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Fool Me Once: A Mormon SortaBiography - Book One
This three-part memoir novel examines the impact of religion on the way women see themselves and their place in the world. Even a relatively new-ish, western religion like Mormonism has a very structured, patriarchal approach with traditional, conservative doctrine. The status of women in the church has retrenched in some significant ways from its original relatively egalitarian position. The story MJ tells examines one modern woman's experience, from her own perspective, of living with and reconciling the dogma of her faith against her need for personal fulfillment and emotional safety. Heartbreak, trauma, joy, sorrow, enlightenment, and epiphany all combine for a compelling story that educates and enlightens. Whether you're a Mormon looking for a kindred spirit, or a non-Mormon wondering what makes your Mormon neighbor think the way she does, this book will amaze, infuriate, and surprise you, and will help you to understand how a church that appears to be so conventional can keep its women "in line" and suppress equality movements with relatively little effort.
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Synopsis of Book One - Fool Me Once (Melody Joy's Personal Mystery, Book One):
You’ve never read a romance quite like this.
Melody Joy's fairy-tale marriage was in serious trouble. When Walter Rex Bainbridge said “I Do” and married Melody Joy Provence, she thought he meant it. After all, when Mormons get married in the temple, it’s for keeps: happily-ever-after lasts forever. Walter knew he couldn’t achieve the highest level of eternal glory without a wife, so marrying MJ was the final thing on his personal achievement checklist. Now all he had to do was keep MJ happy and stay out of trouble for the rest of his life. No problem, at least not until Lacey - six feet tall and built like a super model - came along. Then the secret messages intervened, police reports hit the news, and that dead body turned up in the hotel room...
--
On the surface, MJ appeared to be an ordinary Mormon wife with an ordinary Mormon life. But looks can be deceiving.
When MJ discovered that the one person she had trusted with her heart and her eternal soul was actually a treacherous, lying cheat, she had to decide what to do. The church discouraged divorce, she didn't want to do jail time, and she couldn't afford a hit-man. What other options are left when your fairy-tale marriage is in serious trouble?
Follow MJ's adventures as she sorts out her priorities, learns how to protect her heart, and discovers things about herself and her LDS family she never knew she needed to know.
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A word from the author: Fool Me Once is a story about a Mormon woman trapped in a no-win situation who had to find a way to survive as best she could when everything in her life had been stacked against her. If the story sounds familiar, that's because it is. It repeats itself daily all around the world - not just in Mormon families (although latter-day saints are not exempt) but in every union where patriarchy is the defining characteristic and driving force behind the relationship. I don't have anything against Mormons. I was raised in the Mormon church myself so I've seen it from the inside out for my entire life. I write about Mormons because that's the culture I know best and it's a rich resource for observation and commentary on human relationships. MJ could have been a member of any church, anywhere. She just happens to be LDS.
*
Synopsis of Book One - Fool Me Once (Melody Joy's Personal Mystery, Book One):
You’ve never read a romance quite like this.
Melody Joy's fairy-tale marriage was in serious trouble. When Walter Rex Bainbridge said “I Do” and married Melody Joy Provence, she thought he meant it. After all, when Mormons get married in the temple, it’s for keeps: happily-ever-after lasts forever. Walter knew he couldn’t achieve the highest level of eternal glory without a wife, so marrying MJ was the final thing on his personal achievement checklist. Now all he had to do was keep MJ happy and stay out of trouble for the rest of his life. No problem, at least not until Lacey - six feet tall and built like a super model - came along. Then the secret messages intervened, police reports hit the news, and that dead body turned up in the hotel room...
--
On the surface, MJ appeared to be an ordinary Mormon wife with an ordinary Mormon life. But looks can be deceiving.
When MJ discovered that the one person she had trusted with her heart and her eternal soul was actually a treacherous, lying cheat, she had to decide what to do. The church discouraged divorce, she didn't want to do jail time, and she couldn't afford a hit-man. What other options are left when your fairy-tale marriage is in serious trouble?
Follow MJ's adventures as she sorts out her priorities, learns how to protect her heart, and discovers things about herself and her LDS family she never knew she needed to know.
* *
A word from the author: Fool Me Once is a story about a Mormon woman trapped in a no-win situation who had to find a way to survive as best she could when everything in her life had been stacked against her. If the story sounds familiar, that's because it is. It repeats itself daily all around the world - not just in Mormon families (although latter-day saints are not exempt) but in every union where patriarchy is the defining characteristic and driving force behind the relationship. I don't have anything against Mormons. I was raised in the Mormon church myself so I've seen it from the inside out for my entire life. I write about Mormons because that's the culture I know best and it's a rich resource for observation and commentary on human relationships. MJ could have been a member of any church, anywhere. She just happens to be LDS.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2015
1 person is currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 13, 2015
I have read many first person novels and Fool Me Once: a Melody Joy Personal Mystery published by Bumbershoot Press and written by Malena Crockett is one of the better ones.
For me, it was intense and thought provoking.
Razz had it right when she said MJ got to learn lessons no one wants to go through. Having been through a similar situation, I can surely attest to this.
Honestly, the best part of the story, in my opinion, was when the main character, Melody Joy puts the principal of her son's school in his place when he suspends both her son and another boy who had been bullying him and later attacked him in the gym. I love how she used what she learned in law school to manage the situation and draw closer to her son.
I see her growth and how she’s able to manage things while dealing with her husband’s infidelity, and [I] can relate to her as she helps out her colleagues during her own time of stress.
The characters are also very believable in their personalities and interactions, and good at evoking emotion – particularly the son and husband.
Although I see this book as more of a slice-of-life/romance novel than a mystery itself, it is definitely a good set up for a cozy mystery series.
With this being Ms. Crockett’s first book, I’m very impressed with how believable and emotionally evoking her characters are.
I enjoyed the food for thought it provided regarding what it really means to live righteously and be responsible for our happiness rather than “looking the part” and waiting for others to make us happy.
~Review by Tara E. Nebeker, Smarty Cat Book Reviews
For me, it was intense and thought provoking.
Razz had it right when she said MJ got to learn lessons no one wants to go through. Having been through a similar situation, I can surely attest to this.
Honestly, the best part of the story, in my opinion, was when the main character, Melody Joy puts the principal of her son's school in his place when he suspends both her son and another boy who had been bullying him and later attacked him in the gym. I love how she used what she learned in law school to manage the situation and draw closer to her son.
I see her growth and how she’s able to manage things while dealing with her husband’s infidelity, and [I] can relate to her as she helps out her colleagues during her own time of stress.
The characters are also very believable in their personalities and interactions, and good at evoking emotion – particularly the son and husband.
Although I see this book as more of a slice-of-life/romance novel than a mystery itself, it is definitely a good set up for a cozy mystery series.
With this being Ms. Crockett’s first book, I’m very impressed with how believable and emotionally evoking her characters are.
I enjoyed the food for thought it provided regarding what it really means to live righteously and be responsible for our happiness rather than “looking the part” and waiting for others to make us happy.
~Review by Tara E. Nebeker, Smarty Cat Book Reviews
November 15, 2015
Not being one to read many novels, this book was a fun departure for me. I came across an old friend that recommended this book. Sharing much of the background and culture with the main protagonist, I was very interested to see how this story played out.
MJ feels trapped by a culture that promoted marriage to the “right guy” and in the “right place” at the “right time”. Her attraction to Walter was real enough, but for some reason she was blind to the nature of Walter’s self-centeredness and even cruelty until the time of their marriage. The abuse and neglect that follows is both hard to read and so frustrating. MJ doesn’t try to justify her choices. In fact, the way the story read to me, she seems to wonder herself why she continues to forgive and try to make it “work” with Walter. In order to not spoil the plot, I will say that I wanted to move through this book quickly wondering how this was going to end.
This book promises to be one of three novels moving from the present to the past and even the future. It makes me wonder how her life will turn out. There are many unresolved issues and challenges facing MJ and her only son, Christopher.
An LDS reader may find himself recoiling at the criticism directed at the culture of the church. I viewed her story as one person’s authentic experience or interpretation of her life through the lens of her family, her church and her difficult and often unproductive choices. I am cheering for MJ in her future books.
MJ feels trapped by a culture that promoted marriage to the “right guy” and in the “right place” at the “right time”. Her attraction to Walter was real enough, but for some reason she was blind to the nature of Walter’s self-centeredness and even cruelty until the time of their marriage. The abuse and neglect that follows is both hard to read and so frustrating. MJ doesn’t try to justify her choices. In fact, the way the story read to me, she seems to wonder herself why she continues to forgive and try to make it “work” with Walter. In order to not spoil the plot, I will say that I wanted to move through this book quickly wondering how this was going to end.
This book promises to be one of three novels moving from the present to the past and even the future. It makes me wonder how her life will turn out. There are many unresolved issues and challenges facing MJ and her only son, Christopher.
An LDS reader may find himself recoiling at the criticism directed at the culture of the church. I viewed her story as one person’s authentic experience or interpretation of her life through the lens of her family, her church and her difficult and often unproductive choices. I am cheering for MJ in her future books.
March 4, 2016
Rather than pity MJ--her fairy tail shattered by a cheating, lying, stupid husband, she is to be applauded for not wallowing in self-pity. We’re treated to her eloquent discourse as she reasons soundly with herself, and exhibits tremendous self-restraint while expressing clear terms of change for her husband.
A masterfully written story that refuses to sink to bitter diatribe, yet skillfully balances considerations of child welfare, religious constraints, financial burdens, and care for a spouse who no longer deserves such compassion.
An inspiration, and sometimes blueprint, for women who are dealing with a cheating spouse while trying to keep the household afloat as well as their own sanity intact.
A masterfully written story that refuses to sink to bitter diatribe, yet skillfully balances considerations of child welfare, religious constraints, financial burdens, and care for a spouse who no longer deserves such compassion.
An inspiration, and sometimes blueprint, for women who are dealing with a cheating spouse while trying to keep the household afloat as well as their own sanity intact.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews