THE OTHER SIDE OF DARKNESS
by Melody Carlson
Ruth seems to have the perfect life. But in reality she suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and a desperate need to belong. Ruth’s husband is upset that Ruth seems to give so much time, money, and energy to their church and the Christian School, but since Ruth doesn’t want her children to fall into evil, she believes it’s all necessary to protect them.
As the church starts drifting further and further from the truth, Ruth is caught up in the current of cultism. And Ruth’s family ends up threatened to be torn apart by the very thing that should have held it together.
THE OTHER SIDE OF DARKNESS is another powerful read by Melody Carlson. She is known for writing potentially edgy fiction and as such is a hit and miss author for me as some of the edgy stuff is also very depressing.
THE OTHER SIDE OF DARKNESS is an especially difficult one, and as such may be considered one of her most influential ones, since it deals with cultism and OCD. Ms. Carlson definitely has the ability to write realistic characters, settings, and trials, and her books are guaranteed to be a good read – if you can handle the extreme realism in your fiction. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $13.99. 383 pages.
Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton
Michelle Sutton December 9, 2008
I agree with the realism aspect of the story. It left me feeling kind of depressed when I finished the book.
editor December 19, 2008
Have you ever heard a story on the news about a cult who’s followers have done outrageous things and wondered how in the world anyone could fall for those teachings? This novel attempts to answer that question. Well, the author gives us insight into one possible answer. She looks at the possibility of combining someone with OCD being exposed to a cult.
We first meet Ruth when she’s a child. We learn that she is the middle child of parents who have their own problems. Her mother is having her vacuum a room over again because the pattern left by the wheels of the vacuum cleaner weren’t going the right way. We also learn right away that her mother doted on her older sister, allowing her to do anything she wants, and her younger brother. She, however, was an “accident” and not wanted. She’s the one left to do most of the chores. Of course we’re given this information in the first person looking back from 30 years later so her memories might not be all that clear.
The adult Ruth has major problems. She’s never sure of herself, always calling herself stupid and not only washes her hands dozens of times a day, but when things get rough she takes cleansing showers which are long enough to use up all the hot water. She now has 3 children of her own. The oldest is a son, the younger two are daughters. Her son has graduated high school, and her daughters are in the Christian school at their church. This causes problems between her and her husband because he doesn’t understand why the girls can’t just go to public school. Ruth desperately wants to serve the Lord and always does what she thinks He wants her to do.
The problem comes with the pastor. He sees demons and demonic possession everywhere. Instead of preaching the Gospel and the love of God, he preaches about demons and how they’re taking over everything, preaching fear. The congregation finally has enough and asks the pastor to resign. Ruth ends up following him as he establishes a new congregation.
This book is very hard to read. We see the tremendous struggle within Ruth as she fights desperately to serve the Lord but is led to focus almost exclusively on demons. Fear is her constant companion. In her desperation to cleanse the house and those around her, she removes more and more objects from her house. She sees demonic presence everywhere. She prays over her children and soon she has her daughters seeing demons everywhere, too.
It is hard reading because you are literally watching someone going insane. But my main problem with the book is the ending. After such a dramatic buildup the ending doesn’t make much sense. It’s too easy a way out.
I would not recommend this book for younger readers.
Reviewed by Lynn Worley