Escape by Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.15 You Save: $18.80 (75%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.41 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Escape
Book Review: A haunting, disturbing story of abuse which culminates in freedom.
Summary: 4 Stars
I had watched a television documentary concerning polygamy and had wondered about what actually went on within a "marriage" of this type when there were no cameras recording the words and actions of the women involved. The program was presented from the standpoint of a woman who had escaped and was helping others escape and wives who expressed no desire whatsoever to leave their situation. The contrasts in those two factions was so stark that I have been curious since to have a behind-the-scenes view. This book written by Carolyn Jessop with Laura Palmer gave me access to those scenes. And what I read in this book was chilling, frightening, depressing and overwhelmingly sad. It seemed that every page had some reference to such degrading and humiliating circumstances that I found myself wondering if the book could be true.
I do believe that this is a true story presented from the viewpoint of Carolyn Jessop. She certainly convinced me that the trauma and abuse and harassment she endured was real. The story begins on the night when all of the circumstances have finally come together and she will have the one perfect opportunity to flee her husband and the religious beliefs of the FLDS. Even though her brothers are willing to drive the three hours from Salt Lake City to help her, the outcome is not assured. If this woman is successful in escaping these atrocious conditions with all of her children, the world might be given a view of what happens within the various communities which follow these beliefs that deviate from the mainstream Mormon Church. She was not just pursued, she and her children were hunted like prey and there was not much any law enforcement agency was going to do to help her. After relating the circumstances of her escape, the book looks back at the events which led up to this daring escape and what happened in the life of this woman to make her take this extraordinary risk.
Carolyn Jessop told her story in riveting fashion regarding her childhood in a polygamus family and then her life of seventeen years of marriage with Merril Jessop. She had never known any other way of living. Physical punishment was not only accepted but expected to keep children and wives compliant. If a person was perceived to have done wrong then that person deserved to be punished, no matter how harshly, by any person within their family. Be it the husband, another of his wives, or one or more of his children. No person was safe except the husband and the wife who had established herself as his favorite. The descriptions within this book are disturbing and heartbreaking. I honestly do not understand how this woman maintained her sanity throughout this ordeal. She was different, she actually began to think freely and to question what was happening to her. These differences are what allowed her to survive long enough to finally get away.
I would love to send my list of about 100 questions to Carolyn Jessop because, of course, I have questions. I know that isn't possible but one thing this book did for me was answer the question of how any woman could allow herself to become mired in these types of experiences. When that is all you have know since birth, since stories of polygamus family histories are all you've ever heard, those become your realities. I think she did an unbelievably brave thing to rescue her children and herself. And in doing that she made other women understand that safety was possible for them also. This is a very good book but also a disturbing book. It is filled with information regarding the day-to-day workings of plural marriage but it certainly does not paint a rosy picture of that situation. I think this story will haunt me for a very long time.
Book Review: Eye-opening, unbelievable.
Summary: 4 Stars
I've seen the Oprah show on the FLDS community. I've watched the news programs on the FLDS community. I've read other books on the FLDS community. I thought this book was going to be more of the same. It is not! It is a peek into the details of the everyday lives of these families in a way you've never seen before. Absolutely fascinating and, yet, sickening. I was fascinated by Carolyn Jessop's story, and to hear the story from her perspective adds another element of reality. This book explained so much more about the FLDS community than any other program I've seen or book I've read. Very good book, great story.Book Review: Interesting but extremely repetitive writing style
Summary: 3 Stars
I was so excited to get this book to read. Her story is interesting but her literary writing style is extremely repetitive. If I would have heard one more time that she was forced to have sex and just laid there like a lox, I would have screamed. This theme comes up every other page! There are other books of this type and topic, polygamy and FLDS, for instance, Shattered Dreams, which are far more interesting and more well written thatn this every could be. Get that book and the one by that authors sister entitled Favorite Wife and you will be much happier. I am so surprised that this book was not edited for the repetitiveness. Am I getting repetitive?? I think you get the picture.Book Review: LDS readers beware
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm sad that I can only give this book 2 stars. I was a little disappointed with it, yet quite intrigued. Let me tell you why.
First, while reading this book, you have to keep in mind that the information she presents about the FLDS faith (or cult, as she calls it) is coming from an ex-FLDS believer. I'm not saying that what she says is incorrect. But it's important to remember that it will be biased.
I didn't even consider this fact when I first decided to read it. I was looking forward to learning about the FLDS culture, their beliefs, and especially how they make (or don't make) polygamy work. But once I got it in my head that her thoughts might be biased, I realized that this "learning" experience for me is akin to learning about the Catholic faith from an ex-Catholic. Or trying to learn about the Mormons through anti-Mormon literature. That really doesn't make sense if you want the truth. But, I continued to read because I was intrigued with how strong a character Carolyn is.
As you remember that her opinions are biased, the second thing you need to know before reading this book is the difference between myth and fact, truth and rumor, belief and actual history. I DO NOT recommend this book to any LDS member who does not have a strong grasp on this idea. If you are unfamiliar with Mormon history, or you are struggling in your testimony, or you have never heard anyone question some of the things you believe, do not read this book. As Carolyn described some of the FLDS beliefs, I could see how their leaders took a simple and real truth, and turned it to the extreme. There are also a few references to Joseph Smith's history that might make you wonder. So if you do decide to read this book, be prepared to do extra research for yourself to find the truth hidden here.
Third, and this is something that really frustrated me, the book was not well-written. Grammar, sentence structure, etc. Along with that, there were many contradictions in the writing. In one chapter she would say something never happened. But then later in the book, she said the opposite. She also repeated herself many times.
However, despite these obstacles, the story itself was very interesting. I find it sad to know that these things are going on in today's world. At times, I was wondering how I would deal with certain ethical dilemmas. For example, how can the state ensure the children are safe when so many of those fathers are abusive? But how can you know which ones are and which ones aren't? But if you let the kids stay with their moms, and the moms are totally ingrained into this FLDS mentality, then the moms will believe they are being punished by God for not being obedient to their husbands because they are keeping the kids away from him. And what about those poor young girls who end up being assigned to marry a man who is 60 years their senior? The questions go on and on.
Although I was not impressed with the book, my hat goes off to Carolyn for all the struggles she overcame and the faith and hope she showed to escape the only way of life she knew. I was saddened to learn of the way her children treated her after the escape. But trauma and fear can wreak havoc on your behavior.
If you do read this book, I hope you will come out of it with a stronger sense of each person's individual worth, the realization that maybe your own life isn't that bad, and the knowledge of the strength each of us has to prevail when faced with trials.
Book Review: story about polygamy between a 18 year old girl to a 50 + Man
Summary: 1 Stars
This book is about an offshoot of the Mormon church FLDS and how the author was married at the age of 18 with a 52 year old man with 3 other wife's and daughters who attended the authors class.
the Prophet called uncle Ben has a vision and gets Carolyn married to a man who was her dads business partner and was having business problems. Obviously Carolyn is unhappy and eventually runs away with her 8 children. Carolyn father also has multiple wife's and his brother leaves the sect so he can marry his fathers wife's daughter without the prophets permission
She describes the politics of living with the other wife's and step children the problems they face. their is no divorce as they will be together in heaven also
The missing part is the perspective of the husband
I can also imagine the poor husband stuck with 4 wife's and maybe more than 10 mother in laws with dozens of children. How difficult it might be support 25 + kids and the pressures of keeping 4 wife's happy and dealing with so many mother in laws. we need a chapter on that also