My thoughts on this are probably too specific to my own upbringing to be much of a helpful review. Let me say, the first 60% of this book is 5 stars, just exceptional storytelling.

However, I grew up in a community of thousands of diverse do-gooders in the South. And I have strong opinions on how communes like the one in this book actually function in reality, the human frailty of leadership, and how spirituality can be used to smother descent and growth. That said, I am white and probably don’t have the experience to feel it.

Again, most of this book is terrific. Unfortunately the ending struck too close to home on certain topics (utopian societies) that I can’t easily suspend my disbelief.