You’ve been told your entire life that your sole purpose in this world is to be a wife and mother. You’re not allowed to have feelings. You’re not allowed to read. You’re not allowed to think. You’re not allowed to be.
Title: Devoted
Author: Jennifer Mathieu
Rating: 9
Source: Raincoast Books for review
Description:
She prays every day, attends Calvary Christian Church with her family, helps care for her five younger siblings, dresses modestly, and prepares herself to be a wife and mother who serves the Lord with joy.
But Rachel is curious about the world her family has turned away from, and increasingly finds that neither the church nor her homeschool education has the answers she craves. Rachel has always found solace in her beliefs, but now she can’t shake the feeling that her devotion might destroy her soul.
What I Thought:
This was a fascinating look at an extremely repressive religion and one young woman’s redemption from it.
Mathieu masterfully captured the corrupted thought patterns of someone who has been brainwashed from birth to believe themselves worthless, sinful, and inexhaustibly servile.
Rachel as a character was very well developed, and her actions and reactions all seemed natural for her. Mathieu completely pulled me as a reader into Rachel’s mind and thoughts. I especially empathized with her about her love of books. It broke my heart that she wasn’t allowed to even read A Wrinkle in Time!
As a religious person I was a little wary before starting this book and was worried that it might take the narrative that so many cult escapist stories take, that all religion is evil and all religious people are horrible. I was pleasantly surprised to find this take a more realistic approach to the situation – some religions are terrible and some religions have terrible people in them. But there are so many healthy religions that promote love and charity.
I loved that even though her parents and terrible church completely repressed any individual thought from her, she still sought out her own relationship with God. She believed in a kind and loving God, not a restrictive and spiteful one.
Reading the scenes where her brothers and father don’t lift a finger to help in the running of their own home really irked me. And by irked I mean infuriated. (As I write this my husband is putting a screaming baby to sleep, and I am 100% certain he will go straight downstairs and move a load of laundry over when he’s done. I *cannot* imagine trying to run a house on my own! THAT is the definition of a helpmeet, not a spouse who is a virtual slave to the other.)
I wish that we had seen the climax of the book in real time. Instead what happens is the book skips over it and tells it to us through her memory. It would have been a much more dramatic moment if we didn’t already know the outcome.
The ending was perfect for this story. I got the closure I needed without having everything spelled out for me in excruciating detail. Love endings like that!
Adventure:
This shot was taken at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. It’s an incredibly beautiful botanical garden. We spent an entire morning here wandering, exploring and smelling the gorgeous flowers.
Extras:
Find out more about the author (including other books she’s written) here at her website.
TL;DR:
You’ve lived your entire life as a prisoner without even knowing you were behind bars. You catch a glimpse of freedom. Now what?
September 7, 2016 at 8:15 am
I avoid religious themes…
September 7, 2016 at 8:32 am
I usually do too but this was really interesting!
September 7, 2016 at 10:47 am
liked your review , just differ on one line you wrote in the blog – “some religions are terrible and some religions have terrible people in them” . I believe all religions are good with good teachings its the people who follow these religions and twist the teaching of their religion to their own advantage and morality that gives the religion a bad name
September 7, 2016 at 12:08 pm
Good point! I think it depends.
Christianity as a whole is good, but the Westboro Baptist Church is a terrible church. The main ideas are there, but their corrupted interpretation makes it bad.
September 8, 2016 at 5:00 am
I agree that there are some out there which have taken something from a larger religion and turned it into something nasty. It’s always the people who turn something that is originally meant as good and peaceful into something bad and chaotic. Just look at IS. They claim to be Muslims but what they’re doing goes against every peaceful thing that was mentioned by their prophet *sighs*.
September 8, 2016 at 11:09 am
Yes! Perfect example!
Humanity is so confusing. There is so much hatred and senseless violence, but also so much love, compassion and kindness. We just need to figure out how to get more of one and less of the other!
September 9, 2016 at 4:40 am
Chocolate cake. I think that might be the solution to everything ;). (but yes, you’re definitely right!)
September 9, 2016 at 6:47 am
Chocolate cake is always the answer!
September 7, 2016 at 11:04 am
Great Review! Always love when a book feel complete at the end!
September 7, 2016 at 12:11 pm
It’s so satisfying! But not too complete… Just complete enough. 😊
September 7, 2016 at 12:11 pm
And thank you!
September 7, 2016 at 1:34 pm
I saw this around a while ago and it looked super interesting. I’m really curious about people living weird lives… sounds fascinating!
September 7, 2016 at 2:03 pm
You would love this, then! You really get a good feel for what her life is like. It’s crazy!
September 7, 2016 at 10:32 pm
I think I need to read this. As someone who was raised in the Catholic church and realized early on that I didn’t share the same beliefs as everyone around me, I can probably relate to a lesser degree. This is definitely not a book I’d discover on my own, but I must get my hands on it now.
September 8, 2016 at 11:06 am
I can really recommend it to you then! Rachel’s struggle with conformity is extremely well presented. I hope you enjoy it!
September 8, 2016 at 5:05 am
Such a fascinating topic and making you imagine what it’s like to switch places. I can say that I would kick my husband’s ass if he didn’t help out with any household chores now, but what if I grew up knowing nothing else but that? (I’d probably still want to kick his ass then XD).
I sometimes come across books that are narrated from memory and think it kinda spoils the suspense and outcome of it as well. But glad to see that the ending was still satisfying for you :). Awesome thought provoking review! (and I had to slam on the letter K on my keyboard everytime I used it in this comment. guess there’s a blob of food stuck beneath it XD)
September 8, 2016 at 11:11 am
Hahaha 😂
But yeah I’ve never understood men who don’t help around the house! Like ummm you live here, don’t you? If a four year old knows to pick up her crap you can figure it out too!
The book is narrated in the present, which made the flashback to the climax even more odd.
And hahah better get your K checked out!
September 9, 2016 at 4:29 am
Haha!! Exactly!! I sometimes ask if this is a kindergarten instead of a household as well. Which works ;). Also:
September 9, 2016 at 6:46 am
Hahaha love it