Under the Banner of Heaven discussion

I just finished this book-one of the best I have read in a long time!!

Me too! Fascinating story - have your read The 19th Wife? It tells two parallel stories - one about Brigham Young's 19th wife and a modern day 19th wife accused of murder. I have it if you want to borrow it.

I did read it over christmas. another book I read recently with a modern day and 16th century parallel was the 'The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane' more fiction based on historical fact...

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll never get anything acomplished!

I would also recommend The Poet and the Murderer by Simon Worrall. Hey - isn't reading getting something accomplished?

well, guess I'll be buying that one too! I'm somewhat 'bookless' right now! I've been reading 'Committed' off and on but it's not a page-turner so I can read another at the same time!

Stacey wrote: "Me too! Fascinating story - have your read The 19th Wife? It tells two parallel stories - one about Brigham Young's 19th wife and a modern day 19th wife accused of murder. I have it if you want to ..."

I just saw that movie last week. Is the book as good as Under the Banner of Heaven?

I would also recommend The 19th Wife, although I haven't quite finished it. Under the Banner of Heaven is a better book, but the 19th Wife is also good and has some interesting information. I see the fundamentalist Mormon people all the time since I live in the St. George, Utah area, and I have to admit I am curious about them.

The thing to remember is The 19th Wife is fiction, but Under the Banner of Heaven is (scary) non-fiction but both books offer an insight into polygamy and its role Utah history.

If you want firsthand accounts about the FLDS I recommendShattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer and Escape by Carolyn Jessop.

One of the incidents that Krakauer talks about regarding blood attonement is also explained in depth in a book called The 4 O'Clock Murders: The True Story of a Mormon Family's Vengeance.

The history of the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith is pretty fascinating too, and offers much insight into polygamy. The book "No Man Knows My History" by Fawn Brodie is the best biography of him I know of. She was excommunicated by the Mormon church for writing the book, due to the fact that she approached the subject (Mr. Smith) through the lens of a historian rather than a religious follower, and the story she traced made the guy look like a creepy cult leader rather than a saint.

If you want to read a disturbing, scary book read:
"When Prophet's Prey" and I can't remember the authors name

I really loved Under the Banner of Heaven. I have read all of Jon Krakauer's books and I know he writes accurately. Under the Banner of Heaven is such an interesting read because he explains how the religion got it's start with Joseph Smith. A Mormon friend of mine tried to explain the gold plates that Joseph Smith found and asked where are they and she said he gave them back. I just didn't understand it. Know I understand it better because of this book. I didn't realize that the mostly earlier Mormons could be so violent especially when Jon wrote about the Mountain Meadows massacre. A lot of the book was so scary to me. Especially the Fundamentalists. It's the women who suffered the most. I feel so sad for them. They suffer from 'Stockholm Syndrome'. He explained it well with the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping. The FLDS are very racist and not just against black people but anyone who is not a Mormon. It's amazing the way they get away with a lot with the government. I have friends who are Mormon and they have four kids. They were my next door neighbors. They were the nicest people you would ever find and their children were so well behaved. We did favors for each other and they were always willing to help. They took me to their ward twice on Sundays (3 hours,WOW). It is so different that what I am used to (I'm Catholic). They have kids and adults in the audience come up and give a speech or perform a show. After the speeches, prayer, singing, shows they go to different little workshops where you (if you are a woman) can sew, knit and make other crafts. I sewed a disasterously looking apron. I have also been to some of their Mormon parties. One was on a lake at one of the Mormon's houses. They had a big barbeque and told stories about their faith, etc. They were so nice to me and included me in everything. I went to their kids recitals. They learn so many things as kids and experience a lot more than I ever experienced as a child. The mission work where they go to a country for 2 years preaching the word of Joseph Smith is an unforgetable experience for them. I have moved away from them (we're in the same town)and don't see them anymore and I miss them. We keep in contact on Facebook. They were the best neighbors I ever had. More families should be like them. The new Mormons really look down on polygamy. I really don't know how much the new Mormon's are compared to the Mormons of years ago. But the new Mormons I know are great people. Too bad they don't drink!

Carey wrote: "Too bad they don't drink."

Yes, there's just something missing at a BBQ without beer. Enjoyed your comments, Carey. I've read a lot of Krakauer's work, too. He writes compelling stuff.