Yeah, I've been accused of being abrasive, but I'm pretty sure she'd tear a strip off me before I knew what happened. I like her, but... from a distance. :D
I had never heard of her but recently I listened to an episode of my favourite unsolved mysteries podcast (Thinking Sideways) about the disappearance of Michelle Miscavige where she mentioned her as she was the one to file the missing persons report. No idea she'd also written a book.
I thought for sure when I started googling about Michelle M. I'd find out she was seen in public - if for no other reason than to squash speculation, but she's *still* not been seen for 10 years!! The LAPD swear they've spoken to her and she claims to be fine, but the whole thing is beyond weird.
Great review! I actually like memoirs, but generally only read those from celebrities that I'm familiar with. I know Remini by name, but darned if I can think of why. Still, this does sound interesting, and I'm also curious about why Scientology has such a draw, so I'll put this one on my TBR.
She was the wife/star in King of Queens, and she's had guest spots in a lot of other popular sitcoms: Who's the Boss?, Friends, etc. Her characters are usually tailored to her thick New York accent, and it sounds like, after reading this, a lot of her true personality is in her characters as well. Funny, likeable, but really, really sarcastic.
It's a pretty quick read, and never boring. Hope you like it! :)
I knew and currently know nothing about Leah Remini, but I felt the same way about this book as you did.
I felt her honesty clearly came through in this and she owns up to what she feels she has done wrong. However, some of the things that went on when she was a child came dangerously close to being child slavery and abuse, in my book.
Either way, I learned a LOT.
I completely agree and I was left astounded that, if nothing else, Child Protective Services wasn't all over that facility in Clearwater for truancy violations. Being a Floridian I know the law there is mandatory schooling until age 16; so how did all those kids get away with running around working 12 hours a day and not going to school? Additionally, how are they getting away with the egregious violations of Florida Child Labor laws?
Reading this book, I was left completely flummoxed as to how scientology has been able to continue the way it is when there are so many easily verifiable ways to shut them down, or at least curb their control.
9 years ago
YES!!! It seems to me that it should be relatively easy to do just that.
I've seen the documentary Going Clear, and I highly recommend it, and in that film they do address this question-at least somewhat.
Apparently, the "Church" is extremely litigious and will sue the poop out of anyone at the drop of a hat. Every time the government makes a move to take away their tax exempt status, for instance, the lawsuits come out of the woodwork. I wonder if the same happens if any local governments go after them for child labor violations or truancy?
They might try it, but if the government was a clever one, they'd overwhelm scientology's legal dept. by sheer numbers: If there's 30+ kids there all violating truancy laws *and* child labor laws, that's 60 counts, 30 defendants - all separate cases; in fact if you went after the parents for the truancy and scientology for the labor, you could split it out even further. Maybe?
9 years ago
That sounds like it could work. I wonder why they haven't tried that?
It's a pretty quick read, and never boring. Hope you like it! :)
I felt her honesty clearly came through in this and she owns up to what she feels she has done wrong. However, some of the things that went on when she was a child came dangerously close to being child slavery and abuse, in my book.
Either way, I learned a LOT.
Reading this book, I was left completely flummoxed as to how scientology has been able to continue the way it is when there are so many easily verifiable ways to shut them down, or at least curb their control.
I've seen the documentary Going Clear, and I highly recommend it, and in that film they do address this question-at least somewhat.
Apparently, the "Church" is extremely litigious and will sue the poop out of anyone at the drop of a hat. Every time the government makes a move to take away their tax exempt status, for instance, the lawsuits come out of the woodwork. I wonder if the same happens if any local governments go after them for child labor violations or truancy?