You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
clarkminimized 's review for:
The 19th Wife
by David Ebershoff
Part murder mystery, part historical fiction, this book follows the story of Jordan Scott, son of a woman who is accused of killing his father, and Ann Eliza Young, the famous 19th wife of Brigham Young who worked to end polygamy in the United States in the late 1800s.
Ebershoff does an excellent job of moving back and forth between eras and telling the story from multiple viewpoints and voices. This book seems to have a clear agenda and makes the reader consider what limits we as a country should place on religious freedom and when to decide that greater human rights issues trump religious freedom. Moreover, because Jordan Scott is gay, there is a side story that allow the reader to consider how to reconcile religious beliefs when you are rejected by the group whose tenets you believe in.
I found that as I read this book, I wanted to learn more. About the roots of Mormonism, where those tiny towns are on a map, what that sacred underwear looks and feels like, and how much of the history is accepted as true and how much the author made up to fill in blanks. Fascinating!
Overall, the book was a little long, but the historical interest and the modern day murder mystery were enough to keep me interested for all 500 pages.
Ebershoff does an excellent job of moving back and forth between eras and telling the story from multiple viewpoints and voices. This book seems to have a clear agenda and makes the reader consider what limits we as a country should place on religious freedom and when to decide that greater human rights issues trump religious freedom. Moreover, because Jordan Scott is gay, there is a side story that allow the reader to consider how to reconcile religious beliefs when you are rejected by the group whose tenets you believe in.
I found that as I read this book, I wanted to learn more. About the roots of Mormonism, where those tiny towns are on a map, what that sacred underwear looks and feels like, and how much of the history is accepted as true and how much the author made up to fill in blanks. Fascinating!
Overall, the book was a little long, but the historical interest and the modern day murder mystery were enough to keep me interested for all 500 pages.