Welcome to Litsy!

Whoa!!!!!

I got confetti! 🥳🥳 I officially completed my Goodreads challenge of 75 books with this intriguing nonfiction book. I was fascinated by the true crime and fanaticism within the FLDS church that was examined by Krakauer. The history covered and trying to keep the many characters straight was sometimes a slog, but if you enjoy reading about religion, cults, or true crime, be sure to give this one a whirl. #goodreadschallenge #goalcompleted #success

Enjoying a rainy morning at a friend's house in NC with my new friend Walter. This book is fascinating. #dogsoflitsy #vacation #rainyday #gooddaytoread #nonfiction #religion

I am very much a mood reader but in order to meet my goals by year end a little bit of planning might be in order. These are my 4 must reads for September. Two for #LitsyAtoZ Rose Under Fire and Under the Banner which also checks my non fiction box. Little Women for my classic pic and Wunderland for #LMPBC. I have a great reading month ahead. What will you be reading?

As I read this book, the two words that ricocheted through my thoughts were “horrifying” & “heartbreaking.” At the end now, there are other words too. Krakauer is an excellent writer adept at plumbing the highs & lows of the human condition & it‘s impossible not to have a strong reaction to the story he tells—of the murders of Brenda Lafferty & her infant daughter Erica & the path her killers, her brothers-in-law, took to get to that moment.

Next up...

#bookhaul post one the Krakauer is in really good condition, the Karin Slaughter is slightly beat up and the others I‘m just taking a chance on

I couldn‘t decide whether to give this a pick or a so-so. Clearly the subject matter (polygamy, rape, incest in the name of religion) makes it a difficult read but I also found some of the historical elements about Latter Day Saints rather dry.

However, as it‘s so important that we know about these issues, I‘ve gone with a pick; it‘s a necessary book to read.

A well-researched history of the LDS and FLDS churches bracketed by the murders committed by two Fundamentalists, this book is very good for what it is. However, I was expecting (and wanted) a true crime book, so it was a bit of a challenge for me to push through. Don‘t miss the author note and appendix at the end.

#bannerbuddy

This is not about religion, fundamentalist Mormonism (FLDS) is about frustrated white men abusing women and children. I knew nothing about it, LDS is no big thing in my country but I am really shocked. And upset and angry. That is, if Krakauer used a balanced hand while writing. I tend to believe all he says, but maybe I shouldn‘t? What do you think, fellow buddy readers?

#bannerbuddy #ReadingUSA2019 #Utah

Page 15, about Mormon fundamentalists.

Property.

🤬

If it get through this book without throwing it, it will be a miracle.

#bannerbuddy

The weekend has started and with it the Banner Buddyread. Let‘s try to finish this one this week and share our thoughts with hashtag #bannerbuddy. If you wanna join us, do so!

I just read the prologue (I didn‘t know the story) and Googled Dan Lafferty. Scary man!

History and True Crime - 2 of my favorite genres

I found it to be a very good book, I learned a lot from this book about the Morman church and the history of it. A lot of disturbing things going on in the FLDS, and this book is very good at describing how things got to that point.

Meh. He was way too all over the place for me. I was thinking it was a true crime book, but really that wasn't his intention. My bad.

Reads like fiction! Unbelievable

A colleague was raving about this at work and I remembered that I had the audio book.

I went to our local library‘s book sale last night. Things went well. Do you like going to library book sales?

#psychokiller | In 1984, Fundamentalist Mormons Ron and Dan Lafferty brutally murdered their sister-in-law and her baby because of a “Removal Revelation” from God. It‘s an insane story. In this book, Krakauer discusses the crime while providing a history of Mormon religion. This was the beginning of my obsession with the LDS, especially fundamentalists.

#marchintothe70s

I don‘t think Krakauer hates Mormonism, I think he hates all religion. Which is fine, he has a very objective perspective that comes through in his writing.

I got a very creepy vibe from everything chronicled in this book but I did climb Mt. Everest with Krakauer when I read Into Thin Air.

Apparently I posted January 31 prompt (Omar Sharif) instead of today's😧Carrying the Banner
#carryingthebanner #musicalnewyear @Cinfhen @vivastory This was the first banner that came to mind-a double murder committed by 2 Mormon fundamentalists

Book 5/18. Had this on my TBR for almost 10 years. It was interesting, but didn‘t captivate me the way I had anticipated it would. #nonfiction #fundamentalistmormons #read2019 #virtualmountTBR2019 #bookly #audiobook

Found this gem from NYE and couldn‘t help but share- Pepperjack was not thrilled with fireworks and celebrations 😂 #TheFrugLife #DogsofLitsy

2019: my year of DRASTIC CHANGE. I wrote today. I‘m writing tomorrow. I‘m setting intention for this baby (who is due in 20 days- suit up wine! 🍷🍷🍷) and for myself this year. Even though I know my life is about to get ridiculously chaotic, I‘m going to stay as true to myself as possible. Here is to a great year, I‘m feeling more positive than I have in 5 years and hope you are too 🎉

http://booknerdwilltravel.com/2019/01/04/newyearoldme/

I really wanted to like this book, but honestly the author is so biased against Mormonism as a whole and it comes through in the writing (like victim-blaming Elizabeth Smart at one point). Even if you‘re not a fan of the Church, those little comments and embellishments sour the whole story, which is shame because it is interesting (and terrifying).

2AM wake up calls. Will I ever sleep again?! Get this baby out of me #36weeks #IwantHotMessJessback

Just some light pre-kid reading 😬😬😬. I can almost TASTE the first beer I‘m going to drink when B makes his grand entrance! 35 days to go!

1. Under the Banner of Heaven/Jon Krakauer 🌫🌫
2. John Updike 🐇 🐰
3. Movie: Up ⬆️; TV Show: Underbelly 🇳🇿👮🏻‍♀️👮🏼‍♂️
4. Uttapam 😋
#ManicMonday
#LetterU
@JoScho

I listened to 1/2 of it and let the Libby app take it back after 14 days. I‘m so tired of hearing about religions dictating ridiculous ways to live. I‘m tired of hearing how Mormon women and children are treated and I can‘t understand why they agree to live in such subservient roles. Polygamy and the scores of children fathered by one man? Ugh. And death to a woman who questions things. Well written but just too much for me.

This was pretty great, though I have to say I found Into Thin Air more compelling. A look at the Fundamentalist Mormon church and it's violent history. I always enjoy the appendices from Krakauer, where he argues point by point criticisms of his work. Makes it worth it to wait awhile after his books are published, so you can get the later editions. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Pictured also is Porter, who was my companion all day. 🐶

While the rest of the fam went shopping at the LL Bean mothership today, I decided to stay behind. Finishing this one up on this on-again, off-again stormy beach day. #vacationreading

Thank you so much @ShookBelf for sending the next lmpbc book and for all the lovely extras! It‘s really kind of you and I‘ve been wanting to read Under The Banner Of Heaven for ages! I was away this week so only opened it last night - it was a lovely treat to come home from a holiday to! Thank you 😊

I don‘t want to say I enjoyed this because there was so much heavy stuff, so I‘ll say it was really good. It is definitely a thought-provoking read.

Wow is this book thorough! It explores the roots and history of Mormonism including the concept of Polygamy and it‘s repercussions. Joseph Smith wasn‘t originally supportive of plural marriage until God spoke to him one day and gave him that direction... after that he was all #IdoIdoIdoIdoIdo 👰🏼 👰🏼👰🏼 And later, god spoke to the Lafferty brothers and directed them to murder 🔪 was it lunacy, or just religion??
#ABBAinApril

No chance I'll be reading #alone while dog-sitting @Mdargusch cuddliest pup, Fiona ❤️ Guess who else is never alone? Polygamists! 👨‍👩‍👧👩‍👧👩‍👧👩‍👧👩‍👧👩‍👧

I believe it was @britt_brooke who inspired me to pick up this book, not to mention my fascination with TLC's Sister Wives. I'm now learning more about Mormonism than I ever dreamed I would!

#heatofjuly

So idk if ant of you listen to the Zealot podcast, but you should be listening to the Zealot podcast. Jo wrote a book about cults, and the one I tagged is mentioned in one of my favorite episodes. Comes out March 2019

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is ostensibly an investigation of a religiously motivated double homicide, but that is a much smaller part of the book than you might imagine. Which is lucky, as I am squeamish and uncomfortable with the details of real cases and there are several pages here that I wish I could scrub from my mind.
I found this to be a thoroughly researched and highly readable account of the birth of a new and rapidly growing religion. Scary .

I see stories in movies and read them in books like this. It is still unbelievable to me that people could actually be influenced to live this way. It just shows how people are searching for something and often fall victim to others who hold an evil strength. Must read for anyone who finds interest in religious cults. #jonkrakauer

On to my book club book for this Saturday. I always get to my book club books late but I tore through Into the Wild so I‘m hoping I‘ll do the same for this!

Heartbreaking & disturbing, this nonfiction account of a murder in the 1980s delves into the fanatical history of the Mormons. “Neither Emma's tears nor her rage were enough to make Joseph monogamous; nor were the prevailing mores of the day. He kept falling rapturously in love with women not his wife. And because that rapture was so wholly consuming, and felt so good, it struck him as impossible that God might possibly frown on such a thing.”

This is the book that kick started my Fundamentalist LDS obsession several years ago. It was also my first #Krakauer. He‘s now one of my favorite #nonfiction writers.

#Tragic #ReadingResolutions

Full disclosure: I was reading this while I was also reading “The Witness Wore Red.” At points I wasn‘t a huge fan of this; this book read a little more like a text book in some places. Regardless, it was so cool to get the history of the FLDS while reading the personal narrative of Rebecca Musser and her struggles and law suits against the FLDS.

I think I would have enjoyed this more if I had read it instead of listened. Not my favorite narrator. The book weaves together three different stories all tied to the fundamentalist Mormon religion. All three storylines are fascinating, but this is a super long audio book. My favorite parts: the founding and early history of the church near the beginning and arguments in the courtroom near the end. Overall, a pick.

Intense and fascinating.

Cannot put this book down - it is at once a history of the Mormon religion, who themselves suffered horrific persecution in their early days, and an examination of that religion gone wrong - when religion turns into fundamentalism. #AtY #narrativenonfiction

Started this book today. Only 45 pages through and I have felt so many different emotions - horror, pity, rage, immense sadness.
#AtY #narrativenonfiction

Current audiobook. I usually stick to nonfiction for audio