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raych_arles's review
4.0
Favorite quotes:
“This kind of fearmongering couldn't stop me from leaving the cult; rather, it made me eager to become the kind of sexual outlaw they shun. I joined a queer community that took care of one another during a plague and that religion had already left for dead. Revelling in the touch and warmth of queer and hated bodies would indeed mark the first time I felt that a new world was actually possible.”
“If the Witnesses were committed to caring about people in a way that mattered, they would mobilize help for their immediate communities instead of preaching to them about an imaginary Paradise where "death and sickness will be no more." They would stop shunning those who've left, those whose isolation is compounded by a pandemic that makes the task of finding new communities more difficult than it already is.”
“This kind of fearmongering couldn't stop me from leaving the cult; rather, it made me eager to become the kind of sexual outlaw they shun. I joined a queer community that took care of one another during a plague and that religion had already left for dead. Revelling in the touch and warmth of queer and hated bodies would indeed mark the first time I felt that a new world was actually possible.”
“If the Witnesses were committed to caring about people in a way that mattered, they would mobilize help for their immediate communities instead of preaching to them about an imaginary Paradise where "death and sickness will be no more." They would stop shunning those who've left, those whose isolation is compounded by a pandemic that makes the task of finding new communities more difficult than it already is.”
smalltownbookmom's review
3.0
I didn't love this one unfortunately. However, it was a really honest and vulnerable account of one Canadian gay man's journey to extricate himself from the cult-like grasp of the Jehovah Witness religion he was raised in. Narrated by the author, this wasn't my favorite as an audiobook. Usually I am all about hearing books read by the authors but in this case I feel like hiring a professional might have served the book better (but that's just my humble opinion). I also felt like the essays were a little disjointed/hard to get fully invested in. Overall I appreciated learning about this very homophobic religion and the author's bravery in turning his back on his upbringing.
bookishmamabailey's review
4.0
I recently had the opportunity to read "I Felt The End Before It Came" by Daniel Allen Cox, and it was a truly eye-opening memoir of a Queer Ex-Jehovah's Witness. The author does a fantastic job of recounting his experience within the religion, and particularly the concept of shunning, which is both saddening and alarming. This book speaks to a larger concern of the impact of religion on people's lives, especially for those who identify as LGBTQ+. The writing is honest and raw, and it's clear that the author has put a lot of time and thought into sharing his story. I highly recommend this book, and I give it a 4-star rating.
I want to take a moment to thank Libro.FM and Penguin Canada for providing me with an advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It's always exciting to have the opportunity to read and share new books, and I appreciate the chance to do so with "I Felt The End Before It Came".
I want to take a moment to thank Libro.FM and Penguin Canada for providing me with an advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It's always exciting to have the opportunity to read and share new books, and I appreciate the chance to do so with "I Felt The End Before It Came".
dgrutland's review
reflective
slow-paced
2.75
Not quite what I was expecting—I think I anticipated more deconstruction of the author’s past beliefs which you don’t get a lot of in this book. I’d turn to Amber Scorah’s Leaving the Witness if you’re looking for that. I did find the sections about his time in New York engaging, but it’s still more essays than memoir to me, so just know that going in.
natashaniezgoda's review
3.0
Definitely not I was anticipating. When the title explicitly states ex-Jehovah’s Witness… I was thinking some insider tea would be spilled (kinda like Leah Remini’s Scientology saga).
This was more a reflection piece. It felt like I was participating in Daniel’s healing process - which was personal and raw, but very unstructured and scattered.
This was more a reflection piece. It felt like I was participating in Daniel’s healing process - which was personal and raw, but very unstructured and scattered.