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Escape
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
The dramatic first-person account of life inside an ultra-fundamentalist American religious sect, and one womans courageous flight to freedom with her eight children. When she was eighteen years old, Carolyn Jessop was coerced into an arranged marriage with a total stranger: a man thirty-two years her senior. Merril Jessop already had three wives. But arranged plural marriages were an integral part of Carolyns heritage: She was born into and raised in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), the radical offshoot of the Mormon Church that had settled in small communities along the Arizona-Utah border. Over the next fifteen years, Carolyn had eight children and withstood her husbands psychological abuse and the watchful eyes of his other wives who were locked in a constant battle for supremacy. Carolyns every move was dictated by her husbands whims. He decided where she lived and how her children would be treated. He controlled the money she earned as a school teacher. He chose when they had sex; Carolyn could only refuseat her peril. For in the FLDS, a wifes compliance with her husband determined how much status both she and her children held in the family. Carolyn was miserable for years and wanted out, but she knew that if she tried to leave and got caught, her children would be taken away from her. No woman in the country had ever escaped from the FLDS and managed to get her children out, too. But in 2003, Carolyn chose freedom over fear and fled her home with her eight children. She had $20 to her name. Escape exposes a world tantamount to a prison camp, created by religious fanatics who, in the name of God, deprive their followers the right to make choices, force women to be totally subservient to men, and brainwash children in church-run schools. Against this background, Carolyn Jessops flight takes on an extraordinary, inspiring power. Not only did she manage a daring escape from a brutal environment, she became the first woman ever granted full custody of her children in a contested suit involving the FLDS. And in 2006, her reports to the Utah attorney general on church abuses formed a crucial part of the case that led to the arrest of their notorious leader, Warren Jeffs.
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Amandakay
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
Pickpick

What an amazing woman!!

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ElizaMarie
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Bailedbailed

I feel like I have either read this one (I looked and it doesn't look like I have) or just the story is too much on the forefront of my mind. I am gonna #DNF it - maybe I will pick It up later. but this is not the time.

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rebbyj
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
Pickpick

Riveting. Again. NC book club.

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TheDaysGoBy
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Pickpick

This was an incredible story. I‘ve got a huge interest in cults and I didn‘t know much going into this one. Carolyn‘s stories were shocking, enraging, and at times unbelievable. Her escape is incredible and she sounds like an especially strong woman. Great listen!

I‘m having this fulfill the #foundonlitsy slot as I‘d probably never would‘ve come across it otherwise

#NFNov @Clwojick @rsteve388

rsteve388 6 pts 4y
28 likes1 stack add1 comment
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FantasyChick
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Pickpick

Once again, I find myself strangely fascinated with this cult. Carolyn Jessop's account of her life living in the FLDS is one of the better stories I have read so far. The interview at the end of the book is well worth the read as well 👍

39 likes3 stack adds
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FantasyChick
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Inventory Day.
Got my donut, got my coffee and I'm hoping to finishing listening to this book while I key.
Fingers crossed for a speedy count so I don't have to come in tomorrow!

PurpleyPumpkin That donut looks yummy! Good luck today. 😉 5y
readordierachel 🍀🤞🏽 5y
57 likes2 comments
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Jules7
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Wine and popcorn for supper, and reading this. So hard to wrap my brain around the fact that these folks manage to remain so isolated (and brainwashed) in today‘s world.

britt_brooke This is a good, but sad and frustrating, read. Have you read some of the other girls‘ stories, too? The FLDS blows my mind. 5y
Jules7 @britt_brooke I have not, but would like to read more! 5y
britt_brooke I‘m tagging 3 that I‘ve read that are connected with this same sect: 5y
See All 6 Comments
Jules7 Thanks! These look great! 5y
6 likes6 comments
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Soundgirl3
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Mehso-so

Intriguing story about Carolyn Jessop‘s escape from polygamy. I‘m always a sucker for cult stories. #giveawayrealtalk

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Munia
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Haven't read it yet , but I love biographies

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carmellahoney
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Starting this book. I simply read the cover and knew I had to read this woman's story.

RadicalReader @canadiangerman I love when a book completely gripe you tightly simply from the power of the words and tile or cover photo alone 6y
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cathysaid
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Pickpick

A disturbing story told by one of many wives involved in the Jessop/Jeffs FLDS organization. Fluently written, it avoids the over-simplification found in some survivor's written accounts. I've often found it hard to comprehend how a woman could "allow" herself to be so victimized and controlled; however, after reading this account, I finally understand and have nothing but awe and respect for any woman strong enough to escape. #nonfictionnovember

britt_brooke Great book! 7y
ReadingEnvy Ooh I love cult memoirs 7y
23 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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cathysaid
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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No books?!?! Well that just sounds like pure hell...aside from all the other jacked up stuff going on there.

LeahBergen 😱😱 7y
britt_brooke Fundamentalist LDS are b-a-n-a-n-a-s. I have a mild obsession with Short Creek and the Jeffs family. Crazy, awful stuff. 7y
cathysaid I'm fascinated as well. Have you read Under the Banner of Heaven or Leaving the Saints? 7y
22 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Sasha728
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Pickpick

I had heard of the raid on the FLDS compound that took place back around 2008. This book gives "back-story" to some of the characters and places mentioned in those accounts. Carolyn was a 6th generation FLDS and was forced into marriage at 18 to a man 32 years older. This book not only tells about her childhood and the years married to him but also the incredibly difficult escape she made. Note: there are a couple instances of profanity.

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britt_brooke
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Reviewsbylola I've read all of those except the Helen Keller book. Great choices! 7y
UwannaPublishme Helen Keller has always inspired me. 👍🏻👍🏻 7y
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britt_brooke @UwannaPublishme She was an amazing woman! 7y
BethFishReads Loved DRY 7y
britt_brooke @BethFishReads One of my favorite memoirs; probably one of my favorite books of all time. 👍🏻 7y
101 likes6 comments
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BeckaroniAndCheese
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Feeding my fascination with this one today.

paige84 This was a great read. Very enlightening about a subject I'm not very familiar with. 8y
BeckaroniAndCheese @Ashley.Paige so far I agree! 8y
7 likes1 stack add2 comments
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catatonic1242
Escape | Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
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Mehso-so

I feel like there was a riveting story here, but it needed more editing. Many grammatical mistakes, lots of repeated information and a confusing timeline made this hard to follow. Potentially worth the read if you have the time and inclination, but not highly recommended.