New Mormon Books

for $5.95 you will get
philosophy
love
conversion
adventure
sects
drugs
rock and roll

and even if you don’t love it
as much as i do
you are only out a couple dollars.
or even if you aren’t mormon
as much as i am
at least you will gain some insight into us peculiar people.

. . . your favorite mormon-themed book for really cheap?
By cjane
Dear cjane, July 17, 2009
http://dearcjane.blogspot.com/2009/07/your-favorite-mormon-themed-book-for.html

In his book, “Juanita Brooks: Mormon Woman Historian,” Levi S. Peterson describes a woman who lived two distinct lives. In one, she was the Bunkerville, Nev., native one or two generations away from early-Mormon pioneer life, bred to be a farmer’s wife and live a life similar to her mother and grandmother. But there were life changes in store for Brooks (1898-1989), a remarkable individual who experienced most of the 20th century. Left a young widow with a baby, she entered academia. As middle age approached, she made another life change. She married a sheriff, Will Brooks, and quickly had four more babies. Had she stayed single, opines biographer Peterson, she likely would have had a distinguished academic career, editing and writing literary criticism. Instead, her return to a domestic life signaled the career of Mormonism’s most tenacious historian. Brooks’ achievements brought much-needed candor to Utah and Mormon history.

Political Surf on biography of Juanita Brooks, Utah historian
by Doug Gibson
Ogden UT Standard’s Political Surf Blog, Jul 17th, 2009.
http://blogs.standard.net/2009/07/17/political-surf-on-biography-of-juanita-brooks-utah-historian/

[Ashby's] speedy rise and spectacular swan dive from Tinseltown’s high board is an old story, but a fascinating read as relayed by Nick Dawson in his scrupulously researched “Being Hal Ashby: Life of a Hollywood Rebel.” Ashby came reeling into the movie business from a dysfunctional Mormon (!) upbringing, his father’s suicide and the first of five marriages. Editing brought order to his chaos and an Oscar (for “In the Heat of the Night”) and a shot at directing. He directed — to Oscars — Lee Grant (”Shampoo”), Melvyn Douglas (”Being There”), Jon Voight and Jane Fonda (”Coming Home”). He also directed “Bound for Glory,” the cultish “Harold and Maude” and “The Last Detail” — edgy, eclectic, eccentric, like the man who made ‘em.

Author looks at courage of those willing to stand against the Third Reich:
Being Hal Ashby: Life of a Hollywood Rebel
By Star-Ledger Book Contributors
Newark NJ Star-Ledger, July 17, 2009.
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts/index.ssf/2009/07/author_looks_at_courage_of_tho.html

Jason Williams gives a detailed account of his life in the Mormon fundamentalist community. … Read the touching love story of two young lovers caught in the middle of the power and manipulation of one of the FBI’s ten most wanted, Warren Jeffs.

Warren Jeffs’ Victim and Ex-FLDS Citizen Finally Speaks Out.
Zero Chance Press Release
via WEBWIRE, July 08, 2009.
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=98760

Lance Allred is a bit of a sentimental favorite around these parts. Not only did he get his first break in the NBA with the Cavaliers two seasons ago, but he’s written a fantastic autobiography covering his youth growing up in a fundamental polygamous Mormon compound, to his deafness, to his struggles at Utah under Rick Majerus, to overcoming everything that had been placed in front of him and realizing his dream of making the NBA.

Keeping Up With Lance Allred.
By Vince Grzegorek.
Cleveland Scene, Jul 7, 2009.
http://www.clevescene.com/64-and-counting/archives/2009/07/07/keeping-up-with-lance-allred

In Under the Banner of Heaven, Jon Krakauer interweaves this true-crime 1984 murder story with the fascinating history of the Church of Latter Day Saints, showing the undercurrent of violence and bloodshed prevalent in the religion since the early days, a legacy that endures in the Mormon fundamentalist sect which the Lafferty brothers wholeheartedly embraced.

Book Review: Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer
By Friend Mouse
Blogcritics Books, Jul 06, 2009.
http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-under-the-banner-of1/

My second book in a long winded history of women that have found out that Mormonism isn’t all its cracked up to be. Shattered Dreams by Irene Spencer is an incredible story of one woman’s desire for more than just plural marriage. This book is a good memoir overall, an easy read, with lots of great moments. It moves you to tears at times, but unlike Escape by Carolyn Jessop, this one wasn’t as extreme in the abuse category.

Shattered Dreams by Irene Spencer Review
By sirjorge
Video Store Blues, July 2, 2009.
http://sirjorge.com/blogx/2009/07/02/shattered-dreams-by-irene-spencer-review/

Between describing horrific episodes of abuse from her own childhood in Colorado City, Ariz., the fundamentalist compound where she was raised, Jessop railed against governments in Utah and Arizona that have not done enough to shut down these cults, in her opinion. “It’s been allowed to go on, because it enjoys the shield of mainstream Mormonism,” she said.

Author takes aim at polygamy
By Tim Sampson
Kerrville TX Daily Times, June 27, 2009.
http://dailytimes.com/story.lasso?ewcd=dd16fa2b81e388a0

Camille Call Whiting wanted grieving mothers to know they were not alone in their heartache, so she decided to write a book relating her experiences of losing a son and a daughter.

Book: ‘For They Shall Be Comforted’
By Molly Farmer
Deseret News, June 11, 2009
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705310019/Book-For-They-Shall-Be-Comforted.html?linkTrack=rss-44

If you’re looking for a pleasant read, you won’t find it in this book. But anyone — female or male — who has been abused can gain strength and hope from Johnson’s story.

‘Innocence’ gives hope to victims of abuse
By Robert Walsh
Mormon Times, Jun. 26, 2009
http://mormontimes.com/arts_entertainment/books/?id=9390