Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer

53 reviews

hallieknipp's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Kidnapping

bootsmom3's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Medical content, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Gore, Gaslighting, Self harm, Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Child abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Incest, Infidelity, and Mental illness

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Miscarriage

miafanshaw's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious slow-paced

4.0

Jon Krakauer once again delivers an incredibly detailed and nuanced account of nonfiction that reads with the entertainment of fiction. He devotes so much to researching for each book he writes, more so in Under the Banner of Heaven it seems than for Into Thin Air and Into the Wild (his other two works I’ve read), so I must commend him as a writer for the millionth time. The subject matter of this book, specifically FLDS communities, revealed horrific events from history that astonishingly continue in the present. I’d recommend Netflix’s 4 episode docuseries “Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey” to anyone interested (but be warned of a million trigger warnings relating to religious trauma & sex crimes). It’s so appalling what has occurred and what continues to occur in fundamentalist sects. I think Krakauer actually does a respectful job of separating the FLDS from the LDS while still acknowledging there is of course, still a connection as to their origins. As well, in my viewpoint as an agnostic atheist, Krakauer also did a job not to shame mainstream Mormon beliefs, instead providing insight and possible critiques. I’m a firm believer that religion should left open to criticisms and various interpretations. However, I think Krakauer makes it clear tolerance should not and does not extend to men like the Lafferty brothers or the Prophet’s like Rullon Jeffs who exploit fanaticism and fear to commit heinous crimes. 
Under the Banner of Heaven is a brilliant study on an intriguing religion paired with a thrilling true-crime tale.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Violence, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Blood, and Murder

samarakroeger's review

challenging dark informative slow-paced

4.75

read in conjunction with watching the show as it came out. It was interesting to see how the book was adapted to be told in a different format - and I’m glad they did adapt the narrative frame to suit the media style. The book includes a much more detailed history of the LDS Church than the show can cover, so I’m glad I read the book at the same time for context. The show’s “flashbacks” were not nearly as effective as the rest of the show, in my opinion. 

I am absolutely terrified of true crime and had previously read the prologue and been so freaked out I set the book aside. I’m so glad I came back to it because most of the book isn’t directly about that horrific double murder case, but instead dives into the history of the founding of the LDS Church and more recent history pertaining to Fundamentalist sects and their devotion to polygamy. All of it will make you uneasy, because violence, pedophilia, and child rape are difficult topics to read about. 

I think this is Krakauer at his best. He is a very consistently solid author for me throughout the four books of his I’ve read so far. 

If you are fascinated by how people can possibly believe in ludicrous-sounding religions, this is a great book for you. My fascination and curiosity with the LDS Church has been further nurtured by this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Genocide, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Homophobia, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexism

ktdakotareads's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Incest, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Colonisation, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, and Classism

rupanjali's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad slow-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia

Minor: Racism and Miscarriage

apworden's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Rape, Gore, Sexism, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Blood, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Alcohol, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Death, Child abuse, Racism, Violence, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, and Racial slurs

madelinekramer2021's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Gore, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Rape, Child abuse, and Pedophilia

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, Child death, Racism, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, and Rape

orireading's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

1.5

I decided to read Under the Banner of Heaven before watching the new show, and I had a few qualms with this book. Krakauer leans on quotes from other writers (imo) an embarrassing amount, to the point where it’s like… did you write this book or did you collect these quotes huh Jon?? This is very much a right-after-9/11 book. That’s ok. 

Besides the quotes, the biggest issue I had was the book’s organization/structure — Krakauer bounced around as if he didn’t have an editor. Maybe he didn’t have an editor! I think there was definitely a way to rearrange the book structure to make it 10x more enjoyable and clearer for readers. I feel like I can say this because I wrote a big ole thesis on a specific American far-right/religious movement which was… CLEAR AND ENJOYABLE TO READ. 

Ultimately, Krakauer took what could have been a really intriguing topic and drained the life out of it (maybe that’s a bad descriptor for this book) which was disappointing as a reader. But I still finished it for whatever reason. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Blood, Rape, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Murder, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Emotional abuse