Counting The Cost

I recently finished reading Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar.

*POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT*

  Rating: 3.75/5 stars

"For the first time, discover the unedited truth about the Duggars, the traditional Christian family that captivated the nation on TLC’s hit show 19 Kids and Counting. Jill Duggar and her husband Derick are finally ready to share their story, revealing the secrets, manipulation, and intimidation behind the show that remained hidden from their fans.

Jill and Derick knew a normal life wasn’t possible for them. As a star on the popular TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting, Jill grew up in front of viewers who were fascinated by her family’s way of life. She was the responsible, second daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle’s nineteen kids; always with a baby on her hip and happy to wear the modest ankle-length dresses with throat-high necklines. She didn’t protest the strict model of patriarchy that her family followed, which declares that men are superior, that women are expected to be wives and mothers and are discouraged from attaining a higher education, and that parental authority over their children continues well into adulthood, even once they are married.

But as Jill got older, married Derick, and they embarked on their own lives, the red flags became too obvious to ignore.

For as long as they could, Jill and Derick tried to be obedient family members—they weren’t willing to rock the boat. But now they’re raising a family of their own, and they’re done with the secrets. Thanks to time, tears, therapy, and blessings from God, they have the strength to share their journey. Theirs is a remarkable story of the power of the truth and is a moving example of how to find healing through honesty."

Jill Duggar and her husband Derrick are still very problematic people in my personal view, but out of the 19 Duggar kids, it's pretty clear that Jill is definitely one of the most normal people in her extended family. She has learned boundaries, she has gone to therapy, and she chose to stop participating in the family reality TV series before it got canceled (again) due to her brother Josh's actions (again). This book, which Jill also narrates for the audiobook, is a good look behind the scenes of the Duggar façade that TLC and Jill's parents have put up. For those who have watched the show you will find out 

- how things really went when Jill visited Derrick in Nepal

- the dangers they faced during their missionary trip to Guatemala

- what finally forced Jill and Derrick to demand financial compensation for their time on the TV show - and how the fallout from that led to them emotionally and physically distancing themselves from some of her family

I found this book to be very interesting seeing as a train-wreck watcher of the Duggar TV shows (as in, I couldn't look away even though I found the family and their beliefs to be disturbing).

Check out Counting the Cost, and take on the journey behind the scenes of the Duggar family.

Happy Reading :)