Escape - the book

'Escape' is a memoir by Carolyn Jessop about her life and escape from the Fundamentalist Lattery Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamist offshoot of the Mormon church.

The story and her life experiences are fascinating, made more so by the fact that they happened in my lifetime in America.

I knew basics about the FLDS (both from reading 'Under the Banner of Heaven' by Jon Krakauer, and from news reports earlier in the year when children were removed from a Texas FLDS group). But, I was looking to understand the mindset of someone within the group, especially a woman. I thought the author did a good job with this - her progression from child to adult to escapee was well-explained and I could understand her growth. She also did a good job showing how the group could remain so isolated, and why escape is so difficult.

And so, I found it interesting. But, not well-written. The book was repetitive, giving it a preachy feel. Also, the author whines. At times, it felt like reading the writings of a teenager. Also, the author never admitted fault. Not once in the entire book. I always find it suspect when people never admit to being wrong - everyone is wrong once in a while, and someone who presents themselves as infallible makes me more suspect about whether they are being completely truthful. But, in the case of this book, I imagine it to be more due to her immaturity.

Overall, an interesting read. I enjoyed learning more about the FLDS.