir gave me hope in a way that little has lately. The author was born and raised in the Westboro Baptist Church, a group known for picketing soldiers' funerals and spewing hate, especially toward the LGBTQ community. Leaving the church meant literally leaving her family; the story of how she made the journey from toxic certainty to doubt, from vitriolic hate speech to compassion and outreach is a gripping and necessary read.

17 likes2 stack adds
review
kate_reads
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

I watched Megan give a TED talk about her journey of leaving her family and the Westboro Baptist Church (her grandfather was the infamous Pastor Fred Phelps), and I was completely blown away by her insight and her compassion. This book was difficult to listen to at times, the things WBC have done are just horrible, but Megan gives me hope that change is real and everyone deserves a second chance.

blurb
Kelispell
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image

I like to read books that challenge my thinking.. this one is doing that for sure and testing my ability to not try and actually yell out loud at it.😖 #currentlyreading #angermanagement

review
j9brown
Unfollow | Megan Phelps-Roper
post image
Pickpick

Megan grew up in the Westboro Baptist Church and took part in all of those awful funeral protests until she left the church - and most of her family - in her mid-twenties. This was a fascinating look inside a cultish religion. It humanizes some people who many of us see as monsters, which is tough to digest when they've been so terrible. Very worth reading.

32 likes3 stack adds