I am thrilled to say my first book club was a success, with six people (including myself) gathering at my house to discuss ‘The Family’ by S.E. Green. I chose a book solely by its cover and wanted to pick a genre different from science fiction and action thrillers, the two main ones I gravitate toward. A psychological drama sounded very intriguing.
After the first read-through and well before our book club, I realized there were a total of (at that time) ten women and myself meeting to discuss the book. I thought, Good job, Preston. My first book chosen for our book club involves a cult that abuses women!
This is not in any way a knock against the book. It was a terrific read and made for some interesting conversation. I will say the transition of each chapter between the present day and the past left me confused a lot of the time. After a second reading, the story made much more sense, and I appreciated the time shifts.
I’ve seen constant time changes in movies of late, and it can be very jarring. Starting with a thrilling action sequence then switching to five years prior followed by two years after the action sequence. You get the idea.
I prefer a story told sequentially but S.E. Green made it very clear what was happening with each chapter. The length of the book made for a quick read, although our group agreed more details were needed in some places, and a prequel detailing Paul and Nyla’s relationship would make for an interesting tale. Again, it was a short read, so I understand the difficult task of breaking down every character’s backstory or reasons for their actions.
‘The Family’ reminded me of the following cults:
The Manson Family. Convince highly impressionable teenagers to forego the lifestyle they’re used to and live in a commune, eventually praising the leader and doing whatever he tells them to, including murder.
David Koresh of the Branch Davidians in Waco. David, in my opinion, inspired Joseph Seed of Far Cry 5, the main antagonist in the popular video game series, Far Cry.
Jim Jones of Peoples Temple. The poison garden in ‘The Family’ felt similar to the flavored drink Jim convinced his followers to ingest, thereby committing suicide. The ‘followers’ in ‘The Family’ and eventually those in Peoples Temple (relocated to Jonestown, Guyana) were extremely secluded, making it nearly impossible to leave. In the case of the Peoples Temple, defectors attempting to escape were executed.
Synanon. Originally a drug rehabilitation center. It turned into something more sinister over time.
Our group also briefly discussed how ‘followers’ could be made using the internet, effectively brainwashing anyone the world over into performing wicked acts or following an ideology.
I love books that encourage deep discussion like ‘The Family’ did and can easily see it being part of a series, delving into Paul’s early life, relationship with Nyla and Nyla’s post-cult relationship with her mother.