By Chapter 15, Mikel Jollett and his family have escaped the Church of Syanon, at least in terms of its physical location; Mikel, his brother, and his mother are now scraping by in quaint Salem, Oregon. The vignettes Jollett shares with us have some of the familiar hallmarks of sunny childhood (saving up a pitiful allowance for the freedom of a bicycle) and some indications that the trauma Jollett weathered will follow him for life.
The excerpt hints at exploring the lasting effects of early childhood in a cult. Neurologists tell us that by age three, 80% of synaptic connections in our brain are already made, and thus, the early years, and early familial connections, of our lives are critical for development. Jollett's separation from his mother at an early age has almost certainly shaped his experiences of safety, love, and self. I'm excited to read the rest of his generous offerings in this sharp and strange memoir.
The excerpt hints at exploring the lasting effects of early childhood in a cult. Neurologists tell us that by age three, 80% of synaptic connections in our brain are already made, and thus, the early years, and early familial connections, of our lives are critical for development. Jollett's separation from his mother at an early age has almost certainly shaped his experiences of safety, love, and self. I'm excited to read the rest of his generous offerings in this sharp and strange memoir.