Seductive Poison

Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple | Deborah Layton

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For #ReadingTheAmericas2023 #Guyana I chose this biography written by a survivor of Jonestown. This was by far one of the most interesting and heartbreaking reads I‘ve read this year. She points out warning signs she saw and explains how someone can get so caught up in a cult they don‘t see it. @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle

Librarybelle This sounds very interesting! 2y

BarbaraBB I want to read about Jonestown too for Guyana 2y

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Sace

Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple | Deborah Layton

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It probably sounds creepy, but I am interested in any story of Jonestown. I was young when it happened, but it left an impression on me.

This was a very emotional listen. My heart aches for Ms. Layton. One take away (paraphrased)- People do not join a cult. They join a church or an organization or a political movement.

It's easy to point fingers and call people weak or stupid, but all humans want to feel like they belong somewhere. Anywhere.

Hestapleton Have you read the tagged book? It really helped me see why people were so drawn to Jones and his mission! It started as a great thing, but just had a narcissistic and controlling leader.

The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple

Sace @Hestapleton I haven't read it yet but it is somewhere on my shelves. I listened to A Thousand Lives and it was also good. I usually have to take long breaks between books about Jonestown.

A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown

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britt_brooke

Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple | Deborah Layton

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This memoir, written by a formerly high-up Peoples Temple member, & Jonestown survivor, presents a personal & devastating story. Layton lays bare her relationship with Jim Jones & the inner workings of the socialist cult. For years, she refused to speak about it because of the shame she felt for allowing herself such manipulation. I appreciate that in hindsight, she can openly discuss reasons/signs that someone might join such a group.

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britt_brooke

Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple | Deborah Layton

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Some more light holiday reading @saresmoore @LeahBergen ! 😆

saresmoore Bahaha! You're on a roll! 6y

LeahBergen 😆😆 6y

Maria514626 So what‘s the perfect Christmas soundtrack to accompany this book? 😂😂 6y

britt_brooke @Maria514626 😆🤔 6y

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Cinfhen

Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple | Deborah Layton

#NoFemmeber #NonFictionNovember Jim Jones offered #FalseHope to hundreds of people when he convinced them to join the Peoples Temple. I vaguely remember the heartbreaking images that came from Jonestown. Must read this first hand account from a survivor who narrowly escaped. What do you say @EadieB another possible group read???

Megabooks, Billypar

emilyhaldi This story blows my mind 🤯 6y

Cinfhen It sounds like dystopian fiction @emilyhaldi 🥺😢😢😢 6y

TrishB Dreadful event 😢 6y

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Megabooks It is horrifying. 😭 I did the audiobook of my tagged book last year. It was a fantastic journalistic account. I‘ll have to check out your book.

The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple

Cinfhen I started reading the book you tagged @Megabooks but it was from the library and I never got to finish it. It was a little dry/ clinical for me but most people I know were riveted. 6y

Cinfhen So sad @TrishB I saw the images again today😢😢😢thank you Google 6y

Megabooks @Cinfhen Usually I find “dry” books easier on audio. I probably would have DNFed the print version. Same with American Heiress, And the Band Played on, The People vs OJ Simpson, ect. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 6y

Cinfhen I did bail on this book...and I REALLY wanted to read it....#maybeOneDay I‘ll try #audio @megabooks

American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst

(edited) 6y

EadieB @Cinfhen I‘m sure we could schedule another one. Buddy Reads are great and you get so much more out of the book with everyone‘s input. Jonestown was an unbelievable cult about leading a group of people to suicide. I‘m an expert on the OJ Simpson trial - I watched it everyday and I was fascinated . I remember Patty Hearst‘s story too from the 70‘s. Nobody knew if she was a real member of that Army or forced to do what she did. Interesting! 6y

Billypar I've always heard people talk about this, but I didn't know it was 913 people! It''s crazy that something like this could happen on that scale.. 6y

Cinfhen Let me know what your reading schedule looks like @EadieB I agree, the group reads really add another dimension to the story and this book sounds great 👍🏻 6y

Cinfhen Google the photos @Billypar it‘s shocking and heartbreaking 6y

Cinfhen I REALLY want to read the OJ book too @EadieB

The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson

EadieB @Cinfhen My library doesn‘t have this one but it has

A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown

Cinfhen I heard A Thousand Lives is a bit clinical and more like separate stories @EadieB not sure I want to read that one 6y

EadieB @Cinfhen I can get the OJ book at my library. I can also ask about the Jonestown and see if they can do an inter library loan. We should also see who would be interested in Jonestown. 6y

EadieB @Cinfhen What do you think about this one? We could do one a month.

Green River, Running Red: The Real Story of the Green River Killer--America's Deadliest Serial Murderer

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Cinfhen I‘d like to read that one but I need a break from Ann Rule. I‘d read maybe in the fall!! I feel like when spring arrives I might not be inclined to read more serial killer books @EadieB 6y

AlaMich @EadieB @Megabooks There‘s an older book (1982) on Jonestown, written/edited by Tim Reiterman, who was one of the journalists who went there. It‘s all first person accounts and it‘s amazing.

Raven: The Untold Story of the Rev. Jim Jones and His People

(edited) 6y

EadieB @Cinfhen check this one that @AlaMich suggests. My library has it . We can take it 1 month at a time and not overdo the serial killer theme.

Raven: The Untold Story of the Rev. Jim Jones and His People

(edited) 6y

EadieB @AlaMich thanks - that one does look interesting! 6y

Cinfhen It does sound good @EadieB @AlaMich but it‘s nearly 700 pages!! I can‘t commit to a book that length 🤪I might just have to read Seductive Poison on my own 😞 6y

EadieB @Cinfhen Let me check with my library and a few thrift stores. I‘ll let you know what I find later today! 6y

AlaMich @EadieB I like to recommend it because there have been a lot of recent books on that subject but no one knows about Raven. 6y

Cinfhen Ok, don‘t feel pressured @EadieB I have sooooo many books to read and I don‘t own this title yet either 😉 6y

EadieB @AlaMich I‘m going to put a hold on it. I can understand @Cinfhen because it is near 700 Pgs while the other book is 336. It would be a good reference book for more info during the Buddy Read. I always like to do some research too! 6y

AlaMich @EadieB @cinfhen I can see how it might be hard for a buddy read, but because of its format, you can also sort of dip in and out. 6y

EadieB @AlaMich Sounds perfect as a research book 6y

EadieB @Cinfhen The library is getting me a copy so I‘ll let you know when it comes in. 6y

britt_brooke This is in my TBR! I loved

The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple

Cinfhen That‘s awesome @EadieB God Bless the library 🙏🏻 6y

Cinfhen I know you like all things cult related @britt_brooke which surprises me because that is scary stuff and you don‘t do scary stuff!!! 6y

britt_brooke @Cinfhen I can do cults for some reason. I don‘t make any sense. 6y

Cinfhen That‘s ok, I don‘t fit any box either 😘😘😘Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🧡🏈 @britt_brooke (edited) 6y

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stacybmartin

Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple | Deborah Layton

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Cult stories are one of my weaknesses - terrifying and fascinating at the same time. It's hard to understand how you let yourself get drawn into something so deeply. The audiobook version was very well done.

kristen_reads I've never read any cult stories, but I think I would love it! Which would you recommend to start with? 7y

Bookish_AF I'm currently reading "The Road to Jonestown"! May have to check out this one after. 7y

stacybmartin @kristen_in_wonderland this was my first Jonestown book but I've also read two Scientology ones that were really interesting (the one tagged plus Leah Remini's memoir) and Helter Skelter about the Manson family. The Girls by Emma Cline was a novel based on the Manson family and I thought it was pretty good as well!

Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape

stacybmartin @nestlera - how is that one? I'm gonna put it down on my TBR! 7y

Bookish_AF I'm about halfway through and its fascinating so far! I have a penchant for cult stories as well, but know very little about Jonestown which makes it that much more interesting! 7y

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stacybmartin

Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple | Deborah Layton