In the Days of Rain

In the Days of Rain is a memoir chronicling Rebecca Stott's upbringing in the Exclusive Brethren, a fundamentalist Christian sect that separated itself from mainstream society. The author recounts her childhood experiences in Brighton, England during the 1960s, where her family lived under strict religious rules that governed every aspect of daily life. After her father's terminal cancer diagnosis, Stott begins piecing together their shared history through conversations and investigations into the Brethren's past. She examines how her grandfather and father rose through the ranks of leadership, only to face a crisis of faith that led to their eventual departure from the group. Through archival research and family memories, Stott reconstructs the broader history of the Exclusive Brethren movement and its transformation from a 19th century denomination into an isolationist group. The narrative moves between past and present as she documents both her immediate family's story and the larger forces that shaped their religious community. This personal history raises questions about faith, power, and the complex bonds between fathers and daughters. The memoir explores how religious conviction can both unite and divide families across generations, while examining the lasting impact of childhood indoctrination on individual identity.

Readers found this memoir offers rare insight into growing up in the Exclusive Brethren cult, particularly through Rebecca Stott's relationship with her father and family history. Readers appreciated: - The balance between personal narrative and historical context - Raw honesty about family trauma and cult dynamics - Clear explanations of the Brethren's complex belief system - Quality of writing and narrative structure Common criticisms: - Uneven pacing in the middle sections - Some readers wanted more details about daily life in the cult - Occasional confusion between timeline shifts - Limited resolution regarding certain family members Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (250+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.0/5 (150+ ratings) "Haunting but never melodramatic" notes one Amazon reviewer, while a Goodreads review states "the historical research sometimes overshadows the personal story." Most readers recommend it for those interested in religious extremism and family memoirs.

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🔖 Rebecca Stott grew up in a fourth-generation family of the Exclusive Brethren, an ultra-strict Protestant sect that separated from the Plymouth Brethren in 1848. 🏆 The memoir won the 2017 Costa Biography Award, one of Britain's most prestigious literary prizes. 📚 The author wrote this book as a promise to her father on his deathbed, using his own unfinished memoir as source material. 🚫 Members of the Exclusive Brethren were forbidden from eating with outsiders, going to the cinema, watching television, or reading novels - activities considered "worldly." 🌍 The Exclusive Brethren's influence extended beyond religion into politics, with the group actively campaigning against Harold Wilson's Labour government in the 1960s and supporting conservative causes worldwide.