September's Literary Adventures

 September brought some really great reads and then totally fizzled out. The Beauty From series was actually surprisingly good. I was really hesitant to even dive into it, with it being a new-to-me author, but I was pleasantly surprised. Sometimes a little overly dramatic, but a good story.  Heartbreak Warfare was another surprisingly good read, especially the psychological component of the (mental) damage done during war. You Will Remember Me was a frustrating read with an equally frustrating ending. Never Me was an emotional journey with a happy ending. The Brave Line - I couldn't finish this one. I stopped at 49% - just could not connect with the characters or the story. Hoping October brings better reads....I need my regular authors to put out more books!

August's Literary Adventures

August was kind of a mixed bag for reading. Seven Perfect Things was totally out of my usual genre, but dang it was a good book that tugged at the heartstrings. The author was new to me, and I really enjoyed the book. Hostage was also a good book, quite the thriller! I really struggled with Karin Slaughter's False Witness. Her stand-alone novels outside the Will Trent series are really hit or miss for me. This one was a total miss. In fact, I gave up on it at about 50%. Likewise, Bloodless fell totally flat for me, which was tough to admit given Preston and Child are up there on my list of favorite authors. This book was just a little too "out there" for my taste. It was well-written, no doubt, just not my thing. And finishing out the month, Dark Roads was a great read!

 

Book Review - Gone Girl

 

This book was recommended to me by my best friend, Meag. I was initially interested in this book since a movie was made from it, starring Ben Affleck. Then Meag told me it was really good, so I had to dive in and find out for myself. 

 

Here is one official synopsis from Amazon:

 

Marriage can be a real killer.    One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.    On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?    As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?   

 

From a psychological standpoint, this book is incredible. The husband and wife are both psychos, so I get quite the giggle out of this "marriage". Reminds me of people I used to know.  This book captivated me from the very beginning. I remember thinking to myself "holy shit, this is so great!" And then there would be a massive twist and I would read on for hours on the new tangent. I would have to agree with most of the reviews out there, Gillian Flynn really does have a flare for the dramatics. However, having raved about the book, I was incredibly disappointed with the ending. I really needed it to go in a different direction, with a more satisfying end for all of the characters. I feel like Flynn touched on several different scenarios, only to drop them and just end the book. So in that respect, I hope the movie has a different ending. Overall, though, I would still recommend this book. It's a psychological thriller at its finest.

Book Review: The Host

I have gotten away from doing these, and I think it's time to revive the habit. I LOVE reading. I feel lost when I don't have a good book in my life. I just finished up with a book called "The Host" (I understand you are supposed to underline book titles, but Blogger doesn't let me and it drives me nuts - just thought I would point that out.).

This book was referred to me by my best friend, Meag. She actually loaned it to me back in November when I went to visit her, and for some reason, I just now got around to it. The author is Stephenie Meyer......if that name doesn't ring a bell to any of you, she wrote the Twilight saga. This book is not a vampire book. However, it is science fiction, which I noticed right off the bat.....which is not my preferred genre. Meag told me to stick with the book because it was really good. So I struggled through the first 5 or 6 chapters, wondering how I was going to finish 619 pages of it. And somewhere around the 6th chapter, I was hooked. And I finished the book 3 days later. It was that good. Yes, it does involve aliens, of sorts. And a love story. And conflict. I highly recommend this book. I also did a little bit of research and Meyer plans to write two sequels to this book and it's also been picked up to be turned into a movie, which I'm extremely excited about. If you want to dive into a fantastic book that is maybe a little out of your normal genre, I definitely recommend this book.

Under the Banner of Heaven: Final Synopsis

I was finally able to finish this book. It took me much longer than it usually takes me to read a book simply because the subject matter had a way of making me slam the book shut in disgust, anger, and frustration. But I have now finished the book and would like to offer my thoughts on the final half of this book.

And I would like to state, for the record, that I didn't read this book with the intention of slamming the LDS and FLDS folk. Truth be told, people who were or are in the LDS religion are very close in my life. My father was raised LDS, as was my husband. I am related to countless LDS members here in Idaho, Utah, Missouri, and who knows how many other states. My husband has members of his family who are still LDS members. I have a good understanding of this religion based on what has been shared with me throughout my life - so I would like to think that my opinions are fair. And they are MY opinions. And this is my blog. If you don't like it, don't read it.

Polygamy is the next subject tackled in the book. Joseph Smith committed to the D&C that polygamy (plural marriage to those who want to sugar coat it) was the new up and coming trend in the Mormon religion. However, trickles of the concept were not well-received, much to Smith's shock. He thought the idea would go over well with his followers. A select few were in full support of the idea. But the majority of people were repulsed. So the issue was swept under the rug - or so the general population thought. Smith secretly practiced plural marriage, much to his original wife's dismay, and a few select followers also partook in the trend. It seems, later on in the book, that Smith was conspiring with another follower to make up revelations, wherein god was speaking directly to Smith's wife, telling her that plural marriage was ok. At that point, even though I already felt that all of these "revelations" were just made up, it was a done deal for me. And Smith's wife didn't buy a word of it either.

Plural marriage continued on in the religion - long after Smith's death. Another LDS leader, Brigham Young, was also a supporter of plural marriage - justifying it by saying it was actually an antidote to immorality, because men with a multitude of wives wouldn't be tempted to engage in adulterous liaisons or visit prostitutes.

Um - how about just keep it in your pants and have some self control?!?

But whatever - they lied through their teeth in order to seek justification. And lying was something they were/are clearly proud of. "Lying for the Lord" as they call it. Young himself even bragged "We have the greatest and smoothest liars in the world." Gee, what a nice trait to brag about.

It seems throughout the entire history, to date, that the Mormons are somehow trying to take over the country, and the world. In 1857, the Saints announced that they would ignore any and all federal statutes they determined to be unjust and would expel from their midst any federal officers who didn't meet the rigorous moral standards of the Mormon Church. So now they feel they are above the law of the United States, as they were back then.

The book jumps to modern days - 1996 to be exact - and a devout FLDS follower named Kenyon Blackmore, who dragged his many young wives and children all over Central America, and claimed to be the last prophet before the return of Jesus. The author was able to interview the eldest of Kenyon's daughters, Evangeline, who was forced to marry Kenyon (yes, her FATHER) at the age of 12, at which time, he began raping her. The age of twelve, according to Kenyon, was the age when Mary was impregnated with Jesus. Kenyon was attempting to carry on this "tradition" with his own daughter. When Evangeline tried to fight off her father, he told her that she would forever be damned to hell for not being submissive. Evangeline's father finally succeeded in getting her pregnant after almost a year of trying. Evangeline lost the baby, however, and was cast out by her father into the wild.

The book later turns back to the story of the Lafferty brothers, who were the men who killed their own sister-in-law and baby niece by brutally stabbing then with a ten inch boning knife. All under guidance from god, who revealed to them that the woman and her child must be eliminated. God told them. They better do it. Because god commands that people be slaughtered, right? Who knows - I stay out of religion. The Lafferty brothers were eventually caught after trying to stay on the run. When they were finally caught and had guns held to their head, they laughed and smiled and said "it was kind of fun." They had received revelations from god instructing them to go on this killing spree to rid the world of evil people. This is what FLDS people believe.

Later, we jump back to modern day Colorado City. To a little girl who wants to show the author what she has come up with for her life. The little girl pulls out a child's version of blueprints for her future house. The house is sort of like a small community - with a common area for all the children, a master bedroom for the husband, and individual rooms for each wife. A CHILD thought of this. It makes me sick to think that the FLDS people are brainwashing their children to believe that this is ok. That taking multiple wives is ok. Marrying family members - whether it's nieces, step-daughters, daughters, sisters - is OK to them. And forcing them to have sex at the age of 12 or 14 is ok. Making them mothers at that age is ok. And you know what, they DO think it's ok. Those little girls think it's ok because that is what their own mothers have TAUGHT them. They are taught to be submissive and obedient to their husbands. They are taught that their sole purpose on this earth is to pop out as many kids as physically possible, and then teach those kids the same beliefs that were pounded into their brains.

The author then interviews several people that were raised in the FLDS religion, but who have decided to leave because they "saw the light". They challenged what has been taught. And they admit that the leaders, when asked about the contradictions between what the religion taught and scientific truth, advised that "the way to handle that was to just avoid asking certain kinds of questions." They were to just believe whatever was told to them by the leaders and never ask questions. Never think for themselves. They were trained to ignore contradictions. One former member said "it staggers me to look back on the things I used to believe. For example, ever since I was a child, we were taught that negroes were terrible, that they weren't even human." And since negroes weren't allowed to live in their towns or be members of their church, they never learned any different until they left the religion.

"It's amazing how gullible people are. But you have to remember what a huge comfort the religion is. It providers all the answers. It makes life simple. Nothing makes you feel better than doing what the prophet commands you to do. ... You can refuse to pay the guy, or even kill somebody, or whatever, and feel completely good about it" Because the prophet tells them it's ok. "And that's a real big part of what holds this religion together: it's not having to make those critical decisions that many of us have to make, and be responsible for your decisions."

"If you want to know the truth, I think people within the religion - people who live here in Colorado City - are probably happier, on a whole, than people on the outside. But some things in life are more important than being happy. Like being free to think for yourself."

Under the Banner of Heaven - Second Synopsis

I have ventured further into this book. Though I'm not surprised. The first several chapters got me right off the bat and my curiosity got the best of me.


The next hundred or so pages of this book deal with some history to the LDS religion - dating back to the founder, Joseph Smith. The author gives a brief history of how Smith was contacted by an angel, and directed to a location where some gold tablets were buried. Smith unearthed the gold tablets, which were written upon in a different language. Smith was provided with some glasses, which enabled the reader to translate the ancient text. Somehow, the translations were lost and Smith had to come up with a new way to write The Book of Mormon. Smith's new method to writing The Book of Mormon was to put some magical stones, which Smith dug up himself, into a straw hat, bury his face in the hat, receive revelations, and dictate these revelations to someone who was writing it all down. And from that, we have The Book of Mormon. And I don't mean to offend anyone, because I'm just telling it like it is as I'm reading this book, but it's just comical to me how this book was written. I find it very hard to give credit where credit is due in this case.


The author then goes on to explain the travelings of Smith and his followers - venturing from one place to another, being cast out by other American citizens along the way. The brawls that ensued. The wars. The killings. Smith, at one point, even ran for president!


And of course, the author dives into the state of Utah, and the extreme population of Mormons. The religion is taken very seriously in Utah - regulating when and where alcohol can be sold, what can be open for business on Sundays, etc. The LDS church strictly forbids abortion (and gays, as can be currently seen by the $20+ million pumped into California to stop gay marriage rights) frowns on contraception, and teaches that Mormon couples have a sacred duty to give birth to as many children as they can support.

And then, in 1843, Smith had another divine revelation which was canonized in D&C as Section 132, and nearly shattered the church, brought about Smith's death, and has caused friction in American society ever since: the "new and everlasting covenant" of plural marriage - or polygamy.


I will address that subject in my next synopsis.

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith

I have started a book that is nowhere near my usual pick of genres. I am usually found with my nose in a good crime drama/suspense. However, this book came highly recommended by two of my co-workers. And since the topic of religion is one that really gets me fired up, I decided to give it a shot.

This book is a true story. It is based on many, many disturbing events that occur within the LDS and F (fundamental) LDS religions. While I am of the opinion that the LDS religion takes its beliefs a tad far, the FLDS followers push it to the extreme - and then some.I am only 77 pages into this book, but I have already tagged numerous pages to dissect here in my first analysis of this book.

Here are some excerpts from the book that run a chill up my spine.

"I want to tell you that the greatest freedom you can enjoy is in obedience. Perfect obedience produces perfect faith."

Polygamy is illegal in both Utah and Arizona. To avoid prosecution, typically men in Colorado City will legally marry only the first of their wives; subsequent wives, although "spirtually married" to their husband...remain single mothers in the eyes of the state. This has the added benefit of allowing the enormous families...to qualify for welfare and other forms of public assistance. ...their polygamous community receives more than $6 million a year in public funds."

"We're taught that it's the Lord's way of manipulating the system to take care of his chosen people. FLDS call defrauding the government "bleeding the beast" and regard it as a virtuous act."

"According to UEP dogma, wives do not belong to their husbands, nor do children belong to their parents; all are property of the priesthood and may be claimed at any time."

Women thinking for themselves and asking questions are not considered attributes to the community.

Only prophets may receive reveltations that determine how the faithful are to conduct their lives, right down to the design of the sacred undergarments individuals are supposed to wear at all times.

The primary responsiblity of women in FLDS communities is to serve their husbands, conceive as many babies as possible, and raise those children to become obedient members of the religion.

Sexual education consists of teaching children that the human body is a shameful vessel that should be veiled from the eyes of others at all times.

According to the Law of Chastity, sexual intercourse is officially forbidden even between husband and wife unless the woman is ovulating.

The book goes on and on about the arranged marriages, most often between girls as young as 13, to men twice or three times their age. And at age 13 or 14, the girls begin having babies. They are often subjected to rape by other members of the religion, even members of their own family. And "family" is a term I use loosely, since most daughters are eventually married off to their own fathers, uncles, stepfathers, etc.

The facts in this book disgust me. Because they are real. These communities are real. This brainwashing is real. The horrible things being done to these children and women are real. And for some reason, the government continues, as it has done for decades, to look the other way.