Becoming Sister Wives: The Story of an Unconventional Marriage

by Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine, & Robyn Brown
271 pages

I am a big fan of the TLC show Sister Wives.  I'm fascinated by polygamy, and the people who practice it.  I could never be a polygamist, but I am curious about those who are.  This book, written by the stars of the show, gives a more in depth look at the history of the family and the struggles they faced in order to create a successful polygamous family.  I was surprised by some of the interpersonal issues described in the book because I did not pick up on them in the TV show.  I had no idea that Meri and Janelle had such trouble getting along!  I understand the jealousy issues these women faced, but I guess I never really thought about the dynamics of starting a polygamous family.  Overall, this was an insightful read, especially for fans of the show.

"Cult Insanity" by Irene Spencer

330 pages


Life was never easy for Irene Spencer. She was born into a polygamist family and at a 16 became the second wife of a much older man named Verlan LeBaron. She would eventually bear 13 of his 54 children and struggle to provide for all of them. Irene put up with it all because she was raised to believe that living in polygamy was the only way to get to heaven. However, things got even worse when her brother-in-law Ervil gained power as a self-proclaimed prophet sent by God to put His people in order. As he became more and more extreme, it became clear that Ervil was insane. Irene realized that she would have to go against everything she'd been taught to keep herself and her children safe.


This is a really intense memoir. I thought it felt a bit repetitive at times, but for the most part Irene did a great job of telling her story. The way that she stayed strong and fought for what she cared about throughout the whole ordeal is an inspiration. Considering that she'd been 
brainwashed from the time she was born, it's amazing that she managed to break free of the cult. A definite must-read for anyone who is interested in modern polygamist groups. 

The Chemical Garden Trilogy: Book One: Wither

by Lauren DeStefeno, 358 pages

In a future where a miracle cure leads to drastically shortened life expectancies for subsequent generations (25 for men, 20 for women), those with power and money try to buy themselves and their loved ones time by snatching girls off the street for forced marriages in hopes of breeding out the glitch...or providing their genetic research with enough human guinea pigs to find the cure. When 16-year-old Rhine is kidnapped and sold off as a bride to a wealthy household along with two other girls, she and her sister-wives each face the situation their own way, choosing to embrace it, bear it, or fight it.

Hrmm. I enjoyed this teen dystopia title for its character studies--the girls each have a distinct personality and their daily lives in close quarters are well realized--but I had a harder time with the set-up for the world outside. Too much feels like it was chosen purely for convenience without regard for believability. Exactly 25 and 20? Where's the government and how could it and law have broken down so utterly, so quickly, when the people running things would still be of the First Generation? And if it's such an unstable shambles out there, why does so much of society seem to go on just fine, or at least oblivious to the trafficking issue? Or does it only impact the poor and orphans? Do the men in grey psychically know the median household income and family situation of every girl they snatch? And not all the characters get the attention and development that the girls do. We only know Housemaster Vaughan is scary evil because everyone reacts to him that way, but we rarely see any evidence to back it up (I don't doubt he is, it would just be nice to feel the same thing the characters do when he walks in the room). And how does Gabriel, who can't figure out where the front gate of the estate is, know how to steal and sail, not to mention navigate, a yacht solely from reading books? I will most likely read the next one to see if the author fills in any of the holes and watch how the remaining characters grow; I just wish I didn't have to suspend disbelief so much in the process.

Wither

by Lauren Destefano
358 pages

Best young adult dystopian fiction story I’ve read since Hunger Games (well, I haven’t read a lot, so you know.) It was beautifully written and the world was believable with the too young girls being forced into a polygamous marriage then becoming pregnant. It did creep me out that in this future, it happened more than it does now. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series to see if Rhine finds Rowan, if Linden ever gets a clue about his father and will there really be a antidote to the virus so Rhine and Gabriel can live HEA.