LaVonne W. (Grnemae) -
Helpful Score: 2
Using personal journals as well as her own experience as a child of polygamy, Ms Solomon tells the story of how polygamy came to be a part of her family in the 1890's. She chronicles the overriding fear of the government raids which imprisoned the fathers and some of the mothers and placed the children into foster care. Others fled and poverty followed them as they learned to live with little of the basics of life and always with fear, lies and secrecy. Ms Solomon's father was the head of one group of polygamists and in the 1950's other polygamist groups began questioning who was the "most right" in their beliefs and practices. This conflict between these groups would ultimately lead to murder and more lies and secrecy.
As Ms Solomon matured out of childhood she longed for a "normal" life and she left the polygamist society but at great personal loss. Disowned by many members of her family she still decided to tell the truth and she lives today with the consequences of that truth.
This was a spell binding book and while I find polygamy a hard concept to understand, this book gives a very detailed explanation of why her father and others feel justified to practice this way of life.
As Ms Solomon matured out of childhood she longed for a "normal" life and she left the polygamist society but at great personal loss. Disowned by many members of her family she still decided to tell the truth and she lives today with the consequences of that truth.
This was a spell binding book and while I find polygamy a hard concept to understand, this book gives a very detailed explanation of why her father and others feel justified to practice this way of life.
Tia O. (Homeschoolingmomof3) reviewed Predators, Prey, and Other Kinfolk: Growing Up in Polygamy on + 87 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Fascinating story. Intelligently written - with grace.
A wonderful, moving book that has the ring of truth. It strikes me as the most balanced and reasonable book I have yet read about polygamy, though, in a way, that may be an unfair statement, since Solomon's family seems to have given her more love and freedom than did the people around certain other women who have written about their bad experiences in polygamy. Solomon comes across as a person with internal beauty, one who adds to the value of other people's lives. Reading the book, you feel friendship and even kinship with her.
Victoria (YSB) -
This was a very interesting memoir about a woman who is the 28th of 48 children of one polygamist in Utah. It was certainly surprising to read about their many hardships. When I initially picked this book up in the dollar section, I thought it was fiction. But it turned out to be a fast and enjoyable non-fiction book. Though she does have other books, it seems like the topics are pretty redundant, so I think I have gotten enough of her story from this one.
Shirley H. (Islanddweller) reviewed Predators, Prey, and Other Kinfolk: Growing Up in Polygamy on + 3 more book reviews
one of the best books on polygamy i have read.
