Tradeback size.

Carolyn Jessop was born into the FLDS church - a radical polygamist sect broken off from the mainstream Mormon church. Although it was the only life she'd ever known, as the years passed, the situation continued to deteriorate and she began to think of escape. Eventually, she managed to escape with her eight children - which makes her an exception to the rule.

I don't understand why the mainstream LDS as an organization doesn't come out more strongly against the FLDS. It seems to me that if they wanted to, they could make a big difference.

(When I made this journal entry, I wasn't aware that the FLDS leader had predicted the end of the world for the very next night! Fortunately he was wrong, and I got the chance to release this book instead.)

Headed out in chefcrossing's Rescue-themed bookbox - an escape is a form of self-rescue, and usually involves helpers, so I thought this would be an appropriate book for the box.

(Although I'm sad to learn that one of Carolyn's children has "rescued" herself from the outside world and returned to the FLDS.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This book was set free to find a new reader; I'm so glad you've found it!

This is now your book and you may do whatever you like with it, but I'm hoping you will read and enjoy it. You're welcome to keep it for as long as you wish, and you can even mark it for your "permanent collection" if you'd like...but you don't have to.

In fact, there are no requirements: it's really a free book - no strings. On the other hand, if you do make a journal entry to let the book's previous readers know that it's safely in your hands (anonymously if you wish), that would be super. :D

If you're new to BookCrossing, I hope you will take some time to explore this wonderful free and anonymous community of book lovers and learn about what it has to offer. If you decide to sign up, you may use me (hyphen8) as your referring member if you like.

When you're done with the book, please do feel free to make a journal entry saying what you thought of it or what you plan to do with it next. If you decide to pass it this book to another reader or leave it for someone else to find, joining BookCrossing will allow you to follow the book's future travels whenever another reader makes a journal entry...who knows where it will turn up next?

BookCrossing: making the whole world a library!

I am putting this book into the bio/memoir VBB. I have already read it. My JE:
It is hard to believe that this group exists, even thrives, in the U.S. As Utah's attorney general, Mark Shurtleff, says, "I have a corner of my state that is worse than the Taliban." The FLDS not only practices polygamy which is a felony, but their communities are full of domestic abuse including chronic and pervasive child abuse, sexual abuse, and the absolute domination and degradation of women. This is one sick society and difficult to escape from as well. Carolyn Jessop does just that, and with all her children, an unheard of success for a polygamous wife and mother, and an important defeat for the FLDS. I have a tremendous admiration for her. Read her story, I think you will too.
One question that came to mind while I was reading this was why isn't LDS helping set up programs and supports to help the people who escape or are kicked out of FLDS? It seems like they would be the most natural people to be able to understand and help fundamentalist polygamous Mormons who are seeking that help. I saw former FLDS helping, but the LDS weren't mentioned as being a resource. Are they too far apart religiously, or conversely too close, for this to work? Still thinking about this book. I can’t imagine how hard this must have been for Carolyn and the kids. It is not just the physical escape, the law battles, and the financial survival. What must have been the most difficult of all was the total reconstruction of identity and belief. Who am I? is one of the most difficult and important questions any of us ever tries to answer in this life.

Sent to JennyC1230 for inclusion in the bio VBB.

Caught for my: Virtual Biography/Auto-Biography/Humor Bookbox.

If you have found this book, welcome to Bookcrossing and thank you for taking the time to let us know about its journey. Feel free to enjoy the book and pass it along to a friend, neighbor, family member or co-worker, or simply leave it somewhere for another lucky reader to enjoy as you did! This book isn’t your type of read? No problem, don't feel obliged to read it, just be kind enough to help it on its journey.

Sending to etherea from the Virtual Biography/Auto-Biography/Humor Bookbox Enjoy the book!

I'm taking this from the Bio/Humor VBB.
Thanks to all the previous readers for sharing this with me!

Wow, I agree with BooksandMusic; it is hard to believe that this group exists, even thrives, in the U.S. I remember when all the news was about arresting and trying Warren Jeffs, but I didn't really keep up with it at the time. It made me want to google the FLDS and the Jessops to find out more about what happened after Carolyn's story ends.
Carolyn is a very brave woman and also incredibly lucky to have escaped.
Thanks for sharing!

A belated birthday present for the 2017 Birthday Group! Sorry I'm so late, but hope you enjoy this one.

Thank you, etherea! I came across something about this book just yesterday and thought of how long it's been on my wishlist and wondered whether I should buy a copy! Perfect timing! And I love having my birthday extended. :-)

I've started reading this and am really enjoying it. Should be finished soon.

Offering in booklady331's nonfiction VBB.

Edit: Review

Wow. What an amazing woman Carolyn Jessop is. I loved the writing/storytelling style, but it took me longer to read than anticipated, as I had to keep putting the book down until my anger and tears subsided.

I remember seeing the FLDS Texas compound in the news a few years ago and admiring the pretty pastel dresses and lovely hairstyles. But even with the little I knew about the cult, I figured that was the only thing “attractive” about this lifestyle.

What I found especially upsetting was not only the way Merril treated his wives (well, with the exception of the wonderful Barbara, that is), but the way they treated each other. There’s a great passage – wish I’d marked it, because I can’t find it right now – where one of the wives asks why they’re fighting over a man that they don’t love and didn’t want to marry. Good question. Barbara, as the favored wife, makes life horrible for the others. And the lack of treatment for Ruth’s mental illness until it was almost too late was appalling.

After finishing the book, I did lots of online research about Carolyn and the others – there’s a surprising amount of material out there. The only difficulty is figuring out the family relationships - I read either online or in the book that FLDS members don’t have family trees, they have family wreaths.

I’m SO pleased that Carolyn found the love she so richly deserved. She and Brian were even married in 2015. Barbara died at the age of 56; cause not noted. I wonder if she is missed by anyone other than Merril and perhaps her children?

And I couldn’t be happier that Warren Jeffs is in prison.

Carolyn is an amazingly strong and resourceful woman, and my new role model!

On its way to elizardbreath via booklady331's Nonfiction VBB.

Released for Keep Them Moving Challenge hosted by booklady331.

Thanks so much for sending this my way.

Wow! This story was amazing, revolting, heartbreaking, shocking...one of those things that words can't describe. I dealt with many emotions reading through this. On one hand, I see Carolyn as a strong, intelligent, brave woman who eventually used that intelligence to do the right thing for herself and her kids. On the other hand, I can't understand the level of idiocy that would keep an intelligent person in bondage that long.

My brother married a Mormon girl about five years ago. I remember thinking he went from being an intelligent, critically-thinking, thoughtful atheist to a brainwashed, Kool-Aid drunk, nutcase. As a Christian, I'd been praying he'd find the God of the Bible for years...I was completely blindsided by his choice to buy into this ridiculous cult. I just kept thinking, "how could anyone so intelligent believe such a crazy bunch of stuff...especially since their belief system changes so often depending on new "revelation"?

It was these same thoughts I kept coming back to as I read this. My feelings were one part compassion for her and one part disgust with her. Judge me how you will, but mid-30s is far too late to come into the right-thinking it takes to get yourself out of sick situations.

I, too, did a lot of research during and after reading the book. I'm glad she's living strong and happy with Brian and that most of her kids seem to have made good choices for their lives. I had nightmares about that puke Warren Jeffs last night. Ugh.

Reserving for the Books I've Read Bookbox.

Sending to freezone for the Books I've Read VBB.

To the finder of this book:

This book is gift, no strings attached, from me to you. You may keep it forever, pass it along to a friend, or release it into the wild to be found by someone else.

If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community. I hope you'll join us...it's free! If you do, please consider using me, elizardbreath, as your referring member. You can even remain anonymous if you wish!

I hope you'll make a brief journal entry so all the previous and future readers can track this book's journey.

Thanks, and Happy BookCrossing! :)

Received this as part of the "Books I've Read" VBB. Thank you! Looks intense...I am extremely intrigued.

This book reads like a thriller: it's sort of amazing to realize that it's all true. Even harder, to think that it happened in the United States.

Because Carolyn Jessop was essentially held hostage by the religion she was born into, the issues here are very complicated as far as American law is concerned. But morally and psychologically, the harm to her -- and so many other women, children and men -- is clear and straightforward.

As I said, it reads like a thriller and zips right along. And is written so that you don't have to dread that the violence she witnessed or endured will be inflicted on you, the reader. It's not traumatizing to read, just extremely informative and educational.

Highly recommended, especially if you enjoy people's life stories or memoirs.

Reserving for a book box heading my way soon.