Banished

Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church

By: Lauren Drain

Narrated by: Lauren Drain

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Banished is an eye-opening, deeply personal account of life inside the cult known as the Westboro Baptist Church, as well as a fascinating story of adaptation and perseverance.

You've likely heard of the Westboro Baptist Church. Perhaps you've seen their pickets on the news, the members holding signs with messages that are too offensive to copy here, protesting at events such as the funerals of soldiers, the 9-year old victim of the recent Tucson shooting, and Elizabeth Edwards, all in front of their grieving families. The WBC is fervently anti-gay, anti-Semitic, and anti-practically everything and everyone. And they aren't going anywhere: In March, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the WBC's right to picket funerals.

Since no organized religion will claim affiliation with the WBC, it's perhaps more accurate to think of them as a cult. Lauren Drain was thrust into that cult at the age of 15, and then spat back out again seven years later.

Lauren spent her early years enjoying a normal life with her family in Florida. But when her formerly liberal and secular father set out to produce a documentary about the WBC, his detached interest gradually evolved into fascination, and he moved the entire family to Kansas to join the church and live on their compound. Over the next seven years, Lauren fully assimilated their extreme beliefs, and became a member of the church and an active and vocal picketer. But as she matured and began to challenge some of the church's tenets, she was unceremoniously cast out from the church and permanently cut off from her family and from everyone else she knew and loved.

Banished is the story of Lauren's fight to find herself amidst dramatic changes in a world of extremists and a life in exile.

©2013 Lauren Drain (P)2013 Hachette Audio

True to herself

Where does Banished rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This story was so true to how we think and end up in certain situations. Her ability to understand herself, her father, and the people around her is amazing. You can tell that she is still in pain but looks forward to a lifetime of healing.

Wow!

It's amazing to hear the story of a life and region completely driven and dependent on hate by someone who lived it, believed it and got through it. I cannot imagine taunting the parents of dead children and yelling that God is happy they're dead, and hopefully, most people on earth couldn't either. It's interesting to hear how a book built on love could be twisted so far out of it's tracks to read like a manual for hate. Very early in the book though, Lauren actually gives us the kryptonite to use on these monsters: telling them they don't matter. Ignoring them and paying them no attention. THATS the thing....the only thing....that hurts them. Well, that and a 9mm to the face, but that's just emotion talking. No, making them invisible.... That's the path to victory. Not a fun read, but a good one.

Fanaticism Gone Wild!

Would you listen to Banished again? Why?

Yes, I thought the story was haunting and the creepiest part is that the people in the Westboro Baptist Church are educated and somewhat contributing to society but still blinded by hate.
I have often read of things like this happening in other countries, but it's just appalling that this type of hate is being taught in the suburban MidWest. The WBC uses fear to control it's members. Anyone who has experienced emotional abuse, will sympathize with this young woman.

What other book might you compare Banished to and why?

It seemed very similar to the books written from escapees from the FLDS, people who have fled North Korea and the Princess Sultana books.
I found it striking how alike extremist groups are, regardless of their message or creed, they are all based on feeling superior to others, cutting contact with the outside world and constantly claiming that they are being discriminated against.

What three words best describe Lauren Drain’s voice?

Youthful, Soothing, Resilient

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Cast Out of Hell: My Expulsion from the Westboro Baptist Church.

Any additional comments?

Once I started listening, it was hard to turn off this audiobook. I was fascinated and this story just sucked me right in.

amazing

loved it. Although I don't agree with what WBC believes, I can now understand them better. What Lauren survived isn't as horrific as some others who have escaped extremed religions but something about the subtle abuse is almost more disturbing. Everyone knows physical & sexual abuse is wrong but what Lauren suffered was very manipulative verbal, mental, & emotional torture. This is the kind of abuse that doesn't leave a visible mark for us to become outraged by. Nevertheless it is damaging. Lauren isn't exactly someone you would think you would root for but you gain a new understanding of her & the world she lived in as she describes the horrific things she did & said to others in honest detail all the while cringing at the real villains: the WBC elders & even her parents. The only critique I have is the end is somewhat rushed. I would have loved more info & details about her life post-WBC & it would have been great if she had more comments on the other defectors. She heavily mentions Megan Phelps-Roper who did end up leaving in 2012, I would love her thoughts on that & I wonder whether they reconnected.

Judging from Wacko The Troll...

What did you love best about Banished?

...if this book is half as lurid as that paranoid freak-out wall of text review says it is...looks like I'm in for a treat! Hi-dee-ho!

Inside the Wesboro cult

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you're interested in the story behind the Westboro headlines, this is one of the few sources of insider information. "Banished" was comprehensive and reasonably well written, and was an enjoyable (if shocking) read. This book is a good companion to Louis Theroux's documentary "The Most Hated Family in America" and its follow up "America's Most Hated Family in Crisis".

What was one of the most memorable moments of Banished?

Leaving Westboro. Her expulsion from the church was swift and harsh. I'm sure this was ultimately a double edged sword for Drain - on the one hand, she is out of the cult and free to live her life as she pleases, but on the other she lost almost everything she had known, including siblings to whom she was close.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes. Drain is certainly not a professional narrator, but her narration wasn't too distracting either.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"Puts your parents' faults into perspective!"

Any additional comments?

Lauren Drain's story of living in the Westboro cult was, without question, an important one to tell. She is an imperfect but sympathetic character, and she does a good job of explaining the psychology behind her family joining the church (in particular Steve Drain's narcissism).

One aspect of the book let it down slightly. It is an autobiography of a young person, therefore contained more than its fair share of minutiae about being a teenager (e.g. complaining about punishments and the unfair nature of the group's restrictions).

All in all, though, I have a lot of sympathy for Lauren and the losses she's suffered at the hands of an intolerant belief system.

The last third is great

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes: The book proves individuals are very different. The begining shows how her father abused her BEFORe she came to the WBC. I felt the first part almost promoted what WBC stands for. I had to remind myself in these chapters how Drain was no longer a member. Her comments about others who has left made me think less of this story. I think it would be a more balanced book if Libby,Josh, Becca and Meghan alongside the other Youth leaving had written a book together. After all: They grew up in this and of course their opinions differ.

What did you like best about this story?

The. part where you get to listen to where her opinions lay today.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Lauren Drain?

Yes

What else would you have wanted to know about Lauren Drain’s life?

To me it seems like she never belonged in the WBC. She played her part over and over to get praise from her father. I think even when she got sothe phase where her acting became truth. Members might have seen her for what she was. An outsider movedcby forrce by her dad. He is the one I have the hardest time even trying to understand. I know her motto is peace, however, if she ever get hard facts about him and other females I hope she will take her mother asside asking her:" Do you let dad run the show without knowing what you actually stands for?"

A much wanted education of Westboro

I stumbled across this book as a recommendation of all the FLDS books I have listened to. One of the "you might like these" suggestions. I am so glad I listened. I have always wanted a bit more education on the Westboro church & never understood the picketing. Lauren does a fantastic job of her first-hand account throughout the book. I'm glad she read it herself as I felt it was very poignant coming from the author. While I see some similarities to the FLDS, I was very glad not to read more about polygamy, abuse, incest, etc. At least these children have somewhat more "normal" lives, but are heavily indoctrinated into the belief system. When she was banished so suddenly, it left me confused as to why. I'm glad to see she is a survivor & has a strong faith to believe in today.
Would recommend to anyone who wants to know why this church pickets at military funerals and others. My jaw dropped when I heard some of their reasons!!

Very insightful look into religious fanaticism

Excellent book that is captivating, insightful and well-written. This young lady's brave journey is inspirational and harrowing. Highly recommended.

Too drawn out

Reader was not the best. Interesting book but the story could have been told in 1/4 of the time. Too repetitive.