A review by ohsnaplez
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

5.0

My first review...I'm nervous! :) I rated this book 5 stars because it made me want to devour every book I can find about LDS history in general, the enigmatic Ann Eliza, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young in particular, continuing polygamy practices and its lost children, and pioneer life. I found the modern day storyline somewhat clunky, almost gimmicky, but the mostly successful and very different material presentation styles are amazing...clearly a talented author. Reading this made me think in new ways about the westward expansion on the heels of abolition, the sinewy politics of statehood in a young nation, essentially good people who do wicked things, the effect of change with the times religion on core doctrines and its people's faith, dawning feminism in relation to the rapidly changing American landscape, and how I sometimes discount a truth or idea's importance simply because it's melodramatically presented. A book with a whole much bigger than the sum of its parts and I relished it.