Shattered Dreams

My Life as a Polygamist's Wife

De: Irene Spencer

Narrado por: Laural Merlington

Irene Spencer did as she felt God commanded in marrying her brother-in-law, Verlan LeBaron, becoming his second wife. When the government raided the fundamentalist, polygamous Mormon village of Short Creek, Arizona, Irene and her family fled to Verlan's brothers' Mexican ranch. They lived in squalor and desolate conditions in the Mexican desert with Verlan's six brothers, one sister, and numerous wives and children. Listeners will be appalled and astonished but, most amazingly, greatly inspired. Irene's dramatic story reveals how far religion can be stretched and abused, and how one woman and her children found their way out, into truth and redemption.©2007 Irene Spencer (P)2007 Tantor

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Engrossing....An intense story." ( Kirkus)
"Nothing short of astonishing....Emotional and shocking." ( Publishers Weekly)

Facinating

Loved every second of it. What a sick twist of religion. I cannot imagine this life. I recently met Irene's daughter. I can hardly wait to see Donna again to talk about her life as the child of Irene. My heart is a little heavy knowing this story is real and women have experienced all of this.

I couldn’t put it “down”…

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I decided to listen to this book. I knew somewhat about the practice. I was never really interested in it because I thought it portrayed women as rather sad and the men as rather abusive. Listening to the story was really interesting. I enjoyed the narrator quite a bit. Her portrayals of the interactions between Irene and her husband were great. I’m sure the story could’ve been five times as long and still not been able to cover all of the feelings and the time the past for Irene.
If you want to know more about Mormons and polygamy, this may not be the best history, but as an overall story of one woman’s life, it is very interesting.

I remember some of the families

Trying to figure out why she was a victim? I am not a member of any form of Mormon church, but grew up in Murray Utah and remember many of the families she speaks of in this book. Even though she had been born into polygamy her mother and family had left and actively discouraged her from following that path. It was her choice to pursue LeBaron and become his 'wife' and then she spends the rest of the book listing on why this was a bad choice. If she had married Glen I wonder if she would have written a book on that bad choice. There are polygamus wives who had little or no choice of who they married or when they married and truly suffer and do without and are treated as little more than property but it seems like LaBaron's first wives had a choice and made it. Kinda like marrying a drunk and then complaining they drink.

Pleasantly surprised!

Wow! I couldn’t shut this book off! What an incredible story. I usually don’t like books that are so heavy, but Irene weaved enough comedy and hope in her story to keep me from completely despairing for her and her family. Such a well written and inspiring story about one tough woman finding her true freedom. Bravo!

interesting subject matter, too long

I've been interested in Mormonism and polygamy, and have read several books on the subject. This book fell short of the others, not without being interesting. SHATTERED DREAMS is a memoir by Irene Spencer, a second wife who goes in her tender teens to live in a sect in Mexico. Her story is incredible and quite painful to imagine living, but it was the subject herself I had trouble with. She seems to have no issue with the marrying off of young girls to men much older or the inferior position of women in general--unless it relates to herself. When she describes having to have more wives added to her family, the only problem she has with it is her jealousy, that she will have to share. I guess I was somehow under the impression that this would be a scathing view of a Mormon sect, but it's really not. In fact I found myself thinking this woman should just get herself together and stop whining! Either you're in or you're out! I thought the book was good in revealing the capacity of humans and culture, but it was too long and should have been edited A LOT.

Important Work

Thank you Irene for giving us this insight into what polygamy is really about with regard to early Mormonism and Fundamentalism. As a long-time Mormon I could really identify with, and certify, the wreckage that results from following the "teachings of men" blindly. This was well-written and well-read by Laural Merlington.

Gripping

Would you consider the audio edition of Shattered Dreams to be better than the print version?

I'm not sure, I've never read the print version

What did you like best about this story?

I really enjoyed the honest and straightforward approach to this book. I'm glad Irene Spencer decided to tell her story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did cry a few times. It was a beautiful story, sad at times.

really good

Ok so i really liked this book and Irene too! her story was both heartbreaking, inspiring and sincere.

there were so many times i wanted to shake her and yell, "get out of there!" and other times i wanted to hug her.

i am so happy that she got the love she deserved in the end. im so happy she understands that God loved her and wanted her to have joy not just sacrifice and pain.

i am sad that i found this book only after her death. i would dearly have loved to write her a letter.

Great!

Could'nt turn it off! One second I was totally exasperated with the author for putting up with the ^*&%$ she put up with, the next second I was feeling her pain and could understand. My only criticism was that I would have liked to have heard more---like what was going on with the other wives. The book was very detailed about the first half of her life, and then kind of sped through the second half.Definately facsinating and enjoyable to listen to.

SO SO SO GOOD!

If you could sum up Shattered Dreams in three words, what would they be?

Oh My Goodness

Any additional comments?

This book was amazing, and I don't use that word loosely...I was with her the entire book. I recommended this book to anyone and plan on reading it several more times.