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A review by mbkarapcik
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
3.0
Jordan Scott, banished from the polygamous community in Utah where he grew up, returns to prove that his mother, the so-called 19th wife, did not kill his father. She's on death row, and there's a limited amount of time to get her exonerated. In between the engaging story of Jordan and his quest, you learn about Ann Eliza Young, also the supposed 19th wife, who went against her husband, prophet and Mormon church leader, Brigham Young, to crusade against plural marriage in the 1870s.
Jordan's story elucidates the modern day juxtaposition of fundamentalist sects and those not involved in the community or those who left the community. He leaves his life in California to solve this mystery and gets reacquainted with his former homeland, his relatives, and makes new acquaintances to help him come to terms with the events that occurred. His story is quick-paced and surprising--you're in this journey with him and on his side. He meets up with diverse groups of people, and you get a smattering of life within a fundamentalist sect and other unusual stories.
While some of Ann Eliza's story is interesting in hearing about the history of the Mormon church and some of its more scandalous roots, you slog along with the history and collegiate documents. It drags a lot, so that's why I gave this a three and not a four. Sometimes, I just couldn't wait to exit those passages. Yes, getting some of the history was helpful, but there was just too much of it. Although I wasn't expecting another "Big Love"-type of story, I was expecting a more exciting story rather than a somewhat dry history. Unlike in the TV show, you don't feel much empathy for those continuing the unlawful tradition of plural marriage.
Jordan's story elucidates the modern day juxtaposition of fundamentalist sects and those not involved in the community or those who left the community. He leaves his life in California to solve this mystery and gets reacquainted with his former homeland, his relatives, and makes new acquaintances to help him come to terms with the events that occurred. His story is quick-paced and surprising--you're in this journey with him and on his side. He meets up with diverse groups of people, and you get a smattering of life within a fundamentalist sect and other unusual stories.
While some of Ann Eliza's story is interesting in hearing about the history of the Mormon church and some of its more scandalous roots, you slog along with the history and collegiate documents. It drags a lot, so that's why I gave this a three and not a four. Sometimes, I just couldn't wait to exit those passages. Yes, getting some of the history was helpful, but there was just too much of it. Although I wasn't expecting another "Big Love"-type of story, I was expecting a more exciting story rather than a somewhat dry history. Unlike in the TV show, you don't feel much empathy for those continuing the unlawful tradition of plural marriage.