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Секта #1
Секта в доме моей бабушки
Когда Ане было 8 лет, родители отправили ее на летние каникулы к бабушке. Но, приехав в квартиру, полную счастливых воспоминаний, девочка обнаружила там множество незнакомых людей – и бабушку, которая обращалась с ней как с чужой. Домой Аня вернулась только через шесть лет. Эта книга о детстве в секте. Ее лидер В. Д. Столбун утверждал, что может создать сверхлюдей, способных преодолевать любые физические и психические заболевания. Эта книга о том, как взрослые предают детей. Эта книга – предупреждение для всех, кто склонен доверять людям, которые заявляют о своем намерении «спасти мир». Книга поможет распознать секту, пока не стало слишком поздно. Автору удалось освободиться от власти кукловода, но его страшное дело живет до сих пор
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Published January 1, 2020
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About the author
Anna Sandermoen
2 books3 followersAnna Sandermoen was born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, then a part of the Soviet Union, in 1974 and spent the first years of her life there. Her grandparents were exiled to Dushanbe during the Stalin era and founded the state university there.
The family moved back to Leningrad where she went to her first year in school. When Anna was only 7 years old, her parents sent her to a "commune", where she was in isolation from her parents for almost 6 years - until she was 13-year-old. Anna has written an autobiographical book about her life in the so-called commune, which actually was a cult. The book is titled "The Cult in My Grandmother's House."
In 1987 she returned from the cult back to her parents in Leningrad. A few years later her family moved to live in Moscow.
Anna has graduated from the Philosophy Faculty of Moscow State University, and also studied at the School of Translators at the Intourist of the USSR in the departments of English, French and Spanish.
Since 2014 Anna is living in Switzerland with her husband and daughter. She is the founder and managing director of Sandermoen Publishing, a publishing company with the purpose of publishing books about partnerships, cultural differences, immigration, business- and management literature. Sandermoen Publishing has also specialized in bilingual books in Russian and other languages like English, German and French.
The family moved back to Leningrad where she went to her first year in school. When Anna was only 7 years old, her parents sent her to a "commune", where she was in isolation from her parents for almost 6 years - until she was 13-year-old. Anna has written an autobiographical book about her life in the so-called commune, which actually was a cult. The book is titled "The Cult in My Grandmother's House."
In 1987 she returned from the cult back to her parents in Leningrad. A few years later her family moved to live in Moscow.
Anna has graduated from the Philosophy Faculty of Moscow State University, and also studied at the School of Translators at the Intourist of the USSR in the departments of English, French and Spanish.
Since 2014 Anna is living in Switzerland with her husband and daughter. She is the founder and managing director of Sandermoen Publishing, a publishing company with the purpose of publishing books about partnerships, cultural differences, immigration, business- and management literature. Sandermoen Publishing has also specialized in bilingual books in Russian and other languages like English, German and French.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 31, 2022
I am over seventy now, and have read stacks of memoirs and fictional accounts of tough lives. I also worked as a therapist for many years to women who experienced violence. As a retiree I took a break from the second-hand PTSD of working closely with women who lived with narcissists in life and death situations. When I ran into a situation of violence and abuse in my church, I stopped attending that particular church, but did bring the victim of the abuse to live with us for a year.
So, it would seem that I have heard and read almost everything that is sad, terrifying, and wicked. I must be "unshockable"? Apparently not.
I do not wish to give away the author's story ("her story to tell") but I will say that it is a great near-miracle that Anna Sandermoen has managed to recover and heal from a childhood of such deprivation, abuse, and 'crazy-making'. I marvel at her ability to recall, in detail, her feelings and actions as a child in a trance world. As a Canadian, I see some similarity between what Sandermoen writes about her childhood loss of home and family and what we learn about the devastating lives led by First Nations children in our country. That bad!
So, it would seem that I have heard and read almost everything that is sad, terrifying, and wicked. I must be "unshockable"? Apparently not.
I do not wish to give away the author's story ("her story to tell") but I will say that it is a great near-miracle that Anna Sandermoen has managed to recover and heal from a childhood of such deprivation, abuse, and 'crazy-making'. I marvel at her ability to recall, in detail, her feelings and actions as a child in a trance world. As a Canadian, I see some similarity between what Sandermoen writes about her childhood loss of home and family and what we learn about the devastating lives led by First Nations children in our country. That bad!
March 8, 2021
Интересно, что многие признаки секты, которые приводит автор в конце книги совпадают с признаками обычных религиозных сообществ, которые считаются вполне адекватными и легальными в нашем обществе... и при этом люди так легко в эти секты входят и поклоняются их лидерам до сих пор, а самое ужасное, что они отправляют туда своих детей. Дети в принципе очень подвержены влиянию и склонны верить в то, что утверждают им взрослые и теперь эти выросшие дети, уже вполне себе взрослые люди с радикальными, вредными сектантскими установками из детства растят своих детей, учат чужих и живут среди нас. И хорошо , что некоторым из них , как например автору, удаётся осознать и понять, что с ними произошло в детстве, определить, что это действительно была больная сектантская коммуна и пережить травмы, причинённые им в период секты.
April 4, 2025
Anna Sandermoen's "THE CULT. IN MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE" is not merely a memoir; it is a chilling and profoundly insightful excavation of a hidden world within a world. With a prose that is both elegant and unflinchingly honest, Sandermoen recounts her extraordinary and unsettling childhood, growing up in a small, isolated community within the Soviet Union where socialist ideals were twisted and amplified into the suffocating dogma of a personal cult led by her charismatic and increasingly authoritarian guru.
Sandermoen masterfully weaves together the intimate details of her personal experience with a broader understanding of the socio-political landscape of the Soviet era. The reader is drawn into the claustrophobic atmosphere of her grandmother's house, where rigid rules, fervent devotion to a peculiar interpretation of socialist principles, and a pervasive sense of paranoia reigned supreme. Through vivid anecdotes and poignant reflections, Sandermoen illuminates the insidious ways in which utopian aspirations can curdle into oppressive control. The relentless emphasis on communal living, the suspicion of the outside world, the unquestioning obedience demanded by the guru – these elements paint a disturbing portrait of a micro-society warped by its own fervent beliefs.
What elevates this memoir beyond a simple recounting of unusual circumstances is Sandermoen's astute analysis of the parallels between the cult and the broader societal structures of the Soviet Union itself. As she navigates the complexities of her upbringing, the reader cannot help but recognize the echoes of state-sanctioned ideology, the suppression of dissent, and the pervasive atmosphere of surveillance that characterized the Soviet regime. Sandermoen subtly, yet powerfully, draws these connections, never resorting to simplistic comparisons but rather allowing the reader to discern the shared DNA of fervent belief taken to its illogical and often cruel extremes.
The strength of "THE CULT. IN MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE" lies not only in its compelling narrative and insightful analysis but also in Sandermoen's nuanced portrayal of her grandmother. She avoids caricature, presenting a complex figure driven by conviction, however misguided. This refusal to demonize allows for a deeper understanding of how even well-intentioned ideals can morph into instruments of control and how individuals can become both perpetrators and victims within such closed systems.
Reading this book is a disquieting yet essential experience. It forces us to confront the fragility of belief and the ease with which even noble aspirations can be perverted. Sandermoen’s story serves as a potent reminder that the line between fervent conviction and cult-like devotion can be dangerously thin. By sharing her deeply personal and often painful journey, she offers a profound and timely meditation on the nature of ideology, the power of individual resistance, and the enduring human need for autonomy and truth. "THE CULT. IN MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE" is a remarkable achievement, a book that will resonate long after the final page is turned and undoubtedly spark important conversations about the dangers of unchecked ideological fervor, both past and present.
Sandermoen masterfully weaves together the intimate details of her personal experience with a broader understanding of the socio-political landscape of the Soviet era. The reader is drawn into the claustrophobic atmosphere of her grandmother's house, where rigid rules, fervent devotion to a peculiar interpretation of socialist principles, and a pervasive sense of paranoia reigned supreme. Through vivid anecdotes and poignant reflections, Sandermoen illuminates the insidious ways in which utopian aspirations can curdle into oppressive control. The relentless emphasis on communal living, the suspicion of the outside world, the unquestioning obedience demanded by the guru – these elements paint a disturbing portrait of a micro-society warped by its own fervent beliefs.
What elevates this memoir beyond a simple recounting of unusual circumstances is Sandermoen's astute analysis of the parallels between the cult and the broader societal structures of the Soviet Union itself. As she navigates the complexities of her upbringing, the reader cannot help but recognize the echoes of state-sanctioned ideology, the suppression of dissent, and the pervasive atmosphere of surveillance that characterized the Soviet regime. Sandermoen subtly, yet powerfully, draws these connections, never resorting to simplistic comparisons but rather allowing the reader to discern the shared DNA of fervent belief taken to its illogical and often cruel extremes.
The strength of "THE CULT. IN MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE" lies not only in its compelling narrative and insightful analysis but also in Sandermoen's nuanced portrayal of her grandmother. She avoids caricature, presenting a complex figure driven by conviction, however misguided. This refusal to demonize allows for a deeper understanding of how even well-intentioned ideals can morph into instruments of control and how individuals can become both perpetrators and victims within such closed systems.
Reading this book is a disquieting yet essential experience. It forces us to confront the fragility of belief and the ease with which even noble aspirations can be perverted. Sandermoen’s story serves as a potent reminder that the line between fervent conviction and cult-like devotion can be dangerously thin. By sharing her deeply personal and often painful journey, she offers a profound and timely meditation on the nature of ideology, the power of individual resistance, and the enduring human need for autonomy and truth. "THE CULT. IN MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE" is a remarkable achievement, a book that will resonate long after the final page is turned and undoubtedly spark important conversations about the dangers of unchecked ideological fervor, both past and present.
December 5, 2025
Книга «Секта в квартире моей бабушки» ощущается, как своеобразное продолжение «Похороните меня за Плинтусом». Правда, более жёсткое. В первом случае, давление на окружающих оказывается одной, выжившей из ума, старухой, а во втором - главный герой, тоже, кстати, ребёнок, оказывается в окружении людей, полностью погруженных в секту, где нормы поведения искривлены и всё направлено на контроль и манипуляцию.
Такой инсайд про секту, мне кажется, помогает защититься от попадания под манипуляцию других людей. Хочется сказать, что мол со мной-то такого не случится, однако, многое указывает на то, что попасть под чужое влияние может любой человек, вне зависимости от уровня образования и интеллекта.
Интересно, что Ролан Быков - самое светлое существо из жизни Павла Санаева в "Похороните меня за плинтусом", оказывается в той же секте, что и Анна Сандермоин. И это не плот-твист, а реальное... совпадение? Не думаю. ©️
Такой инсайд про секту, мне кажется, помогает защититься от попадания под манипуляцию других людей. Хочется сказать, что мол со мной-то такого не случится, однако, многое указывает на то, что попасть под чужое влияние может любой человек, вне зависимости от уровня образования и интеллекта.
Интересно, что Ролан Быков - самое светлое существо из жизни Павла Санаева в "Похороните меня за плинтусом", оказывается в той же секте, что и Анна Сандермоин. И это не плот-твист, а реальное... совпадение? Не думаю. ©️
June 13, 2020
Антропологически очень интересно - взгляд ребёнка на секту, в которой он рос, изнутри. Попытки автора сделать обобщения, выводы, касающиеся не ее личной судьбы, а места и причин появления секты Столбуна в СССР не слишком интересны. Но таких отступлений немного, их легко пролистывать. Ощущается, что текст (как автор и говорит с самого начала) писался для себя, для близких, а уж потом превратился в книгу для посторонних читателей. Но воспоминания этим как раз и интересны, а что вспомнить, у автора, безусловно, нашлось.
December 1, 2025
any sect is bad, some are probably worse then the others, but I cannot imaging the trauma children get going through this "life"
if you read and liked "The running grave", this is a documentary from USSR depicting very similar sect and their victims
if you read and liked "The running grave", this is a documentary from USSR depicting very similar sect and their victims
November 30, 2021
Жутко, жутко, жутко, жутко
January 13, 2022
Бедные дети, какой кошмар.
Я рада, что у автора теперь всё хорошо.
Я рада, что у автора теперь всё хорошо.
April 12, 2025
По-настоящему интересные мемуары о жизни в реальной секте (действует до сих пор, на дворе 2025 год). Оценку снижаю лишь за политический окрас этой книги.
April 24, 2024
Disturbing and thought provoking
Anna was my age or thereabouts. Our parallel lives are mine - of love and kindness. Parents who loved and supported me and sisters and cousins. And lots of food! At the same time Anna was deprived of love, kindness and humanity. I am shocked but not surprised and heartened that she managed to find her way out. I am sure this book will help countless others.
Anna was my age or thereabouts. Our parallel lives are mine - of love and kindness. Parents who loved and supported me and sisters and cousins. And lots of food! At the same time Anna was deprived of love, kindness and humanity. I am shocked but not surprised and heartened that she managed to find her way out. I am sure this book will help countless others.
July 11, 2021
I didn't enjoy this book. It lacked emotion and didn't feel like a story to follow along with but more like lots of ramblings on different topics that were often unrelated. I think the topic was hugely interesting and I loved learning about life in Russia from what I read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews