Welcome to Litsy!

WOW!! This first person account of life in the FLDS was riveting from page 1. Her description of life in the FLDS, its control over its adherents, its decision that she should marry her first cousin despite her pleas to to prevent , and later to end, this forced marriage was disturbing and gut wrenching. Elissa‘s courage making a break from the FLDS and her testimony in the criminal case against a former church leader is admirable. Just WOW!

The author tells how she grew up in the FDLS (Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints), how she broke out of it, her story eventually bringing down one of its leaders: Warren Jeffs. Forced to marry her 1st cousin at 14, molested as a child, repeatedly raped by her ‘priest head‘—whom she was forced to marry. Emotional abuse, domestic violence, manipulation. Another story of the damage religion can do, sexual abuse, patriarchal control.

Today‘s read while waiting for car‘s service

#maymoviemagic #hookedonafeeling sort of had me think about the next line- high on believing - that led me to think about cults, so for anyone else who is interested in this topic here are more books- https://bookriot.com/2017/01/27/100-must-read-books-about-life-in-cults/
Did anyone else remember the “Moonies” who were all over NYC looking for money and recruits in the ‘70‘s?

Now this might be the narration of this audio but I just can't do it anymore. I heard some great things about this book but I'm not feeling it at all. I tried. I might try giving it a read sometime instead of a listen....but not anytime soon
#audiobooks #DNF #Bail

The only thing I've managed to do today is drink a bottle of wine and eat a bag of pistachios while listening to an audiobook. I'm not even sorry.
#mothersday #noregrets #audiodrinking

Trying to get some #SpringCleaning done today so might as well try another #audiobook to make the time go! And yes, I'm also planning on going through my books as well so keep an eye out, there might be an #unhaul post coming up later today 😏

Elissa Wall was forced into marriage with an older man when she was 14, because her family was part of the polygamous sect run but Warren Jeffs. This book tells her story from before the marriage, when she finally broke free at 18, and during the court battles against her oppressors.

It's obvious this book was not written by a professional author, but overlook that and you have a compelling look at life inside a strange religion run by a madman.

I didn‘t read this today as part of #deweysreadathon but was reminded of it by @emilyhaldi
This book fascinated me and I read it with a combination of horror and admiration. Horror that anyone would have to live through what the author did and admiration for telling the story.

@Alicia thank you so much! I‘m so intrigued by her story!! #litsypenpals

Lucille and I loved this book. Real, honest and heartbreaking I found Elissa‘s story of her life in, escape from and life after the FLDS to be completely absorbing. Also horrific and awe inspiring at times. Lucille found the corners to be great for chin scratchies.😅🐈 #KAL #Catsoflitsy #notthemostflattingpicture

Readers gonna read. Started the day off with some cleaning, and now I‘m putting my feet up until we head off to a hockey game later tonight. I‘m not really a sports person but we go as a family and there will be wings & beer. I‘m mostly looking forward to it but a small part of my just wants to stay home and read! #KAL

I‘m pulling this beauty off the #tbr and launching into it later today. I don‘t know what it is but I just find cult stories absolutely fascinating. So far I‘m finding Elissa‘s voice wonderful and her stories of her early youth as a member of the FLDS and as one of 24 children fascinating. It seems like she picked a great ghost writer. #nonfictionnovember #memoir #cult #FLDS

I deal with anxiety and depression every day. I think a lot of us do. One of my symptoms is lack of energy followed by constant anxiety about the things I didn‘t get to do due to my lack of energy. So lately things have been slipping. I‘m proud of myself though, today I managed to clean out my library corner (it‘s close to the door and recycling and garbage pile up) and do a load of dishes before work. I‘m giving myself this moment to be proud.

More airplane reading! Saw that @saguarosally read this one and enjoyed and found it cheap at Half Price Books. I have a total fascination with the FLDS, maybe because I lived not too far away from Short Creek for so long. This was heartbreaking and really interesting to hear all about Wall's perspective as a child in this community. My heart hurts for what she had to struggle with but this book also gave me a lot of compassion for the people.

Started this today for #nonfictionnovember. Still close to the beginning but like it so far. Her writing style is pretty simple but the subject matter fascinates me. (All things FLDS, Mormonism and polygamy seem to interest me - think Leaving the Faith or Under the Banner of Heaven.) At this point in the book, a new wife will be joining the family and the first two wives don't get along...this can't end well! #nonfiction

I'm fascinated by the FLDS, but really like a train wreck. What's honestly sad is that the group still lives on.

Powerful story.