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Original poster

The 19th Wife

22 replies

Shandyleer · 04/04/2009 18:23

Apologies if this has been discussed before, but what did you think of this book? I have to admit I'm really disappointed. I actually bought it quite a while ago but saved it until I had read other books I wasn't looking forward to so much - and I now find myself ploughing through it. I am really interested in the subject matter but something about the way the book is constructed seems to make it disjointed and not an enjoyable read. Anyone agree?

OP posts:

mollythetortoise · 04/04/2009 18:30

i really liked it. Had to keep flicking bck though to work out the family relationships (who was married to whom, who was daughter/ son of whom) in the Ann Eliza parts but once I understood it all (about a third of the way through I guess) I found it much easier to read and didn't mind the switching from today to past. At first, I much preferred the "now" story but once I'd got into Ann Eliza's tale , I was much more interested in that. The author did use some poetic licence with Ann Eliza's tale but from what I can gather it was mostly based on fact. A very interesting woman! I have recommended this book to others but have advised it is not an easy read and does require some concentration but worth the effort IMO.

JacquelineBouvier · 04/04/2009 18:42

I'm about half way through and think it's so so. i prefer the modern day bits tbh. how polygamists live and work now and their attitudes towards women and children.

I haven't picked it up for a couple of weeks though, i was sidetracked by a rather good Philippa Gregory book! I'll have to get back to it!

yappybluedog · 04/04/2009 19:01

it's an easy read, yet it took me ages to finish it

I can't put my finger on why it took so long, it was interesting and I did Wiki the Mormon church to finfd out more

but I could put it down

Badgermoose · 06/04/2009 13:37

I'm about a 1/3rd of the way through it at the moment and I'm really enjoying it, both time zones and the way they intertwine. Its something I know nothing about and am finding it fascinating

tiggerlovestobounce · 06/04/2009 13:52

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was beautifully crafted, and I enjoyed both of the stories. It is quite a long book, but I loved reading it.

troutpout · 06/04/2009 13:58

I'm just over 2/3 of my way through this one. I probably wouldn't have picked it up myself...am reading it for bookclub.
I couldn't give 2 hoots for the modern story (jordan and his mum)...don't know why... the characters just seem so underdeveloped. I'm liking the historical Ann Eliza story a lot though...it irritates me when it suddenly switches to the modern. Ann Eliza'a mother Elizabeth is really interesting character too.
I've also googled the LDS....it is quite facinating.

PistachioLemon · 08/04/2009 15:50

I didn't like the way it was put together with the different timelines and storylines but read it all quite quickly as I was fascinated by the Firsts/LDS and polygamous/celestial marriage. Also I agree with troutpout that the modern story is very weak.

AbleSister · 08/04/2009 15:51

i loved it

groggymama · 08/04/2009 16:00

I read the whole thing while waiting in A&E for 6 hours! Took my mind off things! I'm glad I had it with me and I'm glad I read it. It was ambitious. Made me interested in the subject. Found the switching plots irritating too.

LaDiDaDi · 18/04/2009 23:13

I loved the Ann Eliza part of the story but wasn't very interested by the modern side, it seemed like an unnecessary add on because the characters were so poorly developed.

I was fascinated by the development of a religion iyswim.

fulltimeworkingmum · 18/04/2009 23:20

Totally TURGID.
Along the same lines of disappointment as "The Time Travellers Daughter" in the boredom and lack -of -empathy- with -character stakes. I was really looking forward to it as I love historical biographies, novels etc.
This book will be making a swift getaway to my nearest charity shop

InTheScrum · 18/04/2009 23:25

I was disappointed with the end of thre book. It seemed as though the author got bored, his publisher was pushing for a deadline and he just tied up loose ends very quickly.
I wonder why Jordan was gay. The story would have worked just as well if he was straight.

LaDiDaDi · 18/04/2009 23:29

I wondered that too, esp. as the reason he was thrown out of the community wasn't because of his true sexuality but because he was seen holding hands with a girl intended for his father.
Or perhaps that was the point? That he was thrown out for reasons that had nothing to do with his true self but had he revealed his true self then he would still have been ostracised.

InTheScrum · 18/04/2009 23:32

I don't mind gay characters, but it just seemed inspid and a character trait for the sake of it.
Also, I know my MIL would enjoy the story, but I couldn't possibly recommend a book to her with bumsex in!!!

LaDiDaDi · 18/04/2009 23:35

Well, MIL lent me a book, although I'm giving up on it (Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult), so in exchange I lent her one. Top of the bookcase was this or Interpretation of Murder with quite a bit of BDSM stff in it.

I gave her Interpretation of Murder but I've not heard back from her on it yet....

InTheScrum · 18/04/2009 23:51

Change of Heart - is that the one with the the organ donation or the the one with the girlfriend up for boyfriend's murder?
Jodi Picoult novels all blur into one for me!

Portofino · 19/04/2009 00:04

I thought it was really interesting. At least the historical part of it. The "murder mystery" part didn't really work for me, though I think the intention was to show the effect of current polygamous marriage on the children, which it did do to an extent. Some of my distant ancestors(well rather other descendants of) actually did the trip across the desert to "Zion" with the original LDS so maybe I have another level of interest.

The multiple wife scenario often made me think of posting on here though. I can see from my family history that taking on a widow and her children as part of your family might be a "christian" thing to do, but that so much of polygamy was so wrong in so many ways...

LaDiDaDi · 19/04/2009 00:07

Organ donation. I've read two of hers before many years ago and they were the My Sister's Keeper and that girlfriend/boyfriend muder one. Neither were very good imo and I didn't think I'd read another til MIL offered me this. She didn't like it either ....and I had originally bought it for her a part of her bday present.....

InTheScrum · 19/04/2009 00:11

With JP, I think when you've read one, you've read them all.
Phillipa Gregory is similar, and Kate Mosse too.
Quite disappointing when you've read one book you like and then discover the author can only write the "same book" again and again!

LaDiDaDi · 19/04/2009 08:09

I haven't read any by Phillipa Gregory or Kate Mosse.

I've just bought Notes on an Exhibition by Patrick Gale but I havent started it yet, I've read one by him quite a while ago and enjoyed it so hopefully this will be good too.

Portofino · 19/04/2009 08:17

I loved Notes from an Exhibition!

LaDiDaDi · 19/04/2009 08:26

Oh good. I will try to start it today .

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