Stephanie Wrobel author of This Might Hurt Joins SI Meeting Recap

There’s an odd alchemy to book club discussions. When members have different reactions to a book, the discussion is livelier. Wrobel’s dark tale of a cult leader on a remote island brought out our personal demons, not unlike the guests who took the ocean journey to Wildwood. 

We had questions. How do you create a cult leader? Well, you do your homework on illusionists, and cults, and, yes, even Tony Robbins.  You learn more about the performances of Marina Abramovic and Derren Brown. And then you create your own very singular character. 

Our group nimbly navigated the intricately plotted puzzle of three perspectives and shifts in the timeline.

However, when a book is about a cult based on facing your fears, physical and psychological, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Wrobel is an author who is, well, fearless herself.

There are striking images of (intentional) self harm. There is the psychological abuse of children.

 This is not a book that is going to be sold as the “feel good beach book of 2022”. We felt like we really needed to get off that cult leader’s private island. Turns out, that is exactly the impact author Wrobel intended.

Our book club might not be Wildwood, though we meet on the remote island of Zoom.  But, there is an element of facing your fears. Or, facing the differences of opinions. The good news is, we all manage this quite well. Shelf Indulgence is the support group that works. Or, wait, are we actually a cult? Yikes. 😀

Interesting note - Wrobel listened to Billie Ellish’s first album to get herself into the mood for creating her world of menace and foreboding.

 

Posted by book lover: Phyllis T.