Stolen Innocence - An Insider’s Account of Polygamy
by Laurel on July 9, 2008Polygamy fascinates me. Every time there is a special on TV about it, I steal the remote and watch the whole thing… even if I’ve seen it before. Even more interesting is when you combine polygamy with cult-like religious beliefs that result in a closed community where all the women wear weird dresses and don’t cut their hair. I love hearing about all the crazy rules and how the men control the women and why the marriages are arranged by church leaders.
Stolen Innocence is a juicy, firsthand account of what life was really like for a young girl growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah with three mothers and dozens of siblings in a fundamentalist community controlled by Warren Jeffs. Now in her 20s, Elissa Wall bears all when describing her forced marriage at fourteen, when she knew nothing about sex and was repeated raped by her new husband. Her mother was so brainwashed by their teachings that she demanded Elissa pretend everything was fine rather than try to escape her controlling marriage.
I found myself feeling genuinely angry about many things described in the book, and wondering what I would have done if I was raised like her. Overall, a great read, with the bonus that it comes with quite a few pictures, so I felt like I could follow along with her life. I also stayed up past my normal bedtime more than once with this book, which means it’s well worth a read.
I give it 4 piggy snorts out of 5.
I am a true book piggy. I would rather shop for a book than for clothes, love nothing more than to curl up on the couch with a new book, and have been known to devour entire books in one sitting.
4 Responses to “Stolen Innocence - An Insider’s Account of Polygamy”
Not all plural marriages are forced relationships arranged by FLDS leaders. I’m a secular plural wife who went into polygamy willingly, as an adult, against convention.
I agree, though, that the cases of polygamy involving child brides or molestation are horrible, just like when those things appear in regular families.
By *c* on Jul 24, 2008
I just stumbled upon your blog through blogged. It looks like you read similar books to me. I too am interested in polgamy although like *c* mentioned, not all plural marriages are forced or bad situations. I find the ones where everyone is happy very interesting. I’ve added this book to my TBR list.
By Callista on Jul 28, 2008
I too find it very interesting that these huge families, by traditional standards, can not only work out the logistics of so many people cohabitating, but actually enjoy it. I hope you read the book, you’ll enjoy it. Cheers!
By Laurel on Jul 29, 2008
interesting and easy to read, we don’t have the multiple marraige mormons where we live but there is rumours of them in the south of our province which is Alberta, they go door to door like the JW’s and that annoying, I’m amazed more don’t leave but they seem very culty when reading the book
By woodrow on Oct 10, 2008