Shattered Dreams

My Life as a Polygamist's Wife

By: Irene Spencer

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

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. Listeners 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.©2007 Irene Spencer (P)2007 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Engrossing....An intense story." ( Kirkus)
"Nothing short of astonishing....Emotional and shocking." ( Publishers Weekly)

Facinating

Loved every second of it. What a sick twist of religion. I cannot imagine this life. I recently met Irene's daughter. I can hardly wait to see Donna again to talk about her life as the child of Irene. My heart is a little heavy knowing this story is real and women have experienced all of this.

I couldn’t put it “down”…

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I decided to listen to this book. I knew somewhat about the practice. I was never really interested in it because I thought it portrayed women as rather sad and the men as rather abusive. Listening to the story was really interesting. I enjoyed the narrator quite a bit. Her portrayals of the interactions between Irene and her husband were great. I’m sure the story could’ve been five times as long and still not been able to cover all of the feelings and the time the past for Irene.
If you want to know more about Mormons and polygamy, this may not be the best history, but as an overall story of one woman’s life, it is very interesting.

Outstanding

It took a little while to get adjusted to the narrator’s voice but I got passed it and found this to be an outstanding story. It was wonderful to know that she became a born again Christian after finally breaking through all of the brain washing she had been through all those years and did get a husband who loved only her.

I remember some of the families

Trying to figure out why she was a victim? I am not a member of any form of Mormon church, but grew up in Murray Utah and remember many of the families she speaks of in this book. Even though she had been born into polygamy her mother and family had left and actively discouraged her from following that path. It was her choice to pursue LeBaron and become his 'wife' and then she spends the rest of the book listing on why this was a bad choice. If she had married Glen I wonder if she would have written a book on that bad choice. There are polygamus wives who had little or no choice of who they married or when they married and truly suffer and do without and are treated as little more than property but it seems like LaBaron's first wives had a choice and made it. Kinda like marrying a drunk and then complaining they drink.

Pleasantly surprised!

Wow! I couldn’t shut this book off! What an incredible story. I usually don’t like books that are so heavy, but Irene weaved enough comedy and hope in her story to keep me from completely despairing for her and her family. Such a well written and inspiring story about one tough woman finding her true freedom. Bravo!