Escape
by Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Book Reviews of Escape
Book Review: Fascinating memoir
Summary: 4 Stars
Carolyn Jessop's tale of her life in the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints and her escape from abuse and oppression at the hands of her husband and her religion is heartbreaking as well as inspiring. It is depressing to me that people In this day and age and in this country are still living in such a confining and brainwashed society.
Ms. Jessop's writing is very good and extremely compelling. My only complaint is that she has a tendency to be repetitive in her explanations of FLDS doctrine, as well as explaining multiple times who people are. It almost seems as if the book came out in a serialized fashion, where all information necessary to the narrative is given, even if it had been mentioned in a previous chapter.
I was fascinated by this book, as well as grieved for this woman and her experiences. I would recommend this to any reader of memoirs, as well as students of religion.
Book Review: A brave book
Summary: 4 Stars
This book descibes a life style that is hard to believe is allowed to exist in a developed world - but the radical polygamist sect that Carolyn Jessop was born into allowed men to beat their wives, abuse their children and marry wife after wife. The complete control that the cult leaders and the husbands have over the lives of their wives and children and the manner that they treat them are all justified in the quest for spiritual standing in heaven!
A brave escape and the drive to start a new life provide this author's story with a happy ending.
Not the best written book (repititious and a little too much time spent on justifing the author's actions within the strange family she belonged to ) I have read, but a story worth writing makes this a book worth reading.
Book Review: Interesting tale, bad writing
Summary: 4 Stars
Overall the story is interesting. As someone who is interested in learning about what really goes on in extremist religions I found story itself to be interesting enough to hold my interest. I must say the the writing level really cripples its effectiveness. Overuse of "but" and "and" at the beginning of sentences and even paragraphs distracted me; it felt very cut and dry. I am not aiming to disrespect this woman or her struggle, but she isn't a writer. The story lines were also very disorganized. Quite often statements or ideas would be repeated and rephrased. The editor of the books fell short on picking out a lot of inadequacies.
If you're not someone who's easily troubled by writing level, it's a very compelling view into the world of a woman trapped in FLDS society who managed to escape.
Book Review: insight into the abuses of polygamy
Summary: 5 Stars
I did original research on the polygamy group in Manti for my senior thesis in 1996, and I have been reading about polygamy both before and after the manifesto. The picture ms jessop paints of the horrible abuse that women suffer there in Hildale/colorado city is mind blowing, especially how she had to 'prostitute' herself to keep any sort of power in the jessop home. Ironically, her ex sister wife is lauded on the flds web page as a model mother in zion after her daughter was taken away by CPS. In her book Jessop exposes the real truth that barbara held a stranglehold on the jessop household and frequently abused carolyn's children. This is an excellent book and a must read for anyone concerned for the basic human rights of women in this country living in bondage to the men's supposed priesthood.Book Review: Admirable for her sense of autonomy- despite living in an oppressed society.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very easy read. I read it in 3 days. She tells the story pretty matter-of-fact, which somehow surprises me, based on where she's come from. After watching women with vacuous eyes talk to media after the FLDS raid, it seems it's impossible to grow up in such a society and not become just a meek drone, if you're a woman.
Somehow, Carolyn managed to keep her sense of individuality throughout her life. Even though it took her many years to leave an abusive, controlling, and sheltered society, I am amazed at how street smart she is. She has a good sense of humor through it, too.
I really like her use of words- she's a great writer.