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kayscr33klibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Brad and I choose this book for our couple's bookclub. I first read it in a different bookclub about 10 years ago. This is the 3rd time I've read it and I continue to enjoy it.
This time around I learned that the book is more fictional than autobiographical. That was a disappointment, but still a great read. The author also wrote the Great Brain series.
This time around I learned that the book is more fictional than autobiographical. That was a disappointment, but still a great read. The author also wrote the Great Brain series.
holly2kidsandtired's review against another edition
5.0
My grandmother had this book on her bookshelf and I found it as a teenager. I loved it. It immediately became on of my favorite books, ever, and I was thrilled when she gave it to me. Written by John D. Fitzgerald (of Great Brain fame), it's a somewhat fictionalized family history of his family life growing up in rural Utah.
His mother was Mormon and his father Catholic. Neither one ever converted to the others' faith. He tells the story of their courtship and how he and his siblings were raised. The book is full of humorous tales of childhood adventure, tumultous relationships and love and forgiveness. There are stories of conflicts between the Mormons and others, but there is also an underlying thread of how to resolve differences and get along.
A terrific read.
His mother was Mormon and his father Catholic. Neither one ever converted to the others' faith. He tells the story of their courtship and how he and his siblings were raised. The book is full of humorous tales of childhood adventure, tumultous relationships and love and forgiveness. There are stories of conflicts between the Mormons and others, but there is also an underlying thread of how to resolve differences and get along.
A terrific read.
aimeebrand's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. I love this family! I wasn't too sure I'd like a western but it was a very fun read, and a true story which makes it all the more interesting. Not just a book for mormons by any means, and it was a fair and honest view of LDS people and the LDS Church, told from a non-LDS perspective.
heymiki65's review against another edition
5.0
As an American history lover and also one of the Mormon persuasion, I loved this book. I've been a fan of The Great Brain children's series since my own childhood, so found it very easy to involve myself in this book as both are in part autobiographical. I loved this book and the others in the series. You don't have to be a fan of history or even a fan of Mormons to enjoy this book, it just gave it some additional relevance for me.
amibunk's review against another edition
4.0
From the same author of the Great Brain series, "Papa Married a Mormon" is one of those books that will stay with you for a long time. Part history lesson, part love story, part biography this is whole-heartedly an excellent read.
Update: The book is even better as a reread. It just has a lot of heart.
Update: The book is even better as a reread. It just has a lot of heart.
misajane79's review against another edition
3.0
Huge fan of the Great Brain books, so I was looking forward to the "adult" version of the story. Part of it shone, and part of it was a bit of a struggle. Alas, I kept waiting for him to bring the funny the way he did in the Great Brain books, but that never happened.
But as a piece of memoir about the American West? Pretty amazing.
But as a piece of memoir about the American West? Pretty amazing.
beklovesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Such a good book! I laughed out loud, I cried, I was angry. Beautiful love story and generational family tales of the Wild West in Utah territory and then state. This book and it’s sequel “Mamma’s Boarding House” are must-reads. I will read them again and again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Antisemitism, Dementia, Colonisation, and Classism
whisperedaria's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
akbates's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I was getting into the "Great Brain" series and wanted to see what else the author had written. Our library system had an old beat up copy in storage, I was able to check out. The family history on both sides is fascinating. I was most interested in the description of the town and hope to find similar books.
caractacus's review against another edition
4.0
For anyone who grew up with the Great Brain books, reading the history of the Fitzgerald family will be fascinating, and learning who "Uncle" Mark is will blow your mind. Weirdly, although details here are closer to real-life than in the Great Brain books (which totally leave out the Fitzgerald boys' older sister), they're still not entirely true, with names changed, curses invented (and yet, again, the curse isn't exactly the same as in the Great Brain books), who knows what else.