Escape by Carolyn Jessop

In light of recent news events with the FLDS I thought hard about giving this review. Bringing attention to the idea of a cult... yeah I couldn't really understand my first thoughts either now that I look back.

I picked up Escape by Carolyn Jessop, with Laura Palmer, a few years ago. I found myself completely entrapped in Jessop's story, constantly wanting to turn the page and know what happens next. Jessop's story is one of the most famous of women who have escaped from the FLDS. She became the face of many woman, the fighter for those who had no voice in a culture run by men, one specific man to be particular.

Jessop was married to her husband, 23 years older than her, at the age of 18. She became his fourth wife in the line up of many others in their religious, cult lifestyle. Jessop dedicated her life to her religion, husband and children; in turn she was rewarded with abuse and neglect from her husband and sister wives.

Now I don't want to get things confused here with the different religious beliefs on plural marriage, the issue that makes FLDS different than the TV shows you see these days is that in the FLDS woman don't have a voice or chance for opinion on what life will offer them. Their fates are chosen when the highest member gains insight from the lord, this member may also be known as the prophet. Jessop explains how one minute you can be living a carefree life as a teenager, well as carefree as possible, and the next you are ordered to marry someone you have little knowledge of. Along with the possibility of being wife four or even fourteen in the line up.

Throughout the book you feel the fear and anxiety Jessop felt on her decision to escape. Leaving her children behind, taking them with her, the decision she made were all for the sake of her children. I found this to be the true story and lesson of Jessop's Escape.

After her escape the horror's she faced in protecting her children and starting over again became the starting point to the world truly learning about the workings of the FLDS. Jessop became the first woman from the FLDS to gain full custody of her children. An accomplishment that has help numerous woman over the following years in their attempt to secure a promising future without fear and abuse from the "church".

I recommend this book to all who are fans of woman rights, cult lifestyles and the harrowing steps it takes to start over.

Vanishing Act by Jodi Picoult

This is my first book I ever read by Jodi Picoult and truly the book that got me to love reading. I have always loved writing, but hated reading for many reasons. Vanishing Act seemed to be under-rated for years. Many of those I have spoken with had never even heard of this title from Picoult even though they mentioned that they were avid readers and fans.

To start this book is a page turner. Be prepared to constantly want to know what happens next and failing to guess correctly. The mindset of the reader gives the book a sense of suspense.

Delia has learned her most valuable lesson from her father at the rip old age of six "people don't vanish into thin air..." Little did Delia know how her life would soon wrap around this concept in many ways. As an adult Delia finds a career in search and rescue, looking for those who don't just vanish. What Delia doesn't realize is that in an instant her life becomes one that seems to have vanished into thin air and her world is turned upside down.

With an out of place memory Delia soon learns the truth about her upbringing and the life her father so desperately tried to protect. She is faced with choices that seem to go against her upbringing all while learning about the life she could have had. The decisions of each character in Picoult's novel rivet you to your core, making you question the decisions you would take if faced in such difficult situations for the sake of saving your child.

Without giving too much detail on this novel I have found that Picoult's use of different character's perspectives and voices throughout the story help develop the image within the readers mind. You learn the reasons behind each emotion and decision allowing you to formulate the needed emotions to grasp the story head on. I highly recommend this book to any and all Picoult newbies, while not her most famous book, by far one of her best.