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190 reviews for:
Becoming Sister Wives: The Story of an Unconventional Marriage
Meri Brown, Kody Brown, Janelle Brown
190 reviews for:
Becoming Sister Wives: The Story of an Unconventional Marriage
Meri Brown, Kody Brown, Janelle Brown
informative
I sometimes marathon episodes of Sister Wives when I'm not feeling well, and constant levels of chaos and self-delusion still did not prepare me for this book. It was written better than I thought it would be, which is the reason for the second star. Either they have a pretty good ghost writer or editor, or they're not all as stupid as they seem on television.
Down to the actual contents of the book: despite the family mythos that the Browns cling to, their group marriage has been hideously dysfunctional from the jump. Through their own admissions, Kody took on more wives than he could handle, Meri emotionally and verbally abused both Christine and Janelle to the point where they each moved out at several points, and the entire family has always been dirt poor (making their lifestyle on Sister Wives even more absurd).
Surprisingly, Robyn's chapters were the most level headed and thoughtful. Like Meri and Christine, Robyn grew up with the principle of plural marriage, but she seemed to have taken a much more realistic view away from it than either Meri (spoiled first child of a first wife) or Christine (a bubbly optimist who simply chose to ignore the often dark sides to polygamy). I ended up feeling quite sorry for Robyn, as she seems the most honest and dedicated to working on emotional issues as they emerge -- instead of stuffing them back until they explode like the rest of the family does -- and she's also very aware of the edit TLC gives her and her general status as least popular wife.
It was a fast read, written well enough that I didn't find myself grimacing at the grammar (although Meri's over!use! of! exclamation! marks! grated a little). Kody seems out of touch, and most of the wives seem miserable despite their insistence that they're not. If you've seen and tolerated the show, you can handle the book.
Down to the actual contents of the book: despite the family mythos that the Browns cling to, their group marriage has been hideously dysfunctional from the jump. Through their own admissions, Kody took on more wives than he could handle, Meri emotionally and verbally abused both Christine and Janelle to the point where they each moved out at several points, and the entire family has always been dirt poor (making their lifestyle on Sister Wives even more absurd).
Surprisingly, Robyn's chapters were the most level headed and thoughtful. Like Meri and Christine, Robyn grew up with the principle of plural marriage, but she seemed to have taken a much more realistic view away from it than either Meri (spoiled first child of a first wife) or Christine (a bubbly optimist who simply chose to ignore the often dark sides to polygamy). I ended up feeling quite sorry for Robyn, as she seems the most honest and dedicated to working on emotional issues as they emerge -- instead of stuffing them back until they explode like the rest of the family does -- and she's also very aware of the edit TLC gives her and her general status as least popular wife.
It was a fast read, written well enough that I didn't find myself grimacing at the grammar (although Meri's over!use! of! exclamation! marks! grated a little). Kody seems out of touch, and most of the wives seem miserable despite their insistence that they're not. If you've seen and tolerated the show, you can handle the book.
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
informative
medium-paced
I was a bit disappointed in this book. I am a very curious person and am always wanting to try to understand why people live/believe the way they do. I was hoping to get an understanding of "the principle" and the theology behind why fundamentalist Mormans believe in and live polygamist lifestyles. I've watched the Sister Wives show on TLC and admire the Browns for their convictions and coming public. Now I want to know why. This book did not answer those questions. The women pretty much come across as bitchy...all of them having problems with the other, more so than is portrayed on their show. They always end their chapters with a bit of a cheerleader "yay rah, but we wouldn't give up the lifestyle, we believe this is the proper way to live" but then nothing to back that up. I felt it was more of an in depth behind the scenes of what they've endured throughout the show (with some personal backgrounds) and coming public...how it has been a hard row to hoe. Ultimately, the book left me with more questions than answers....simply put, "Why would you want to put up with that much crap and unhappiness in life?" Is it just to have some other women to be a close knit support system? Can you not get that from good, close friends without all of the negative jealousy, and husband sharing?
medium-paced
Since this was written 10 years ago and we know the current state of the Brown family (separating with increasing speed), viewers of the television show are able to read between the lines. When "minor" problems are mentioned or briefly discounted, the truth is that they are serious problems that ultimately rip the family apart. It's interesting and sad. The Browns have failed to prove that their lifestyle is desirable, practical, or spiritually motivating, and may have proved the inverse.
I chose to read this book because I watch the show Sister Wives on a weekly basis. I do this because I'm curious about their lifestyle, not because I want to live it. I felt much of what was in the book had already been mentioned on the show, so in many ways I didn't really need to buy the book. I wish I would have known this before I purchased.
The book was really interesting and answered any questions I had when watching the show but the book's format made it a little redundant. Each section was broken into a chapter by each wife so you got their individual perspectives on each topic. While I was glad to hear from each of them, there was a lot of crossover. Did some skimming at the end.
A must-read if you've dedicated time to watching the series. It really adds valuable context to all of the relationships on the show and goes into details they've left out of the TV show that sheds light on a lot of the Brown family history and established culture.
In one eye-opening chapter, Christine describes how Kody & Meri groomed a minor to be a wife for Kody. In another Janelle details the verbal abuse and hostility she experienced as a second wife entering into Kody & Meri's previously monogamous marriage.
The only question this book fails to answer is, What does the Nanny Do?
In one eye-opening chapter, Christine describes how Kody & Meri groomed a minor to be a wife for Kody. In another Janelle details the verbal abuse and hostility she experienced as a second wife entering into Kody & Meri's previously monogamous marriage.
The only question this book fails to answer is, What does the Nanny Do?
I'm a fan of the Sister Wives show so I might be a bit biased when it comes to reviewing the book. It was really interesting reading how each of them came to marry Kody and I enjoyed reading their thoughts on becoming public. I found the section about Family to be repetitive. In each wife's section, it was repeated how they respect the other wives parenting choices, they don't try to overstep boundaries, etc. Overall though I think it was nicely done. You really get a feel for each wife. I have a new respect for Robyn. In the show, I never connected much with her as a viewer. But reading about her as really proven to me what a strong, moral and compassionate woman she is.