Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife | 
 enlarge | Author: Irene Spencer
Publisher: Center Street
Category: Book
List Price: $24.99
Buy New: $13.02
You Save: $11.97 (48%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  82 reviews
Sales Rank: 5370
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 6.3 x 1.3
ISBN: 1599957191
Dewey Decimal Number: 289.3092
EAN: 9781599957197
ASIN: 1599957191
Publication Date: August 22, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Few left in stock - order soon. Code: H20080613234837T
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Product Description
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.
Readers 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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 77 more reviews...
 IRENE IS MY FAVORITE AUTHOR! July 3, 2008
This is one of the best books I've ever read and I've read alot. I felt like I was right there with her going thru the joy the pain and anger of being trapped in her religous hell. I kept wanting her to see the light and get herself and her babies and get out of there. I also found myself feeling somewhat sorry for her husband at times because all and all he was somewhat caught up in the trap also along with the other wives. I would definely recommend this book to anyone who likes a down to earth author with warmth and humor.
 Poor Choice June 16, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
I struggled throughout the entire book to find some empathy for Irene and her situation. I never found it. She made a choice to marry into a polygamous relationship, and she spent about 375 pages too many complaining about it. She forever complained about not being the special wife, the favorite, and so forth, but does she forget that she was Verlan's second wife?? It should make for a very short discussion at our book club.
 Yes, its non-fiction happened in the USA June 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I also read Irene's other ex-sister wife's book, "His
Favorite Wife". I found it to be very interesting how
they could all have the same husband. At times I felt
sorry for Irene, but at the same time, its liked, 'hey,
wake up, you are in America", women should not not be
suppressed like that, all in the name of believing in that
religion they were brought up with.
For all those people, who cannot comprehended how and
why they lived the polygamy life, read this..a clear
understanding, but, yet, totally its all about choices
they could make, if they were not fanatics.
Fascinating book, not 100% accurate June 10, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I could not put this book down. I went from one heartbreaking chapter to the next. I am so glad Irene has found happiness and a good man to love.
I am LDS and feel she missed the mark a bit in her accuracy. However, I understand she was recounting doctrines as she believed or was told. People continue to fail to understand that LDS people do not recognize any off-shoots as "LDS." Either you're maintream or you are as different a religion as Catholics or Baptists. If you are not a baptized member of the LDS faith, you are not LDS, period. Our church is in NO way affiliated with FLDS or any other sect practicing polygamy. It is an error to refer to them in any way as "mormon."
This book so clearly illustrates what is lost when people fall away from the prophet and start their own churches. Doctrines like polygamy are turned into something that does not resemble in any way the way plural marriage was practiced by the actual LDS church.
I cringed as I read about how Irene starved for affection from Verlan and the trauma each new wife brought. I know that God wants all his children to be happy and that no matter what, no child of His is ever forgotten. Irene needed these experiences and probably wouldn't give up 1 of her many children to be the person she is today. She should be proud that although there were many difficult years of adversity, she emerged from it a good person and has found happiness. She is an inspiration to anyone who didn't (or doesn't) live in an ideal situation that there is always hope beyond your circumstances.
Unusual, honest June 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the 3rd book on polygamy I have purchased and read since the recent news about pologamy. This book in my opinion is equal to "My Favorite Wife" and much better reading than "Escape".
The author of this book, Irene Spencer is an unusual woman and tells her story with honesty, not attempting to blame everyone else for her lot in life. Very interesting reading, especially in the light of the recent news.
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