Books and documentaries about polygamy: Let's gather them here!

[AZChristian]

1 hour ago, lookeyloo said:

Remember "My Five Wives" with the Brady Williams family?  They were a train wreck

To some degree or another, all of the polygamist families we've seen on TV are train wrecks.  Some are just bigger trains.

[xwordfanatik]

1 hour ago, lookeyloo said:

Remember "My Five Wives" with the Brady Williams family?  They were a train wreck

I remember Paulie was a real passive-aggressive bitch.  Nonie was nuts.  Rosemary was always getting her "nights" interrupted by Paulie. 

That show was even more of a snooze fest than SW is.  None of the women seemed happy at all.  I forget their version of Sobyn Robyn's name, but she seemed to be a real crier too.

[Nysha]

Religious-based polygamy doesn't have anything to offer women. Financial resources are divided, so most live in poverty, yet they're expected to have a dozen or so kids. Plus, since god has ordained this, they're not allowed to express their emotions which means they'll never work through them.

This way of life might have worked in theory when women couldn't own property, vote, or work outside of the home, but it doesn't have any positive rewards in this day and age.

[Pickleinthemiddle]

10 hours ago, xwordfanatik said:

I remember Paulie was a real passive-aggressive bitch.  Nonie was nuts.  Rosemary was always getting her "nights" interrupted by Paulie. 

That show was even more of a snooze fest than SW is.  None of the women seemed happy at all.  I forget their version of Sobyn Robyn's name, but she seemed to be a real crier too.

Yes about everything you said, also Rhonda (5th wife) I believe was Brady's favorite wife.  He wanted to marry her before he asked Paulie.  But I think she had the same idea that Christine had, she wanted to be the last wife.  

Did anyone watch the National Geographic series Polygamy USA?  I like that one,  It showed multiple families.

[DakotaJustice]

8 hours ago, CocoPuffs said:

Yes, I liked it too. There was this good looking jerk of a guy named Hiram and supposedly the women got to pick who they wanted to marry. I always thought they were just saying that for the cameras, but anyway. This really homely girl chose Hiram to marry. I thought it was so hilarious. I’m sure she said she picked him for his great personality. 

I wish they'd re-air that series! Cynical Jinx wrote some hilarious posts about it when the series aired.

http://cynicaljinxwelcome.blogspot.com/2013/05/cynical-jinx-review-polygamy-usa-meet.html

http://cynicaljinxwelcome.blogspot.com/2013/06/polygamy-usa-new-polygamist.html

http://cynicaljinxwelcome.blogspot.com/2013/06/cynical-jinx-review-polygamy-usa.html

http://cynicaljinxwelcome.blogspot.com/2013/06/cynical-jinx-review-polygamy-usa-god.html

 

Edited May 25, 2020 by DakotaJustice
Adding links

[Pickleinthemiddle]

11 hours ago, DakotaJustice said:

I wish they'd re-air that series! Cynical Jinx wrote some hilarious posts about it when the series aired.

http://cynicaljinxwelcome.blogspot.com/2013/05/cynical-jinx-review-polygamy-usa-meet.html

http://cynicaljinxwelcome.blogspot.com/2013/06/polygamy-usa-new-polygamist.html

http://cynicaljinxwelcome.blogspot.com/2013/06/cynical-jinx-review-polygamy-usa.html

http://cynicaljinxwelcome.blogspot.com/2013/06/cynical-jinx-review-polygamy-usa-god.html

 

I miss Cynical Jinx.  She did have hilarious recaps.  

 

Each family on that show had their issues, but it was several different families to watch.  Hyrum and Kellie had a little girl.

Ezra married Tiffany, i think that was her name, married and had a little boy, but they split up.

I think RebeccaTompson had another baby.

Rose Cawley married the brother of her dad's 3rd wife.

Connie Cawley has had some issues, several times she has wandered off and was later found dehydrated and disoriented.  I believe that she was suffering from depression.  I think it was some of her family ( siblings/nieces/nephews not really sure)  that was washed of that bridge in Colorado City. You know that Michael said she had to go back to work after her last child was almost a year old.  

But I believe the star of that show was Arthur.  

[crazycatlady58]

2 hours ago, Pickleinthemiddle said:

I miss Cynical Jinx.  She did have hilarious recaps.  

 

Each family on that show had their issues, but it was several different families to watch.  Hyrum and Kellie had a little girl.

Ezra married Tiffany, i think that was her name, married and had a little boy, but they split up.

I think RebeccaTompson had another baby.

Rose Cawley married the brother of her dad's 3rd wife.

Connie Cawley has had some issues, several times she has wandered off and was later found dehydrated and disoriented.  I believe that she was suffering from depression.  I think it was some of her family ( siblings/nieces/nephews not really sure)  that was washed of that bridge in Colorado City. You know that Michael said she had to go back to work after her last child was almost a year old.  

But I believe the star of that show was Arthur. 

Is Arthur the one who threw the boot?

[Pickleinthemiddle]

3 hours ago, crazycatlady58 said:

Is Arthur the one who threw the boot?

Yes, Boot! Boot!

[laurakaye]

On 5/24/2020 at 11:54 PM, CocoPuffs said:

Yes, I liked it too. There was this good looking jerk of a guy named Hiram and supposedly the women got to pick who they wanted to marry. I always thought they were just saying that for the cameras, but anyway. This really homely girl chose Hiram to marry. I thought it was so hilarious. I’m sure she said she picked him for his great personality. 

Oh gosh, the cringe factor when those two got together was strong!  She could barely speak except to giggle when he was anywhere near her, and she turned 50 shades of red every time he looked at her.  Sooooo awkward.

[monagatuna]

I just finished "Breaking Free," Rachel Jeffs' account of escaping her father Warren's cult, and man, is it a depressing read. I had a light day at work yesterday and finished it in one day. It's not as dense or well-researched as some of the other cult books I've read recently, but it's a page-turner. I sincerely hope that guy dies in prison, but I'm also really chagrined that he manages to keep control of his cult from the inside.

[Awfarmington]

For those who’ve watched Polygamy USA, can it be streamed?? I’m searching online for it and so far only see it $1.99 per episode. 

[Pickleinthemiddle]

6 hours ago, Awfarmington said:

For those who’ve watched Polygamy USA, can it be streamed?? I’m searching online for it and so far only see it $1.99 per episode. 

I bought mine from itunes.  Not sure how much I paid for the entire series, but it was less than than $20.  That way I can go back and watch it again.

[Awfarmington]

On 6/2/2020 at 6:46 AM, Pickleinthemiddle said:

I bought mine from itunes.  Not sure how much I paid for the entire series, but it was less than than $20.  That way I can go back and watch it again.

Thank you! That’s the cheapest I found but was hoping to find it online cheaper, especially since I already pay for Hulu, Netflix, Sling and Amazon Prime 😬.

[monagatuna]

It's probably old news to everyone but me, and I'm super tired lately (waiting on a follow up thyroid test to figure out why I'm tired all the time), and I've fallen down the rabbit hole of Escaping Polygamy. Compared to the other trashy reality shows I watch, this one seems super well done. Or maybe it's just that fatigue setting in.

[Kohola3]

6 minutes ago, monagatuna said:

Compared to the other trashy reality shows I watch, this one seems super well done.

I have been watching the marathon today. I think it gives a very chilling view of what goes on in those communities.  I do think they get a little over the top dramatic but it doesn't take away from giving a real picture of the horrors these women face.  Several things have stayed with me one being how ever house smells like garbage because they get food by dumpster diving.  And the horrific brainwashing makes me sick.  Awful, awful.

[CouchTater]

9 hours ago, Kohola3 said:

I have been watching the marathon today. I think it gives a very chilling view of what goes on in those communities.  I do think they get a little over the top dramatic but it doesn't take away from giving a real picture of the horrors these women face.  Several things have stayed with me one being how ever house smells like garbage because they get food by dumpster diving.  And the horrific brainwashing makes me sick.  Awful, awful.

I tried to watch yesterday for the first time.  It was definitely too dramatic for me.  I watched parts of 3 episodes during commercials of whatever else I was watching, and it felt like I was watching the same scene over and over:  "We gotta get outta here!"  "They're following us!"  "They're looking out the windows at us! "Let's just go!"

I may try it again.  The subject fascinates me.  I just don't want the dramatics.

[Sandy W]

2 hours ago, CouchTater said:

I tried to watch yesterday for the first time.  It was definitely too dramatic for me.  I watched parts of 3 episodes during commercials of whatever else I was watching, and it felt like I was watching the same scene over and over:  "We gotta get outta here!"  "They're following us!"  "They're looking out the windows at us! "Let's just go!"

I may try it again.  The subject fascinates me.  I just don't want the dramatics.

I was frustrated watching too.  It seemed far too much time was spent waiting and watching to no avail.  

Maybe I'm naive, but I wanted to jump in and direct them to a more encompassing rescue.  I realize that local and maybe even State governments are heavily laced with sympathizers and probably participants in the cult style polygamous circles.  My question would be, why not take those that they have rescued to Federal authorities and have them give affidavits to what is actually going on in specific compounds.  Wouldn't the Feds be forced to act when facts are laid out?

I admit that I only watched a few episodes, so there may be valid reasons why they haven't reached out to higher levels of government.

[Shieldmaiden]

I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but there’s a fascinating and very well made podcast called “unfinished: Short Creek” about the polygamists there and Warren Jeffs. The 3rd episode features an amazing interview with a former plural wife who left. And by the way many of the interviewees pronounce “deal” like “dill”... must be a regional thing 😉.

[Sandy W]

4 minutes ago, Shieldmaiden said:

 And by the way many of the interviewees pronounce “deal” like “dill”... must be a regional thing 😉.

If the teachers have been educated in the same region, it must be a self-perpetuating cycle.  It would sound right to them.

[Kohola3]

14 minutes ago, Sandy W said:

If the teachers have been educated in the same region, it must be a self-perpetuating cycle.  It would sound right to them.

Much like my region where the past tense of see is not saw, it's seen as in "Yeah, I seen him yesterday".  It's like a pin in my ear.  And everyone locally educated says it.

[Sandy W]

6 minutes ago, Kohola3 said:

Much like my region where the past tense of see is not saw, it's seen as in "Yeah, I seen him yesterday".  It's like a pin in my ear.  And everyone locally educated says it.

In my day, that would have called for a sharp rap over the knuckles with a ruler. Those were the days!

In grade 3, every Friday afternoon we had a class conducted by the school Principal, a dour Scotsman.  It was called Memory class but encompassed enunciation and pronunciation.  We were required to memorize The Raven and The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner and he went about the room with his pointer directed randomly at students who would be required to pick up the next stanza and recite it not only verbatim, but explain the author's meaning when asked.

It didn't kill us, but it did develop a deep sense of respect for authority figures.

[CouchTater]

5 hours ago, Kohola3 said:

Much like my region where the past tense of see is not saw, it's seen as in "Yeah, I seen him yesterday".  It's like a pin in my ear.  And everyone locally educated says it.

LOL Kohola3, you're in Michigan, right?  "I seen" is very common in my area, too:  Southeast MI.

[Kohola3]

5 minutes ago, CouchTater said:

LOL Kohola3, you're in Michigan, right?  "I seen" is very common in my area, too:  Southeast MI.

Yep, NE MI.

[monagatuna]

16 hours ago, CouchTater said:

LOL Kohola3, you're in Michigan, right?  "I seen" is very common in my area, too:  Southeast MI.

Pretty much all of WVa, as well, which isn't far from there. Makes me flinch every time, and I live in CA, where some of the world's worst slang originated.

[laurakaye]

19 hours ago, Kohola3 said:

Yep, NE MI.

SW MI here.  And "I seen him yesterday" makes me stabby!

[Pickleinthemiddle]

I just watched Lifting the Veil, it was very good.  I watched a series on Mary Mackert and Susan Schmidt  Both are very good.  I think  I remember reading both of their books.  

[lindalouwho]

One of the Escaping Polygamy episodes had an AUB guy and his wives escaping. Talked about an underground militia and the concept of blood atonement. He seemed genuinely afraid of repercussions. Makes me wonder if the Brown clan are as innocuous as they would like us to believe. Isn’t Christine an Allred? Several murders in that clan. Can’t believe how much I’ve learned about these people! Just some random thoughts, would love to read other interpretations.

[Art Of Noiz]

I read a book by one of the LeBarons. The author uses a pen name, Vera LaRee. Dad Scares Me, God Scares Me.

Going by the # of wives and children her dad has, I deduced her parents are Verlan and Irene. 

There were some interesting insights in the book, what it was like for a child in polygamy, dealing with her mom's depression. 

[CouchTater]

This afternoon I started "Becoming Sister Wives."  I'm going to read along with the book club that the Surviving Sister Wives podcast is doing.

So far, so good.  But I'm only in the very beginning, with Kody and Meri sharing their "love story."  It's cringe-worthy, considering the state of their relationship now.

[LilyD]

When I googled for the Brown’s house in Lehi the other day, I came across this fascinating website:

https://speakingofpolygamy.com/2018/01/22/lets-talk-about-polygamy/

This is pretty favorable about polygamy (they practise it too), give their take on several tv shows like Sister wives and seeking sisterwife and live the old house in Lehi! 

 

 

[deirdra]

1 hour ago, LilyDutch said:

This is pretty favorable about polygamy (they practice it too), give their take on several tv shows like Sister wives and seeking sisterwife and live the old house in Lehi! 

Is Drake the dog buried in their yard?  

[monagatuna]

Someone on this forum mentioned The Sound of Gravel. I just finished it in less than a day. Holy cow, what a sad story. I read just about any books on cults I can get my hands on, and barely batted an eyelash at The Cult at the End of the World, but this one nearly had me in tears. I hope the author is doing well these days.

I also see so, so many parallels between that family and the Browns. The constant moving, the inability to differentiate between your offspring, the monotonous repetition of some family gathering (always, someone is having a baby, wedding, birthday, always something to "celebrate" in a half-assed way with garbage food and pathetic "merriment"), the slapdash, low-effort repairs, junked vehicles, welfare fraud, neglect of kids and wives, the abuse. It's all here minus a few of the more egregious abuses. They put lipstick on a pig and pointed a camera at it. The Browns are on their very best behavior right now, take the cameras away and I bet at least one of them will Duggar or Jeffs someone else.

[CouchTater]

I read The Sound of Gravel earlier this year (probably also based on a recommendation found here).  I can't remember the specifics, but I remember it being shaking-my-damn-head reading for me.

I just finished a book called "Seventeen Sisters Tell Their Story."  It's about - yup - 17 sisters from a polygamous family (1 dad and 3 moms).  They're Barlows.  The sisters' stories are similar in many ways, so there is an element of monotony.  But the monotony also reinforces the legacy of dysfunction and disordered thinking of polygamy, in my opinion.  I'd give it a solid 6 out of 10.  The authors are 2 of the sisters, Barbara Barlow and Virginia Webb.   

*I bought the Kindle version, which was only $2.99.

[Pickleinthemiddle]

Has anyone started watching  Under The Banner of Heaven?  A movie based on the book by the same name.  I believe it was written by Jon Krakauer.  

It's on Hulu.  I don't know if I remember hearing about this back in 1984, I believe was when it happened.  

[deirdra]

On 5/1/2022 at 8:18 AM, Pickleinthemiddle said:

Has anyone started watching  Under The Banner of Heaven?  A movie based on the book by the same name.  I believe it was written by Jon Krakauer. 

I read Krakauer's book, which was very good, after someone on here mentioned it (I didn't hear about the incident when it happened or the book when it came out).  And look forward to the show once Hulu spins it off to other sites or TV channels in a few months. It was filmed near me.

Edited May 5, 2022 by deirdra

[Ms.Lulu]

I have watched the first two episodes of Preaching Evil: On the Run with Warren Jeffs.  Since it is FLDS I put it here, but he is clearly a pedophile.  A 12 year old bride!  

The woman who was his scribe is both in awe and submissive since he is the prophet and disgusted when shows her porn and asks her to be in a threesome.  And when asked about the 12 year old bride, she says the girl wanted to be married to Warren Jeffs and then ponders, can a 12 year old consent.

It is very disturbing.

[Ms.Lulu]

Okay, I finished the series. I had forgotten about the mothers and children being removed by the Texas rangers and how Jeffs decided to represent himself.

They indicated that there was an audio recording of him raping the 12 year old and it appears that wife scribe Naomi was present during some of the religious assaults. Another wife shares participating in an orgy.  Jeffs had a short but devastating reign as the free leader of FLDS. 

I just don't understand why anyone is still following him.  

[Joan of Argh]

Started reading this polygamy blog, seems like a bunch of nuts  😂

http://almostheaven-honeydawn.blogspot.com/?m=1

 

[monagatuna]

12 hours ago, Joan of Argh said:

Started reading this polygamy blog, seems like a bunch of nuts  😂

http://almostheaven-honeydawn.blogspot.com/?m=1

 

That reads like an actual parody. My eyes hurt just trying to make sense of it! If it's real...those poor women. :(

[Dustbunny]

1 hour ago, monagatuna said:

That reads like an actual parody. My eyes hurt just trying to make sense of it! If it's real...those poor women. :(

at least it was short, I'll never understand women that settle for such a shitty life 🤷‍♂️

She follows a bunch of other polygamist bloggers

https://www.blogger.com/profile/16770281387008726983

[crazycatlady58]

6 hours ago, monagatuna said:

That reads like an actual parody. My eyes hurt just trying to make sense of it! If it's real...those poor women. :(

I thought it was a parody.

[Just Wondering]

54 minutes ago, crazycatlady58 said:

I thought it was a parody.

I read some of the comments and it looks like it was someone’s writing project and the characters are fictional.

[crazycatlady58]

10 hours ago, Just Wondering said:

I read some of the comments and it looks like it was someone’s writing project and the characters are fictional.

Yes the comments talked about writing the blog in someone`s voice  which would make it  fiction. Even before reading the comments something seemed off about the writing. 

[Joan of Argh]

Well if it’s a parody I’m kind of relieved because as I read it I was thinking “wtf is wrong with these  polygamy people, are they all nuts?” 😂

[Cetacean]

The tipoff for me was the mangled names.  We know that the Mormons come up with all kinds of wonky stuff but those were just over the top silly.

[Art Of Noiz]

On 5/4/2022 at 9:50 PM, Ms.Lulu said:

Okay, I finished the series. I had forgotten about the mothers and children being removed by the Texas rangers and how Jeffs decided to represent himself.

They indicated that there was an audio recording of him raping the 12 year old and it appears that wife scribe Naomi was present during some of the religious assaults. Another wife shares participating in an orgy.  Jeffs had a short but devastating reign as the free leader of FLDS. 

I just don't understand why anyone is still following him.  

Because they are not taught it is wrong.

[Cetacean]

28 minutes ago, Art Of Noiz said:

Because they are not taught it is wrong.

And brainwashed to do every single thing he says.  It's eerie to hear him talk and realize the power he holds because "god speaks to him".  Too bad god doesn't tell the women to cut off his penis.

[Art Of Noiz]

I,m looking forward for a weekend of Warren Jeffs on Netflix. Keep Sweet Pray and Obey drops tomorrow, June 3. 

[Joan of Argh]

28 minutes ago, Art Of Noiz said:

I,m looking forward for a weekend of Warren Jeffs on Netflix. Keep Sweet Pray and Obey drops tomorrow, June 3. 

I’ve been anxious waiting for this one, can’t believe just one more day 👍🏻🥳🎉

Edited June 3, 2022 by Joan of Argh

[Gramto6]

3 hours ago, Art Of Noiz said:

I,m looking forward for a weekend of Warren Jeffs on Netflix. Keep Sweet Pray and Obey drops tomorrow, June 3. 

Wow, tomorrow 6/3 is my birthday...sadly(maybe not so sadly) I don't have Netflix so I will miss this... woe is me and Happy Birthday!! LOL