Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Full review to be found on Goodreads and on my website.

Well, this was a strange one. The prose does a great job of capturing the cult craziness, but it can be hard to read at times, and sometimes it doesn't make sense (although maybe it's not supposed to?). It was a difficult read but not awfully long. And I must say the ending was good.

Full review to come.
I deeply apologize, but life is a handful lately and I'm using all my free time to read, not review. I hope everybody understands.

Kirstin Allio's Buddhism for Western Children delves into the cult mindset as told from the perspective of 10 yr. Daniel. The language is descriptive, sharp, and encourages the reader to focus and be pulled into the story. The problem for me was that I just could not get pulled in. The slightly modern styling and presentation of information just isn't my preference when reading. I pushed though to finish, which is why this review has been delayed past the publishing date. I wanted to care for Daniel, and at times, I was furious with the way the adults acted in the story, but I just did not connect with this book. I can see someone else liking it, and I will recommend to friends and family I know enjoy the style of writing found within Allio's work.

Thank you, NetGalley and University of Iowa Press for the egalley of this book in exchange for my honest review

I feel like the little boy who can see that the Emperor is naked!

Ray and Cleary MacFarland, reluctantly accompanied by their son Daniel, ten-years-old, leave everything that has made up their lives so far, and journey to California to join the group led by Avadhoot Master King Ivanovich, the Guru.

Daniel must come to terms with this cult, the craziness that it all entails and even having his name changed (on the whim of the Guru) to Jubal.

I felt like I had taken LSD or some other kind of psychedelic drug reading this book. Nothing makes sense.

If there is one character in the book which even vaguely appealed to me, it must be Daniel. The rest and there are lots of characters, are in no way appealing. Possibly my reasons for being so anti this book is because of the cult element. My question is just “Why do people get suckered into joining cults?”

Imbali

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Buddhism for Western Children review - no spoilers - DNF / 0 stars
Unfortunately I couldn't finish this one. The writing style coupled with the lack of punctuation when someone is talking and the random lowercase words which should be capitalized ( it definitely is intentional) was too frustrating for a type A person like myself to handle. I did give it a try though, the premise was and still remains intriguing. Maybe you will fair better at it than I if you're interested. It publishes October 1.
Many thanks to #Netgalley and University of Iowa Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Buddhism for Western Children was a strange, occasionally hypnotic book. It often made me angry and disgusted with adults who sacrifice their children in the name of their own spiritual journey. The book tells the story of Daniel, whom the Guru later renames Jubal. Daniel/Jubal is ten years old when his mother and step-father decide to travel from Halifax to the Guru's compound.
It is very quickly obvious to the reader that the Guru is a cult leader. He seems to glory in brainwashing his followers. It doesn't take long for the psychological abuse to become clear. It is followed by physical and sexual abuse. It was very upsetting to see the abuse justified by the adults as part of a spiritual awakening.
Honestly, Buddhism for Western Children was very difficult for me to finish. If Jubal hadn't escaped and started therapy, I would have bailed on the book.
I am not sure I would recommend this book - but it was definitely an experience to read.

Buddhism for Western Children by Kirstin Allio is a novel about ten-year-old Daniel and his family and life following a guru. Allio is the author of Clothed, Female Figure and Garner, which was a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize for first fiction. Her honors include the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 Award and a PEN/O. Henry Prize.

The story is told through the eyes of Daniel, a ten-year-old boy, and their family's quest into spirituality. The guru and living god is Avadhoot Master King Ivanovich a Russian who plays piano and speaks to his followers in crude poetry. The confusion about the attraction to cults is reflected in the writing. The prose is excellent, a bit surreal and sometimes confusing. It seems to signal that the difference in what is seen and heard inside the cult and what the outsider (reader) sees and hears. The guru seems to speak to a deeper level to his followers and what the reader sees seems somewhat crass.

Allio weaves together a story of the cult mindset, the perseverance of the young mind, absurdity, and beautifully written lyrical poetry.   Her writing style is enough to draw in the reader looking to escape the modern simplistic prose that defines today's society.  The style and fluidity of this book are reminiscent to Modernism and even the writing style of Virginia Woolf. Buddhism for Western Children is rewarding on several levels.