Journal Entry 1 by Geegal on Saturday, June 14, 2008

I finished reading this book last night. I quite enjoyed reading it although it was a little bit lenghty, but I appreciate that Carolyn Jessop shared her story and many personal details of it. I have seen Carolyn Jessop several times on American TV Shows such as Larry King and had only thought of reading her book recently. I liked how she describes the turning points of her emancipation from the cult. At some point I found it a bit too much that she was always the best at anything she achieved, like graduating, working at home, managing the motel and her small internet company etc.
I was also curious about all the claims against the sect of child molest cases. Carolyn Jessop did mention some things but didn't go into detail that much.
In the end I was sad to learn that her oldest daughter returned to the cult once she had turned eighteen, but I sort of guessed that because of the family pictures in the middle of the book. Betty is shown on a picture at age seventeen when the family had already escaped and she is still wearing a dress and her hair like they were told at the cult.
I also think that it is terrible that the court allowed Merill Jessop to take the children back to the cult on his visiting weekends. He doesn't even pay child support for them. There is so much injustice in this whole story and most likely many stories of members of this cult. I think that Carolyn Jessop has written an important book!
 

Journal Entry 2 by Geegal on Saturday, June 14, 2008

BOOKRAY

Rules of this bookray:
1. Please journal the book when you receive it, and again when you mail it out -- this way, everyone will know the book's approximate location.
2. If you don't think you'll be able to read this book within a reasonable time of receipt, please let me know before it's sent to you by the previous reader, and I'll be happy to move your name down the list.


Regeln für diesen Bookray:
1. Bitte mach einen Journaleintrag, sobald Du das Buch bekommen hast und noch einen, wenn Du es weiterverschickst, so dass alle anderen Teilnehmer wissen, wo sich das Buch gerade befindet.
2. Wenn Du absehen kannst, dass Du dieses Buch nicht innerhalb einer vernünftigen Zeit lesen werden kannst, schreib mir bitte, bevor es Dir geschickt wird und ich werde Dich gerne weiter nach Hinten auf der Teilnehmer Liste setzen.


List:


1.Annieselan Germany
2.Mary-T Germany
3.Wandering-B Hong Kong
4.Idrooloverbooks British Columbia
5.cbostler Utah
6.vzfamily Ohio
7.bsliv1219 Ohio
8.Scarlett07 Colorado
9.spaceystacey New Jersey
10.snapdragongirl Texas - Would like to be skipped
11.paulsbooks Utah
12.Tori58Wisconsin


Changed into a bookray. The last person on the list can do whatever they want with it. 

Journal Entry 3 by Geegal at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, June 15, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (6/16/2008 UTC) at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 4 by Annieselan from Fulda, Hessen Germany on Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The book arrived today and I started reading immediately. Thank you for letting me join this very interesting ring, Geegal! 

Journal Entry 5 by Annieselan from Fulda, Hessen Germany on Saturday, June 21, 2008

This book was very interesting and I was really shocked about the lifestyle, Carolyn Jessop was forced to live in our century. I really couldn`t stop reading, although sometimes the story was lengthy. I virtually suffered with Carolyn, her family and the other women. It must have been such a hard time for them. I have children myself and I couldn`t imagine not to have the right to choose a name for them, not to be allowed to kiss and hug them, to have no say in what my husband decides with them and to give them up completely. I don´t think polygamy can ever work for all the people who are involved, at least not for the women and children. Warren Jeffs seamed to be totally crazy and I can´t understand why Betty wanted to live with the cult-people again. She really must have been totally brainwashed. Poor Betty and poor Carolyn!
Sometimes I also had the feeling that Carolyn was to perfect - she could do everything right she tried (leading a Motel, teaching, Internet) and she always had strength for everything. But perhaps it´s her way to compensate that she was such a long time acting like a lamb which is brought to sacrifice. I do think, that she has a strong personality and she was very brave to stand up to her husband and decided to flee to the so called evil-world outside, even though her children didn`t want to.

Thank you for letting me read this very interesting book, Geegal. It will travel on as soon as I got the next adress.

01.07.2008:
I´m very sorry, I got something wrong with Mary-T´s adress. The book came back to me today. I´ve sent another PM to Mary-T and the book will continue traveling with the right adress as soon as possible. I´m terribly sorry for causing such a delay! 

Journal Entry 6 by Annieselan at BookRing in -- Per Post/Persönliche Weitergabe--, Hessen Germany on Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (7/2/2008 UTC) at BookRing in -- Per Post/Persönliche Weitergabe--, Hessen Germany

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Today the book started it´s journey to Mary-T again - this time I hope, the adress is finally right! ;-) 

Journal Entry 7 by Mary-T from Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Wednesday, July 09, 2008

This book arrived safely. Thanks, Annieselan. :)
Also thanks to Geegal for sharing the book.
I'm excited to read this - there are books I need to read first... but - well this looks really interesting...
... to be continued

7-Aug-08
I didn't think it took me so long to read - maybe that's because I have lots on my mind currently...
Well - I'm glad that I got the oppertunity to read this since it gave me lots of insight into this cult. Even though in the beginning I felt that this is more a really serious environment in this special family. I felt that this might be specially awful in the Jessop family.
But things in the whole community got worse with the new leadership.
Lections and lessons involving animals (don't want to say too much), banning the color red, talking of an afterlife and the possibility only to enter if you be obedient to your husband who is bound to be a god.... This is really making me want to run away screaming!
I guess the whole thing about running a cult as one of these "heads" is to live their power and cruelty. (and I want to include women such as Barbara here)
This is really disgusting!
And I also found it difficult to read about the daughter struggles during the escape and furthermore her going back to the FLDS.
Anyway - I'm glad that Carolyn was such an upright person even though she was raised in such a surrounding - I have great respect that she managed to get out of this along with her 8 children. She really achieved A LoT! RESPECT!

I already have the next address and I will forward this book today.
 

Journal Entry 8 by wandering-B from Tai Po, New Territories Hong Kong on Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Found this waiting for me upon my return from holiday. I will read and move it along as quickly as possible. THanks, Geegal for starting the ring and to Mary-T for sending it to me. 

Journal Entry 9 by wandering-B from Tai Po, New Territories Hong Kong on Monday, September 01, 2008

What to say about this book; this experience? I found it profoundly disturbing that this situation exists in the United States. Religious freedom is protected by law, but plural marriages are profoundly against the law. I fail to understand how it can be tolerated. My heart breaks for those reared in this society where their individual rights are put aside in the quest for power by a few. The abuse of young girls and children is absolutely criminal, yet when the government tries to intervene, the adults' "rights" have been violated. Where will this all end?

Praise to Carolyn for getting herself and her children out of this abusive situation - against all odds.

Mailing onward.

 

Journal Entry 10 by Idrooloverbooks from Aldergrove, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, October 16, 2008

I have received this book, and am getting myself back on track to read the two books I have involved myself in with the bookrings. I will have this read and back in the mail within a month's time. I am very sorry for the delay.

January 2, 2009
Okay, I'm very sorry for not getting this into the mail in November.....I completely forgot about it and right at this moment I don't know where it is......I will be putting away all my Christmas stuff today and tomorrow, and will be looking for it ....if I can't find it - I will buy a new one, if possible, and will send it on. My sincerest apologies, to all. I will let you know by the end of this weekend what the situation is.
Thanks.

January 6, 2009
I haven't found it yet, but have ordered a copy which I expect to receive in the next few days.....so there will be a copy to send on to cbostler within the week. Very very sorry!


January 18th, 2009
I FOUND IT! Of course, I am expecting the new one I ordered any day now....but that's okay.
I will finally get this in the mail tomorrow to cbostler. 

Journal Entry 11 by cbostler from Sandy, Utah USA on Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Hip-hip-Hurrah! I just received "Escape" by Carolyn Jessop, and look forward to reading it.
Thank you for your interesting comments about the book, Geegal, Annieselan, Mary-T, Wandering-B, and Idrooloverbooks. 

Journal Entry 12 by cbostler from Sandy, Utah USA on Sunday, February 01, 2009

I'm from Sandy, Utah. (U.S.A.) Families who live in polygamy in this area are not as uncommon as it might be in other parts of the country or world. In my graduating class in high school, there were more than a dozen students who came from polygamous families. There are four Fundamentalist compounds within ten miles of my home. I am an elementary school teacher, and I have taught some children who come from polygamous parents. In all these cases, the individuals I've known have been happy and devoutly religious.
They are courteous, diligent in their school work, and socially well-adjusted.

Recently, a few things caught my attention and I wondered if there was more to polygamy than I thought there was. First, Tom Green, the father of one of my former students, was imprisoned for marrying a fourteen-year-old stepdaughter.
Then, as faces of YFZ polygamists came on the tv screen during the news, I was shocked to recognize two of the grieving women at the ranch in Texas as being former classmates. I wondered what their life had been like during the last forty years.
Finally, I learned that book, "Escape," revealed disturbing information about some of families who live or worship in the compounds near me, including the Jeffs and the Jessops.

I read Carolyn Jessop's book to find an answer to my question, "What really goes on in a polygamous home?" Her story gives a shocking view of the tragedy she and her children faced. I join many others in applauding her courage and stamina as she escaped from her situation.

My curiosity about polygamy isn't satisfied, though. Since Caroline Jessop shared her story, other polygamists have come forward with their experiences. Some look at polygamy positively, and others find it devastating. I plan to read other tell-all books on this subject.

Thanks again, Geegal, for creating this bookring. I will mail the book to vzfamily Monday morning.
 

Journal Entry 13 by vzfamily from Willard, Ohio USA on Monday, February 16, 2009

Received this in Friday's mail and I'm already a good part of the way through it!!!! THANKS for adding me to the bookring! 

Journal Entry 14 by vzfamily at Willard, Ohio USA on Friday, February 27, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (2/27/2009 UTC) at Willard, Ohio USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

What an eye-opening book! I'm so happy for her - but so sad that her daughter Betty chose to return to that lifestyle. Sending along to the next person in line! 

Journal Entry 15 by bsliv1219 from Fremont, Ohio USA on Tuesday, March 10, 2009

I received this book in the mail today. Looking forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 16 by bsliv1219 from Fremont, Ohio USA on Tuesday, March 17, 2009

As other readers before me said, this book is very disturbing. The intelligence and achievements of Carolyn while she was in such an abusive and oppressive situation really point out the effects of brainwashing.

I PMd the next person in line for the book and will mail it off as soon as I get the address. 

Journal Entry 17 by Scarlett07 from Colorado Springs, Colorado USA on Tuesday, March 31, 2009

I received this book in the mail today. Thanks Bsliv! I have one book to read before I can get to this one, but will read as soon as possible. Thanks again and I'm looking forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 18 by Scarlett07 from Colorado Springs, Colorado USA on Friday, April 17, 2009

I thought this was a very interesting book. What a life these people live, I don't think I could have sister wives and a dozen children and be happy either. It wasn't at all hard for me to believe that Betty went back in, she was really integrated into the cult and her "Dad" didn't help matters by kidnapping the kids. I think the younger ones were better off because they are more adaptable. What a story.

I mailed this off today 4/17/09 to SpaceyStacey before the snowstorm hit.

Thanks Geegal! 

Journal Entry 19 by spaceystacey from Bridgeton, New Jersey USA on Monday, April 27, 2009

Received in the post on Saturday and took to the beach with me yesterday. I should be finished reading it before the weekend's end and then will post out to the next reader on the list. 

Journal Entry 20 by tostle from Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Wednesday, May 06, 2009

I received this book and will be reading it shortly. Thanks for sharing!