The 19th Wife: A Novel
by David Ebershoff
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Book Reviews of The 19th Wife: A Novel
Book Review: Two Stories of Polygamy
Summary: 4 Stars
While I was hooked and could not put this book down, the intertwined stories were a bit confusing. I thought they would at least meet up or connect somehow, which I suppose they do rather loosely, but not enough. It would have flowed better, imho, had the stories been written seperate rather than bouncing back and forth.
That said, I enjoyed reading the historical journey of the Firsts and how they were founded. While it said many times this is fiction, I felt as though what I was reading was fact and had to reaffirm it as such, it is just written like an autobigraphy. It was very educational as far as learning the inner workings of the LDS and I also loved getting to know these people, especially since the characters were based on real people. I have found a greater empathy for something I once found interesting, and feel I have a better understanding of it. This fills you in in a way that makes Big Love make more sense, as far as a lot of the background with the religious struggles and rise. I really felt I understood both the pros and cons of the religion after reading this, and recommend it.
The second story is a modern day murder mystery that takes place in the Firsts community. One of the wives has killed her husband, and another wife has been accused. All evidence points to this wife and her son, a Lost Boy for what is heard of common reason for excommunication, comes to her aid. Along the way he befriends another Lost Boy and meets a lot of other new people. I found his friendships (with Johnny as well as Elektra) and new relationship meaningful and deep, and in the end loved the the build up of characters and their relationships. I'm not much for romance but this one did make me sappy and I really loved the connection he found in the end. I also felt the connection to Jordan himself, and his feelings of abandonment and unwillingness to love and put himself out there, and the journey he took to overcome this. What great characters all around, a compliment I don't give to just any writer! Highly recommended.
Book Review: Fascinating subject, great start, so so finish
Summary: 5 Stars
The subject matter of David Ebershoff's bestselling novel "19th Wife" is in itself fascinating. With a little bit of murder and mayhem thrown into the mix, the result is simply irresistible. The nuclear family in western society being founded upon the Christian doctrine of one man one wife, how is it conceivable that the practice of polygamy can take root and be tolerated among the earliest Mormon community and indeed continue within certain denominations today ? The answer to this otherwise baffling mystery must according to Ebershoff lie in the cult phenomenon, wherein a charismatic leader is able to completely dominate the minds of his followers to the extent of getting them to accept his teachings unquestioningly.
Ebershoff uses a dual narrative structure - one set in the present and the other in 19th century America - to dig deep into this strange phenomenon and conclude that it has no basis other than the fact that the alpha male thinks he deserves to have his harem only because he is able to recruit willing females. Economically, the burden of supporting a plurality of wives and their children renders the polygamous family structure unviable. The back story of Ann Eliza Young is undeniably compelling as historical fiction, only that it sort of runs aground as soon as we get to the part where she leaves her husband Brigham Young to tour the country denouncing the practice of polygamy. The contemporary story centered on a murder mystery provides the page turning elements that starts off racily but ultimately promises rather more than it delivers. This too gets an over quick and perfunctory resolution suggesting the author ran out of stamina in the final stretch.
19th Wife is a big novel bursting with entertaining and educational value...even if one doesn't take the details of Ann Eliza's story for fact. The first two thirds of the book is so good you readily forgive the less than sparkling finish. I enjoyed the book very much and believe that you will too. Closer to a five than four star rating.
Book Review: Enjoyable Surface Read for Historical Fiction Enthusiasts
Summary: 3 Stars
In The 19th Wife, David Ebershoff touches on one of the most popular subject for pop culture today: polygamy. He does so from the voice of several narrators, the most prominent of which are Jordan Scott and Ann Eliza Young.
Jordan is a young man raised in a modern-day polygamist ranch before being ousted as a young teen, a fate reserved for the many young men born to polygamist families. As a young adult, Jordan discovers that his mother has been indicted for his father's murder. Much of the book's plot revolves around Jordan's untiring search for the truth and quest to defend a woman that he believes has committed no crime. In the process, he is forced to deal with the consequences of modern polygamist culture and its effect on his own life. Re-entering the world of the secluded ranch contrasts sharply with Jordan's own 'alternative' lifestyle, showing both in sharper relief.
Jordon's story is interrupted by narrative from Ann Eliza Young, one of Brigham Young's multiple wives. Her story as a plural wife is intended to leave the reader with a feeling of repulsion and pity. As an unreliable narrator, however, the reader is instead left with a filling of distrust, interpreting many of Ms. Young's stories as sensationalist. Nevertheless, her story explores the roots of the no-longer-sanctioned Mormon practice of polygamy, providing scattered historical nuggets throughout the story.
While this book can boast of a fast-paced plot and varied narrative perspective, it falls short in the depth of its treatment of a decidedly complicated issue. This novel would have been enhanced with a balancing internal view from a character with a positive view of polygamy. Regardless of the reader's political or religious view on the controversial subject, a more balanced and complex approach would have provided a fresher and more thought-provoking read. Nevertheless, this book can be an excellent choice for book clubs, as it lends itself almost effortlessly to group discussion.
Book Review: Narrative Discontinuities make a Frustratingly Unpolished Effort
Summary: 3 Stars
I just finished listening to the audio CD of The 19th Wife. As the great-great-grand-daughter of polygamist marriages I was naturally interested. Initially, I enjoyed the interweaving of the two story lines and for most of the first half of the novel was sufficiently engrossed to "suspend my disbelief." (Kuddos to all four readers.)
Obviously Mr Ebershoff had researched mounds of material. Well done, as far as it went. I wish he'd kept at it. Midway through the narrative, numerous discontinuities began to interrupt the story for me. Just two examples: Early in her first, failed marriage Ann Eliza says something like, 'I thought of the purity of my mother's early life.' Huh? Hadn't her mom be raped and left with a son to raise, worked as a whore, married to a riverboat captain and then left upon first hearing Joseph Smith preach?" Another: The scene where Tom takes Jordan to church in Las Vegas was laughable. How could Jordan (a First) say, 'It was pretty much what you'd expect'? When had he been to an LDS ward or a storefront evangelical service? Has the author ever visited gay-LDS meetings? The style and terminology was all wrong. Even ex-Mormons avoid evangelical words like pastor. There were dozens of such problems, some small and subtle, but others so glaring that I almost abandoned the story. I persevered and wished it had been a better book
Perhaps Mr. Ebershoff suffered a crushing deadline which meant the final product didn't get a thorough editing. Isn't there someone who could have red marked character inconsistencies and chapters where the plot stumbled. This book had real possibilities, but I'd have to rate it a 3 star novel (maybe 3 and three-eighths, if that was possible), but definitely not a 4. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer deserves 4 stars. I've yet to read a 5 when it comes to Mormonism or Polygamy. Where is a Dostoyevsky to write the full scope and tragedy of my ancestors? I plan to keep reading, and hoping.
Book Review: A Remarkably Compelling, Well-Researched Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
Watching this novel reminded me of figure skating. The showy costumes and exciting moves are fun to appreciate on their own, but the more you know about the technical aspects and sheer difficulty involved in making it look effortless, the more amazing it is when it all comes together (and doesn't slide across the ice on its backside).
I am so deeply impressed by David Ebershoff's almost magical ability to, one, pack that much historical detail into a book and still make it so thoroughly compelling, and two, weave it so gracefully into a modern story so different in tone. I could hardly put this book down, and in spite of having a toddler, managed to read it in three days.
I think the one thing that I would like to mention that I have not seen in other reviews that I really appreciated is this author's thoughtful, nuanced portrait of the Mormon church and its members, both current and historical. As someone who is not part of the LDS faith, but has known and been friends with several people who are, I thought he respectfully illuminated some of the great contradictions. For example, he captures in several characters, like Kelly Dee, a BYU scholar, and Maureen, a lawyer's secretary, the kindness, principled action, and deep concern for others that the church promotes, juxtaposed with the harshness of the church's doctrine, shown in the story of how Tom is excommunicated and ostracized by his family for being unwilling to lie about being gay after being "reported" for going to a gay bar one time. Even when writing about the intensely disturbing FLDS (the First Ladder-Day Saints, or fundamentalist sect), which he is careful to delineate from the mainline LDS church, I got the sense that he was not grinding an ax, but rather trying to truthfully and honestly portray what he found there.
I picked this book for my book club, crossing my fingers that it would be an interesting and quick read, while also being edifying. It in no way disappointed me.