I read this book on a recommendation from Lisa. I had read one of the author’s other books Into Thin Air, about a disaster on Mt. Everest, and was intreguied to see how he would handle the subject of violence within the Mormon faith. It was a very compelling book. A lot of history of the Mormon church I already knew, but I was unfamiliar with the whole time at Navoo, IL, despite having been there once to buy fudge and blown glass. Part history lesson, part commentary on religious fanatiscism and those who break off from their original faith to try and be an actual saint-type person, it definitely made me wonder what kind of people are living out in those dusty remote towns of the American West today. The whole issue of polygamy is rather scary when you consider that girls are married off in their early teens to men two or three times their age. How that is not being seriously prosecuted as statutory rape, I cannot understand.
Posted in 50 books |
August 22nd, 2005 at 3:35 pm
There’s a lot of polygamy in Colorado City, Arizona & the town in Utah just across the border (can’t remember the name). They have a lot of people “escape” from there and try to get help for those living there. A lot don’t seem to mind, but many seem like they feel like they have no other choice.
Brian David Mitchell was a weird Mormon spin-off guy who thought Elizabeth Smart was destined to be his 2nd wife. (And her cousin, who he tried to kidnap would hvae been his 3rd)
As I am sure the book illustrates, Mormons don’t practice polygamy and haven’t for a long time.