I have really enjoyed having time to read for fun lately. My latest read is The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. Polygamy has always been something that fascinates me. I always think about how miserable I would be if I had to share my husband with another woman, with two other women! I wouldn't be able to tolerate seeing him sharing secrets, asking advice, or spending time with women that were not me; right in front of my face! Not to mention have SEX with and father children with! How did those women do it?
I guess if you really think that's your ticket into heaven, you can tolerate some pretty awful things.
This book (historical fiction) combines a historical autobiography of Ann Eliza Young, notorious 19th wife of famous Mormon Prophet Brigham Young, with the story of a modern day polygamous family. This book has it all, history, murder, deception and triumph and I really REALLY enjoyed reading it. David's prose really transports you into this lifestyle during turn of the century in rural America, and provides a truly realistic perspective on what the women must have been like living in these Mormon compounds. At the same time he brings you back to present day and a modern day murder mystery set on a Utah polygamous compound.
Final verdict? TWO THUMP UP!!! If you are interested in Polygamy and like historical fiction, pick it up, you won't be disappointed.
When I was looking for a pic of the book cover to post I saw that Lifetime made a movie based on this book last year. Now I'm not one to watch a Lifetime movie clip without rolling my eyes and giggling but i'll TiVo this one and make sure to watch it. I would like to see how the movie matches up to the book.
It's also cool that it stars Chyler Leigh (Grey's Anatomy) and Matt Czuchry (Gilmore Girls).
Movie review to follow
Any of you guys as fascinated about Polygamy as I am? I mean I can wonder about how these women must have felt during this time when Polygamy was new in the Mormon church. But that being said polygamy has been illegal and not recognized by the Latter Day Saints for over a hundred years but that doesn't mean people aren't still doing it.
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| Case in Point. |
Sister Wives? Yes I'm obsessed, but that's a post for another day ::wink::
Until then I am (and will always be) my husband's one AND ONLY wife,
I am Mormon and I can tell you, for sure, no Mormon practices polygamy. If you were, you would be excommunicated. The people that are practicing it are not in our church. They are a part of a very small community, not the worldwide LDS church that everyone knows about.
ReplyDeleteI actually do have ancestors who were polygamists and I don't know how they did it. I despise the whole notion and if I had to do it to get into heaven, well, I just wouldn't go to heaven.
Having said that, I do believe that people should be able to marry who they want to marry. If you're gay, you should be able to marry who you want. If you're a polygamist, you should be able to marry more than one woman. I think consenting adults, if there is no abuse or force involved, should have that freedom.
P.S. One of my great-great-great aunts was married to Brigham Young and divorced him. Always thought that was kind of cool. :)
good point Alyson. I guess people can have tunnel vision sometime (including myself)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. I am definately an advocate for Gay marriage, and I guess polygamy should be given the same respect and rights as anyone else. If everyone is consenting, and the house is full of love, it shouldn't matter who lives inside.
Thanks for your opinion & post!
Yeah, like I said, I couldn't imagine being a part of a polygamist marriage. I know it would not be right for me and I certainly wouldn't want my daughters (or my sons, for that matter)to be a part of one. Something about it just doesn't sit right. BUT, I think it's silly that the town of Lehi (where the tv show "sister wives" is filmed) was going to prosecute them. I don't get it. Why waste tax payer money going after these people when they should be investigating real crime? They are all voluntarily a part of this and they seem to love their children and take good care of them. The only polygamists that should be prosecuted, in my opinion, are the ones where very young girls are being forced to marry grown men. That is abuse, that is rape, and that is wrong.
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