pickI remember when this show first premiered introducing the Duggar‘s. I was immediately intrigued by this large family and their way of living. As years passed and that initial documentary blew up into a full series, I watched in curiosity to see how these children would grow up, date, and navigate adulthood. I never realized how strict their upbringing really was. This was a very insightful look into their lives but also quite disturbing.
pickShe did a great job telling her story & I totally feel for her. We‘ve dealt with quite a similar situation (in regards to how they dress) with my husbands family - just not in the public eye. My husband wore shorts for the 1st time in his life this year - he‘s 33. When I graduated nursing school 8 years ago I wore scrubs & was chastised so badly by his family. I still wear skirts to this day.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I read this within 24 hours. She writes the truth about what life was really like behind the camera, while trying to be respectful to her family, especially her parents who essentially protected her abuser. Derick is the husband this woman needed as he gave her the strength she needed to learn to stand up for herself. Way to go Jill!! Wishing you and your family a beautiful and bright future. 🌈 💫 👏🏻
I decided to take a break from the LHOTP series I‘ve been reading to pick up the book I placed on hold at our library. I was one of those people who admired the Duggar family until their oldest son‘s secrets came to light. I‘ve seen Jill and Jinger speaking out, respectfully, against their family‘s beliefs and now I want to read their books and learn more about Bill Gothard‘s organization and the rules he set in place.
pickGlad I read this. It‘s hard to read about what people have to go through because of the decisions made for them as children and not being protected by those who are supposed to love them the most.
I‘ve watched episodes of the show here and there, and watched the doc on Prime. Listening to this is so sad and infuriating…
pickI never watched this show but I loved to read the snark on Television Without Pity. I thought Jill did a good job with this book. She told a balanced story.
pickThis book was as transparent as I hoped and I was really into it.
pickI am actually so surprised by this book. Jill‘s ghost writer is better than Mariah Carey‘s (and Britney Spears‘). I binged 19 Kids and Counting when I was recovering from my hysterectomy and it seemed obvious at the time that the kids were being exploited but jeez.
pickLook I love reality tv and I love a good background look into the drama. Better yet that there‘s some intense religious vibes and serious wrongdoing of many kinds here. An excellent recommendation from a friend that I greedily consumed on audio.
pickI‘ve never watched a second of any of the Duggar‘s shows. 19 children just seemed religiously cult-y. So why did I listen to this? Because it‘s what was available to listen to on Libby. 😊 It turned out to be a thoughtful piece on a person who had to work very hard to separate from her father & a media company. Being the first (and maybe only one) in a family to recognize the wrongs inflicted within a family is very tough & I applaud her.
pickFinally got a chance to listen to Jill tell her story.
At its heart, this is a story about someone evolving, growing, and deciding for herself what she wants her life to look like.
I truly believe that her parents are good people and love their kids. I think the kids feel that way, too.
That being said, mistakes were made.
It takes courage to step back and look at the way you were raised, analyze it, and make up ones own mind.
pickI listened to the audiobook.
Jill grew up in the public eye from the age of 9, when her family started the show the Duggars.
She tells her story with compassion and grace. As a young girl, she was very submissive, but now she is a strong independent woman.
#bookspinbingo #nomfictiin #jumpstart2024
so-soSome of this was interesting, but I wanted more analysis about why this show and lifestyle are harmful and stronger denouncement of the religion and the Duggar parents.
pickI‘m basically a book a day with this post op situation. Stupid gallbladder! But I‘m loving the fact that the stack of books next to my bed is significantly less than it was. And what I can say about this book, I‘m so glad that this girl married a guy who was not part of the fundamental church group like her parents. They seem to be great partners for each other and I hope it works out for them.
pickI love a cult doc and binged “Shiny Happy People” on Amazon Prime which led me to this brave book written and read by Jill Duggar who is one of the 19 children of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar from TLCs 19 Kids and Counting (subject of the doc). I‘m sure it‘s so freeing for Jill to be able to share her story. Her father doesn‘t come off great here but it‘s not written in a salacious/gossipy way. Also tried starting Jinger‘s book but bailed. ⬇️
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jill Duggar Dillard lays out her life growing up in the IBLP religion (ahem, cult). Homeschooled, and vastly cutoff from the outside world, but totally exploited on tv. It wasn‘t for the money, y‘all, it was for Jesus. Okay, Jim Bob. Sure. Jill and Derick are incredible. It takes courage to leave such a controlling situation. And let‘s not forget the sexual deviant brother. I‘d like more accounts from this family.
🍃 Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar. The strength it took to distance herself from the toxic environment she grew up in was inspiring.
🍃 🍃 Any number of my favorite Christmas books! Richard Paul Evans is a new favorite Christmas author. 🎄
#Two4Tuesday
@TheSpineView
pickI had watched the documentary Shiny Happy People and was interested to follow up with Jill Duggar‘s memoir. Pretty fascinating. So glad she‘s been able to shed the toxic religious beliefs that surrounded her childhood and is forging a new healthier path.
pickI enjoyed this book. Jill's story was amazing. I felt like she told more in her book than Jinger did. I rated this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
Started the tagged book while walking Champ this morning. Fall is my favorite! 🍁🍂 #audiowalk
pick#NonfictionNovember
I've never watched the show, but I will admit to being intrigued by this family for a long time. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Jill offers a candid look into what it was like growing up a Duggar. She also opens up about breaking free of her family. How she was able to still be around her father after realizing the control he had over her for years really shows maturity and strength on her part.
"To those who have been harmed in the name of 'religion'. To those who have suffered behind closed doors and have yet to find their voice."
??? Already crying!
My hold for this one came in! I'm really interested to hear Jill's story and also hoping reading about her journey will help me with healing from my own religious trauma! 💕📖
pickI don't usually like celebrity memoirs, but I was struck by just how sad Jill's story was. Glad I gave this one a shot. #bookelevenof2023
pickWow! This was a respectful, but eye opening look into the family business.
pickYes, I will admit to being a 19 Kids and Counting watcher. And now knowing the harm perpetrated by the ultra fundamentalist IBLP I feel really bad about it. But Jill was harmed beyond that both by her pedophile brother and controlling father. This is her story and that of her and her husband‘s fight to be adequately compensated for their work on the show. Her dad Jim Bob did some shady shady stuff business-wise. V interesting!
pickWow! Some of the things she wrote about just amazed me. Especially the part about them not getting paid for their part in the tv production for the longest time, & having to fight for it! Many of the IBLP principals she mentioned were adapted in to the conservative Christian culture that I grew up in so many of the problems she wrote about with that were quite familiar. Hopefully with time the family will heal.
#SassyBookworm😏 #CountingtheCost
pickOoooffff. I spent an awful lot of time feeling angry at JimBob and Michelle Duggar while listening to this, though it is obvious that is not the author‘s intention. So much of her upbringing - even the happy bits - bears the hallmarks of emotional abuse and coercion. JimBob uses all the classic techniques to maintain complete control. I‘m not surprised the author has been trashed by RW bloggers like The Transformed Wife. Glad she‘s escaped!
pickI wasn't sure what to expect with this book but Jill presents an extremely respectful and honest exposé of her family life, struggles with honesty from her father, situations that arose due to reports being leaked about her sexual abuse and the challenges they faced when they stood their ground. She does not mention her siblings by name when she recounts discussions and shows an incredible amount of growth. I respect that..⬇️⬇️⬇️
pickBook #78
4/5
You should read this book if:
- You have watched any of the Duggar specials or series
- You are currently, or have ever, deconstructed all or part of your faith
- You are interested in people. Period.
As always with memoirs, I recommend the audio book, as it is read by the author. (I borrowed this one online from the library).
pickMy review of this book is up on my blog. Come check it out https://wwwjustagirlkindleing.blogspot.com/ I found this book to be very eye opening. I have watched this family on tv for years.
Counting the Cost | 
