Give Me Back My Children by Sarah C. Allred offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the life of an FLDS woman under Warren Jeffs' control. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because the author displays real spunk, and I immediately appreciated her willingness to add a dose of irreverence—even using a curse word or two—during the early days of her marriage to Richard Allred. I also appreciated seeing Richard Allred—known as Rich to his ...
Biography & Autobiography
Book Review: Breaking Free by Rachel Jeffs | Surviving the FLDS and Finding Strength Beyond Abuse
Rachel Jeffs’ memoir, Breaking Free: How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffs, is a raw and deeply disturbing account of her lived experiences inside the FLDS and the horrific abuse she endured at the hands of her now-infamous father, Warren Jeffs. From the very first chapters, Rachel pulls no punches in exposing the realities of life under Warren Jeffs’ control. I’ve mentioned in other memoir reviews that I prefer ...
Book Review: Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar | Surviving Faith and Finding a Voice
Reading Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar Dillard resurfaced a lot of unresolved religious trauma for me—mainly anger. Not so much for myself anymore, but for my daughters and others. I always struggled to follow the rules, and while I tried to give my kids some exposure to the real world, I still sheltered them from a lot. That came from my own experience of being extremely sheltered, much like Jill was. I still struggle with feeling like I ...
Book Review: A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard | A Memoir of Survival and Resilience
A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard is the emotional, heartbreaking story of a young girl whose innocence was stolen from her—the life she might have lived, and a horror most people can’t begin to fathom. In 1991, at just eleven years old, Jaycee Dugard was abducted while walking to her school bus stop. She spent eighteen years in captivity, hidden away from the world, before finally being rescued in 2009. Her story is both unimaginable and deeply ...
Book Review: Holy Disruptor by Amy Duggar King | When Disruption Means Telling Everyone Else’s Story
Holy Disruptor: Shattering the Shiny Facade by Getting Louder with the Truth is an overly convoluted title for Amy Duggar King's memoir—and, unfortunately, it perfectly sets the stage for what follows. I tried not to judge a book by its title, but in this case, my instincts were right. Side note: Gypsy Rose Blanchard owes Amy a coffee. I would have given Gypsy’s book a lower rating, but after listening to Amy’s, I found Gypsy much more likable ...
