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just_fighting_censorship 's review for:
This was interesting and also horrifying. My only criticism is that it went on just a hair too long.
The first half of the book is absolutely riveting as the author recounts growing up in an abusive FLDS Polygamist family. Her father's first wife was a grade A villain. The intricacies of the 'religion' where fascinating and the author does a great job of showing her growth through out the book. At the beginning she is just a girl. She is controlled by her father, his first wife, and as she gets older, Warren Jeffs.
She then 'grows up' to marry the prophet aka Warren Jeffs' dad who is in his eighties, she is eighteen. Ugh!
All along the way we see glimpses of her rebellious character. She often questions things within the FLDS but then explains to the reader how she justified it at the time. The result is that, too a point, you can understand why these people stay in these tyrannical oppressive situations. Literally everyone surrounding them believes the same lies, they have little to no contact with the outside world, and they are taught that everyone outside of the FLDS is out to get them. She never makes excuses for the terrible things that happen but she never sensationalizes the events either. The tone is very matter of fact and it seems she tries to stay as objective and honest as possible.
Basically here is the breakdown of the content in this book:
Life in the FLDS
Escaping the FLDS
Adjusting to the real world
The investigation into the FLDS
Trials
Warren Jeffs' Trial
Reflection
The intricacies and amount of detail surrounding the trials and investigation were a bit necessary, it just got too be too much and was a little repetitive. I understand why it was important to the author, she sacrificed a lot to bring all these terrible men to justice, but I didn't need to hear about each and every detail.
I do have to warn you that this book might make you hate men. It just seems like one vile and disgusting man after another. There were moments that made me cry and others that made me physically ill. I kept having to remind myself that this was real life or that it didn't take place 50 years ago, it was happening NOW.
Overall, the author did a great job capturing the FLDS never being overly critical or trying to justify atrocities, just honest. The author is incredibly likeable and did not fit my preconceptions. Even as a child she was interested in learning and smart. She was oppressed but she was also strong. She was indoctrinated but never stopped questioning. Her story was inspiring but also heart wrenching. She goes there and shares everything, the good, the bad, and the very ugly.
Part of my 2015 Special 50 Book challenge- A Book with a Color in the title
The first half of the book is absolutely riveting as the author recounts growing up in an abusive FLDS Polygamist family. Her father's first wife was a grade A villain. The intricacies of the 'religion' where fascinating and the author does a great job of showing her growth through out the book. At the beginning she is just a girl. She is controlled by her father, his first wife, and as she gets older, Warren Jeffs.
She then 'grows up' to marry the prophet aka Warren Jeffs' dad who is in his eighties, she is eighteen. Ugh!
All along the way we see glimpses of her rebellious character. She often questions things within the FLDS but then explains to the reader how she justified it at the time. The result is that, too a point, you can understand why these people stay in these tyrannical oppressive situations. Literally everyone surrounding them believes the same lies, they have little to no contact with the outside world, and they are taught that everyone outside of the FLDS is out to get them. She never makes excuses for the terrible things that happen but she never sensationalizes the events either. The tone is very matter of fact and it seems she tries to stay as objective and honest as possible.
Basically here is the breakdown of the content in this book:
Life in the FLDS
Escaping the FLDS
Adjusting to the real world
The investigation into the FLDS
Trials
Warren Jeffs' Trial
Reflection
The intricacies and amount of detail surrounding the trials and investigation were a bit necessary, it just got too be too much and was a little repetitive. I understand why it was important to the author, she sacrificed a lot to bring all these terrible men to justice, but I didn't need to hear about each and every detail.
I do have to warn you that this book might make you hate men. It just seems like one vile and disgusting man after another. There were moments that made me cry and others that made me physically ill. I kept having to remind myself that this was real life or that it didn't take place 50 years ago, it was happening NOW.
Overall, the author did a great job capturing the FLDS never being overly critical or trying to justify atrocities, just honest. The author is incredibly likeable and did not fit my preconceptions. Even as a child she was interested in learning and smart. She was oppressed but she was also strong. She was indoctrinated but never stopped questioning. Her story was inspiring but also heart wrenching. She goes there and shares everything, the good, the bad, and the very ugly.
Part of my 2015 Special 50 Book challenge- A Book with a Color in the title