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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
I read this book when it came out and I remember not being able to put it down. I read it in one sitting because it was so disturbing I could not stop reading. It was very eye-opening to me because quite frankly, before I read this book, it was unimaginable to me that situations like this existed in modern-day America.
Even now, I remember a scene where the husband organized this "family trip" that required all the wives to get together and make food for the entire family (over 20 or 30 kids at that point) and they had to take their private BUS and in the hotel where they stayed, the husband wanted to have sex with the author with several children sharing their room! Apparently wives can't say no if they're fundamentalist mormons.
I am writing this now because I'm reminded of this book as I look over Stephanie Sinclair's photography covering life in polygamist America.
http://www.stephaniesinclair.com/polygamyinamerica/
Even now, I remember a scene where the husband organized this "family trip" that required all the wives to get together and make food for the entire family (over 20 or 30 kids at that point) and they had to take their private BUS and in the hotel where they stayed, the husband wanted to have sex with the author with several children sharing their room! Apparently wives can't say no if they're fundamentalist mormons.
I am writing this now because I'm reminded of this book as I look over Stephanie Sinclair's photography covering life in polygamist America.
http://www.stephaniesinclair.com/polygamyinamerica/
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
I was riveted by this book from the very first page. The things Carolyn had to go through are unthinkable. It makes me really value my freedom. Carolyn paints a vivid picture of the gradually decline of the FLDS cult. I listened to the audiobook, and the author breathed so much emotion into Carolyn's story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry
I loved learning about the FLDS through this woman's experiences. There were definitely times I had to put the book down because I just read something really disgusting or really terrifying, but I always went back. It really makes you appreciate the littlest freedoms we have.
Powerful and awe-inspiring. Carolyn is a badass.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
medium-paced
This was an extremely well written story of this remarkable woman's life. I never knew much about the Mormons or this more extreme branch. The author brought me into her world and let me experience a culture and religion very different from my own.
She starts out describing when she was a young child living with her parents. While some of what she described seemed extreme to me ,it was nothing like what was to come. From her unbelievable marriage, to the things her husband put her through, I kept expecting to get to the end of the book and discover it was fiction. It was so foreign to everything I've experienced its hard to believe its true.
Her triumph through adversity is very inspiring and hopefully made some change in those states who choose to ignore the abuse without full investigation. I hope it also inspired those who wished to leave as well.
This book also offered some background into Warren Jeffs as well who became very well known through the news. It showed yet another side of a man I can barely understand.
Before you read this book please prepare yourself to cry, cheer, and experience an entire range of emotions. You can go from one page to the next feeling angry and joyful all at the same time.
She starts out describing when she was a young child living with her parents. While some of what she described seemed extreme to me ,it was nothing like what was to come. From her unbelievable marriage, to the things her husband put her through, I kept expecting to get to the end of the book and discover it was fiction. It was so foreign to everything I've experienced its hard to believe its true.
Her triumph through adversity is very inspiring and hopefully made some change in those states who choose to ignore the abuse without full investigation. I hope it also inspired those who wished to leave as well.
This book also offered some background into Warren Jeffs as well who became very well known through the news. It showed yet another side of a man I can barely understand.
Before you read this book please prepare yourself to cry, cheer, and experience an entire range of emotions. You can go from one page to the next feeling angry and joyful all at the same time.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
This book was frightening. I can't believe the life she led in Colorado City. For years, our family went on vacation to St.George, and we always laughed at "the polygs". After reading this, I felt really bad because it's very likely that the person I was laughing at was going through a life I cannot even imagine.