Skye's review
Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer
Fascinating train wreck of a story, but my feminist sensibilities had a hard time allowing the author to lead such a life. She turned down a chance a real love to do what she thought god wanted. Strike one. Followed "signs" to lead her into what she knew would be a life of submission and silence. Strike two. Any children would also be prey. Strikes three, four, and five.
At the hands of men, she had decades full of heartbreak, broken promises, charismatic bullies and endless suffering under the pretense of it all being god's command. Religious brainwashing, faith, call it what you will, is not an excuse - for all of her yelling and screaming she didn't try to help herself until it was almost too late.
I just couldn't summon sympathy for her and was at times disgusted with her alternating tales of strength and weakness - "refused" to allow her husband another wife? Well, he did it anyway and she accepted it. Children malnourished because this husband was off worki...more
At the hands of men, she had decades full of heartbreak, broken promises, charismatic bullies and endless suffering under the pretense of it all being god's command. Religious brainwashing, faith, call it what you will, is not an excuse - for all of her yelling and screaming she didn't try to help herself until it was almost too late.
I just couldn't summon sympathy for her and was at times disgusted with her alternating tales of strength and weakness - "refused" to allow her husband another wife? Well, he did it anyway and she accepted it. Children malnourished because this husband was off worki...more
I am so intrigued by this book! I think Big Love is one of the best shows ever, so I think a book about polygamy would be fascinating. Can't wait to see what you think!
