Do you know of any fiction OR non-fiction about polygamy that I MUST pick up? Or maybe you've just heard of other books that deal with this subject and can add to my research list. Help me out, y'all!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Requesting Recommendations: Polygamy!
I'm endlessly interested in the polygamist lifestyle. I can marathon-watch Sister Wives, and I've chewed over reading the couple of novels I know touch on this topic. But beyond these two, my knowledge is limited.
Do you know of any fiction OR non-fiction about polygamy that I MUST pick up? Or maybe you've just heard of other books that deal with this subject and can add to my research list. Help me out, y'all!
Do you know of any fiction OR non-fiction about polygamy that I MUST pick up? Or maybe you've just heard of other books that deal with this subject and can add to my research list. Help me out, y'all!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I've actually had Daughter of the Saints: Growing up in Polygamy on my TBR list for awhile. It's by Dorothy Allred Solomon and I've heard great things.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brooke! I've added it to my Goodreads wishlist!
DeleteAck! I haven't read anything about polygamy before so I don't have any recommendations to give you. :-(
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by though, Vasilly! :DDD
DeleteOMG. The 19th Wife is fantabulous - one of those books I recommend to everybody, including strangers in bars!
ReplyDeleteOh good, Jen!!! I think I'll love that one.
DeleteHave you read The Chosen One? It's a really good YA book about polygamy. I also liked The Sister Wife by Diane Noble and Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read either of these, Denise. Thanks so much for your recommendations! I'm off to Goodreads to check them out.
DeleteI'm fascinated with polygamy too and have a guest post about researching bigamy today! I've read several memoirs about it and the one that sticks in my mind is Love Times Three.
ReplyDeleteCool, Kathy! I'll head over to your blog and check it out. Will definitely give Love Times Three a look.
DeleteI love reading about this too - The Lonely Polygamist is going on my list!
ReplyDeleteAre you opposed to books about polygamy in other cultures/countries? If not, The Ruins of Us by Keija Parssinen is very good, about an American woman married to a Saudi man who suddenly takes a second wife. The Secret Lives of Baba Segei's Wives is supposed to be good too, although I've not read it myself.
Sam, not opposed to books about polygamy in other cultures at all. I'll look all of these up on Goodreads. SO many great recs today! Thank you!
DeleteThis is such a timely post. I read The Lonely Polygamist a few months ago, and I'm halfway through The 19th Wife right now and loving it! I'll definitely check back here to see if anyone has some other recs!
ReplyDeleteGREAT! Glad you've enjoyed these two. That's heartening since I'll probably be reading both soon. :D
DeleteShattered Dreams – Irene Spencer
ReplyDeleteThis is a non-fiction title written by a former sister-wife.
I found it fascinating.
I'll check that one out on Goodreads, too! Thank you!
DeleteIf you are interested in Mormonism in general, Jon Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven is excellent. It's not specifically about polygamy though.
ReplyDeleteLauren, someone recommended it over on Facebook as well. I remember that book but could not remember the title! I haven't read it, but apparently the cover stuck with me. lol Thanks for the recommendation. I like Krakauer's work.
DeleteI tried to post from my phone earlier but it didn't go through. Bummer. Anyway, I'll second the recommendation of The Chosen One, which is a YA novel, as well as another YA, Sister Wife (the author of this one has a long last name that starts with an H....) Both are really good! I also read Prophet's Prey, a non-fiction book, about Warren Jeffs and his Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints sect. That man is cray-cray. Finally, if you haven't watched Big Love, get thee to a DVD now because it's a fun show with a polygamist theme.
ReplyDeleteWill definitely check out The Chosen One as it seems to be getting tons of good blogger hype! :D
DeleteHaven't watched Big Love but my book-loving office mate assures me I need to get on that, too.
And Jeffs is nuts. Need to read more!
Seconding Under the Banner of Heaven!
ReplyDeleteI read The 19th Wife and it made me really want to read Ann Eliza Young's actual autobiography. It's in the public domain, so you can freely download it: Wife No. 19
Thanks, MJ! Here autobiography sounds like I'd love it!
DeleteI would recommend The Chosen One as well. I've also read The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives. I didn't like it much, but some other readers do. There are reviews of both books ( and Lonely Polygamist) on my blog. I also enjoyed the Krakauer book, although it isn't as exciting as some of his other ones.
ReplyDeleteTally another vote for The Chosen One! :D Will definitely check out your reviews!
DeleteDefinitely The Secret Lives of Baba Segei's Wives - funny & sad at the same time (set in Nigeria).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tanya Patrice!
DeleteYou and Kathy were posting twins today! It was like rewind in the Google Reader.
ReplyDeleteI know! Great minds and all. :D
DeleteThe 19th Wife is fantabulous! Escape by Carolyn Jessop is a non-fiction account of her time in a polygamous marriage and her escape from it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Trisha! I'm definitely leaning toward trying The 19th Wife, and we'll see where I go from there.
DeleteJust glancing at my Kindle, I have The Chosen One, Escape by Carolyn Jessop, and Secret Wives. Also I listened to Love Times Three, which is a memoir told by the three wives and one husband (with viewpoints by some of the children as well) from a polygamous family. Hope that helps!
ReplyDeleteSounds like someone has the same interest I do!!! Definitely most interested in The Chosen One, The 19th Wife, and Love Times Three right now.
DeleteThe Chosen One by Carolyn Lynch Williams. Even though it's YA it is fantastic!! I am fascinated by Sister Wives!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI read Escape by Carolyn Jessop awhile back and found it to be a very fascinating read! It is definitely one that I would recommend!
ReplyDeleteHmm, are you interested in American polygamy only? I read two books (didn't love either of them, but they were interesting) that take place in Africa and deal with polygamy - Changes, a Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo, and The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anybody has mentioned Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up In a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs (whew - long title!) by Elissa Wall yet. I read it a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI've added The 19th Wife to my list - The Lonely Polygamist and some of the other titles mentioned in the comments are already on my list.
I wonder why it is that we find polygamy so fascinating. For me, I guess it's in part when it's linked to various sects - I've been fascinated by sects since I was a kid and read about the moon sect. Also, I guess for most of us, the idea of having to share our spouse with another is against everything we're taught in our romanticized western culture ...
Anyways, I love that you asked for book suggestions related to a specific topic like this!
I thought the 19th Wife was very good and I've heard great things about Under the Banner of Heaven. Keep us posted on what you choose!
ReplyDeleteI've read both Stolen Innocence (Elissa Wall) and Escape (Carolyn Jessop) - both were extremely interesting, but I thought Wall's was a bit better writing....in case that matters.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you know the Sister Wives crew has a book out, right?? I'm so debating reading it...
I knoe this is an old post, but I'm just getting to it :) I read The Chosen One and it was one of my favorites last year.
ReplyDeleteSadly I have nothing to recommend but I did enjoy The 19th Wife as I recall...it's been a few years since I read it.
ReplyDelete