This is a well-written narrative about one woman's experience in a LDS fundamentalist polygamous cult. The thing I really liked about this book is that it is simply a retelling of what happened. There is little editorializing by the author as she tells her story. She relates her experiences as they unfolded in her life, describing how she thought/felt about them at the time, not how she thinks/feels about them now. This was very refreshing. It was if I experienced a condensed version of her life right along with her.

The book describes the author's long journey from embracing polygamy, as well as all her LDS-splinter-church's teachings, to fleeing both her church and her husband of 8 years, whom she married at the tender age of 15. It also unveils the inner workings of polygamous families, and the enormous emotional, relational, and financial strains these families endure, as well as the dysfunctional coping mechanisms they are encouraged to use in order to carry on with the polygamous lifestyle. It also exposes the level of self-deceit and rationalization required to maintain participation in a "plural" family.

Highly recommended. Also a pleasure to read.

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Excellent reading. The author is not whining about anything, she takes ownership for all her thoughts and feelings. She is a Thinking person, not a brainwashed maid, and she stays faithful to the God of the universe through it all. She has courage, determination and perseverance that any person would be in awe of. Her sister-wife Irene also has written a memoir that Susan recommends: Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife
Author: Irene Spencer

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