Slonim Woods 9

A Memoir

By: Daniel Barban Levin

Narrated by: Jay Myers

An “extraordinary” (Nylon) firsthand account of the creation of a modern cult and the costs paid by its young victims: a group of college roommates

“Intense . . . [a tale] of hard-won survival, and creating a life after the unimaginable.”—Salon

In September 2010, at the beginning of the academic year at Sarah Lawrence College, a sophomore named Talia Ray asked her roommates if her father could stay with them for a while. No one objected. Her father, Larry Ray, was just released from prison, having spent three years behind bars after a conviction during a bitter custody dispute.

Larry Ray arrived at the dorm, a communal house called Slonim Woods 9, and stayed for the whole year. Over the course of innumerable counseling sessions and “family meetings,” the intense and forceful Ray convinced his daughter’s friends that he alone could help them “achieve clarity.” Eventually, Ray and the students moved into a small Manhattan apartment, beginning years of manipulation and abuse, as Ray tightened his control over his young charges through blackmail, extortion, and ritualized humiliation. After a decade of secrecy, Larry Ray was finally indicted on charges of extortion, sex trafficking, forced labor, and money laundering.

Daniel Barban Levin was one of the original residents of Slonim Woods 9. Beginning the moment Daniel set foot on Sarah Lawrence’s idyllic campus and spanning the two years he spent in the grip of a megalomaniac, this brave, lyrical, and redemptive memoir reveals how a group of friends were led from college to a cult without the world even noticing.

©2021 Daniel Barban Levin (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Disturbing, extremely vulnerable and extraordinary. . . . A biting, observant memoir about his experience, as he excavates the reasons he was so drawn into Ray’s grasp.”—Nylon

“An intense tale of coercion, humiliation, gaslighting, and physical torment. It's also one of hard-won survival, and creating a life after the unimaginable.”—Salon

“Insightful and often heart wrenching . . . This book will be a tremendous help to others who have gone through something similar.”—Bomb

So accurate of the experience

Thank you for writing this. I have had two similar experiences although much less intense. But I completely related to all the questioning of one’s self, and confusion regarding the entire situation, as well as the immense Emotional manipulation. I have no doubt that the precise capturing of the experience Verbally has helped you to release it. I hope that Everyone who will be served to read this fabulous book somehow comes across it for their healing.

Excellent, raw and moving

I can’t imagine the bravery it took to write this memoir. I hope Danny’s life continues to be free and enriched. Definitely a must-read.

Harrowing

Well written, immersive. The author elegantly and deliberately walks you through the moments and the cascading states of mind, tangentially familiar to me from my and I’d imagine many others’ young adulthoods, that lead to all of this happening. It’s all so sadly, terrifyingly believable. Never lurid. It’s a journey that’s as compelling as it is difficult.

Beautifully expressed tragedy

So beautifully written and sadly, tragically expressed. My heart hurts for these young people whose lives were forever changed.

Highly recommend

I am often annoyed by the narrators of audiobooks and prefer to read it myself, but Daniel’s voice is both soothing and captivating at the same time. Great content and overall wonderfully written.

Beautifully written, courageously told.

This is an excellent telling of the story of coercive control, and how it can absolutely happen to anybody. Levin is a wonderful writer and I look forward reading more books by him.

Difficult but compelling story

This memoir is difficult to listen to. Daniel’s story is horrific yet gripping as the reader wants to find out the ending all the while hoping it’s a good one. It’s a good story to read after seeing the Hulu show, Stolen Youth. But it is definitely something that is for mature audiences as there are descriptions of abuse that are horrifying and sad. The Audible narrator is easy to listen to and helps make the story more understandable.

Heartbreaking and compelling

Beautifully written account from an abuse survivor. Highly recommended to anyone who’s experienced emotional or psychological abuse. The narrator’s performance was outstanding.

One of the best

I searched for this book after watching the documentary “Stolen Youth” and seeing the title in the credits. While the story is tragic and revealing, Daniel Levin’s writing is beautifully concise and descriptive. What a victorious survivor! The narration was perfect.

Tragic story, but beautifully written

While Danny’s story was so sad, it was written beautifully. Highly recommend this book. Fantastic read.