sleightoffeet's review against another edition
5.0
I have read so many books about people escaping horrible religious cults, and I must say that FLDS is one of the scariest! I really love a book where someone is able to bring themselves out of something using education and intellect, and realizing the value of learning. Carolyn Jessop does all that and more.
Carolyn was one of Merrill Jessop's many wives, and lived through hell where she was not much more than property in a place where everyone was out to get her and her children to make themselves look better to this horrible man. To make matters worse, Merrill was a powerful man in the FLDS so to take him on, would be to take on an entire religious sect that even the authorities were afraid to go up against.
That, of course, wasn't all. Carolyn had eight children and she wanted to escape with all of them. This was a feat that was never successful
This book was extraordinary and heart wrenching, and I am truly amazed that someone who went through so much was able to hold on to their humanity too. These sects are so dangerous and the brainwashing so strong, it's something that I will never wrap my head around no matter how many of these stories I read. They definitely need to be told!
Carolyn was one of Merrill Jessop's many wives, and lived through hell where she was not much more than property in a place where everyone was out to get her and her children to make themselves look better to this horrible man. To make matters worse, Merrill was a powerful man in the FLDS so to take him on, would be to take on an entire religious sect that even the authorities were afraid to go up against.
That, of course, wasn't all. Carolyn had eight children and she wanted to escape with all of them. This was a feat that was never successful
Spoiler
well, until she did it.This book was extraordinary and heart wrenching, and I am truly amazed that someone who went through so much was able to hold on to their humanity too. These sects are so dangerous and the brainwashing so strong, it's something that I will never wrap my head around no matter how many of these stories I read. They definitely need to be told!
danapr's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating book but "unreal". I had to keep reminding myself that this is a true story. Scary!
brooke_review's review against another edition
4.0
This one is interesting. I learned a lot about the polygamist lifestyle from this book. Interesting and informative.
nancy_vb's review against another edition
4.0
Riveting. Completely unreal to realize this is the way of life in the FLDS community. Nothing like "Sister Wives" portrays.
megstegs12's review against another edition
5.0
Very interesting and quite disturbing at times. Amazing to think this continues to happen to women in these communities and authorities can't stop it. Very gripping and quick to read.
ablotial's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. That's really all I have to say about this book, but I'll try to do better than that. This is the story of Carolyn Jessop, a woman who was born into life in the FLDS - a radical shootoff of the Morman church. I of course want to point out that the Mormons have excommunicated these people and as far as I know do not practice any of the horrible things that are described here. I also want to say that I am not anti-polygamy in principle (don't shoot me, please) but the way these people are doing it is clearly not working at all.
This was a really interesting read for me, especially once I figured out that the husband who treated her so badly and that she'd taken her kids and run away from is the same guy who was running the compound down here in Texas that got raided last year for having the underage marriages.
Carolyn's story is heartbreaking, and a truly interesting read. I highly recommend it. I have to admit, it is so difficult to believe that things like this can be going on today! If I didn't know any better, I'd think this was one of those books about a false utopia, a fiction story about a place someone made up ... like "We" or "1984". And yet, it's real. Sometimes truth really -is- stranger than fiction!
This was a really interesting read for me, especially once I figured out that the husband who treated her so badly and that she'd taken her kids and run away from is the same guy who was running the compound down here in Texas that got raided last year for having the underage marriages.
Carolyn's story is heartbreaking, and a truly interesting read. I highly recommend it. I have to admit, it is so difficult to believe that things like this can be going on today! If I didn't know any better, I'd think this was one of those books about a false utopia, a fiction story about a place someone made up ... like "We" or "1984". And yet, it's real. Sometimes truth really -is- stranger than fiction!
sarahcoller's review against another edition
2.0
Wow! This story was amazing, revolting, heartbreaking, shocking...one of those things that words can't describe. I dealt with many emotions reading through this. On one hand, I see Carolyn as a strong, intelligent, brave woman who eventually used that intelligence to do the right thing for herself and her kids. On the other hand, I can't understand the level of idiocy that would keep an intelligent person in bondage that long.
My feelings were one part compassion for her and one part disgust with her. Judge me how you will, but mid-30s is far too late to come into the right-thinking it takes to get yourself out of sick situations.
I did a lot of research during and after reading the book. I'm glad she's living strong and happy with Brian and that most of her kids seem to have made good choices for their lives. I had nightmares about that puke Warren Jeffs last night. Ugh.
My feelings were one part compassion for her and one part disgust with her. Judge me how you will, but mid-30s is far too late to come into the right-thinking it takes to get yourself out of sick situations.
I did a lot of research during and after reading the book. I'm glad she's living strong and happy with Brian and that most of her kids seem to have made good choices for their lives. I had nightmares about that puke Warren Jeffs last night. Ugh.
hiltzmoore's review against another edition
3.0
Probably 3.5 stars. This is the second FLDS memoir I've read, and I did like this a little more than "Stolen Innocence" but I wish more time was spent on life AFTER her escape. I know that a lot of people want to hear about the creepy stuff that goes on inside of the FLDS compound, and that is probably what sells books. I just feel like the more important story to tell is how a woman with no money was able to escape a very abusive marriage with all 8 of her kids, one of whom was handicapped. I would imagine there are a lot of women who could be very inspired by that part of the story. It does look like there might be a follow up book, maybe she was saving that for the sequel?