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A review by ridgewaygirl
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
5.0
The last book I felt this strongly about was Jonathan Franzen's "The Corrections". Although very different books, they share a broadness of scope and an astonishing deftness to the writing. This is a novel of the highest quality.
"The 19th Wife" tells two stories; that of Ann Eliza Young, Brigham Young's "19th wife", who leaves her husband and campaigns to abolish polygamy and that of Jordan Scott, who is expelled from a polygamous sect but who returns when his mother is arrested for the murder of his father.
A sprawling historical narrative and a modern day mystery novel should not comfortably mesh together, but the transitions are natural and flow so beautifully that they fit organically together.
This is going to be a huge bestseller and will certainly put David Ebershoff's name on the map. He deserves all the kudos and awards his book will certainly accumulate.
Also, Elektra rocks!
"The 19th Wife" tells two stories; that of Ann Eliza Young, Brigham Young's "19th wife", who leaves her husband and campaigns to abolish polygamy and that of Jordan Scott, who is expelled from a polygamous sect but who returns when his mother is arrested for the murder of his father.
A sprawling historical narrative and a modern day mystery novel should not comfortably mesh together, but the transitions are natural and flow so beautifully that they fit organically together.
This is going to be a huge bestseller and will certainly put David Ebershoff's name on the map. He deserves all the kudos and awards his book will certainly accumulate.
Also, Elektra rocks!