September 4, 2009

Cult Insanity Review & Giveaway


Cult Insanity : A Memoir of Polygamy, Prophet and Blood Atonement
By: Irene Spencer
Publisher: Center Street
Available: August 12, 2009

My Rating: Photobucket







About the Book:

Life for Irene Spencer was a series of devastating disappointments and hardships. Irene's first book, Shattered Dreams, is the staggering chronicle of herstruggle to provide for her children in abject poverty and feelings of abandonment each time her husband left to be with one of his other wives. Irene was raised to believe polygamy was the way of life necessary for her ticket to heaven.

The hard knocks of her environment were just the beginning of Irene's shocking tale. Insanity ran rampant in her husband's family and was the source of inconceivable events that unfolded throughout Irene's adult life. CULT INSANITY takes readers deeper into her story to uncover the outrageous behavior of her brother-in-law Ervil -- a self-proclaimed prophet who determined he was called to set the house of God in order -- and how he terrorized their colony. Claiming to be God's avenger and to have a license to kill in the name of God, Ervil ordered the murders of friends and family members, eliminating all those who challenged his authority.

For those who were gripped by Shattered Dreams, the rest of the story will blow them away. CULT INSANITY is a riveting, terrifying memoir of polygamist life under the tyranny of a madman.

My Thoughts:

If you're like me and have read Irene's first book "Shattered Dreams" and were fascinated, then you'll most-likely find "Cult Insanity" an interesting addition. It's in this book that she talks in depth of Ervil's evil and shares her thoughts on being raised in polygamy.

There are some difference that I found throughout the two books, which confused me a bit. I found myself going back and forth comparing facts that I knew I had read differently in her first book. These facts do not take away from the terror that she went through nor the interest of the story.

Just like the first, I found myself with my mouth gaped open trying to even comprehend going through something like this. It's hard to relate to such an unbelievable life these people live. Their beliefs and daily ways are just so opposite of the ones most of us are brought up with. I believe this is the main draw to the book itself. This is Irene's PERSONAL view, which makes the story all the more tragic in it's realism.

Ervil would die in the Utah State prison in 1981 after killing a total of 28 people (members of the family, friends and church). But the killings didn't stop there. His children continued to kill for him after his death. He had even left them a list! I was awe-struck!

I did find that some of the chapters didn't really add to the story at all. In fact, they could be skipped all together. But, there was a list of all the people killed over the twenty years (1971-1991) by either Ervil or his cult group.

The facts in this story were both fascinating and unbelievable and author Irene Spenser does an incredible job of telling it! I definite must read.

About the Author:

Irene Spencer resides in Northern California with her husband of twenty-one years, Hector J. Spencer. During the twenty-eight years of her first marriage to a polygamous husband, Irene gave birth to thirteen children (all single births). She additionally adopted a newborn girl, who became her ninth child.

Irene has 123 grandchildren and sixty great-grandchildren. Among her many talents, she is an accomplished seamstress, a great cook, and is fluent in Spanish, and she has traveled to twenty-three countries and twenty-three states speaking on polygamy and related issues.



GIVEAWAY!!

FIVE Of My LUCKY Readers Will WIN A Copy Of Their Very Own!!
Courtesy of Anna and Hachette Book Group
Books will be coming directly from HBG - So, there are two rules
You MUST Reside in the U.S. or Canada ONLY
Also, You MUST Have a Street Address that You Can Give Me IF You Win
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How Do you Win?

It's Simple!
You must follow me by hitting the FOLLOW button
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All Entries MUST be in By Midnight October 1st Winners Drawn on the 2nd!

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47 comments:

  1. I'm already following you. This sounds like a very interesting read. I just finished The 19th Wife so would like to read and learn more about polygamous cults to try to gain a better understandig of how and why.

    melacan at hotmaild ot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Don't enter me as I've a copy of the book. I read Shattered Dreams too and have been very excited to read this book. Your review - despite some it's drawbacks makes me want to go pick it up right now!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I follow through Google Friend Connect and would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
    wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I subscribe via Google Reader.
    wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  5. +2 Subscribe by Mail
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  6. +2 Subscribe via Google Reader
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

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  7. +5 follow on twitter @throuthehaze
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Definitely enter me!

    I'm one of those people obsessed with reading about cults, idk if you remember all that news about Warren Jeffs and his marrying some children, yeah I was obsessed with reading news articles about that at the time.

    email is:
    goodbooksandgoodwine[at]gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. +5 following you on twitter (@booksandwine)

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  10. +15 your button is on my blog with a link back (http://readingisthespiceoflife.blogspot.com)

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  11. Interesting read! Just posted about this on Win A Book. Don't enter me, though.

    ReplyDelete
  12. 5 If you Follow Me on TWITTER! @stargirlreads

    and I follow you here

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  14. I'm already following you the books ounds like a great read!

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  15. I follow through google friend connect -
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  16. I have your button on my web site
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  17. I am a email subscriber and would really like to win this book.

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  18. I am a google follower and would like to win this book.


    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Please include me in the giveaway. I haven't read the first book. I will definitely take that out of the library. I watch the HBO series Big Love. I know this isn't like real life. It's made me interested in polygamous cults. I've seen reports about different groups and also Oprah. Fascinating experience that I'm glad I'm not a part of. Thank you.
    makeupgirl21@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  20. Please include me in teh giveaway. I am a follower of your blog.
    + 2 I subscribe by email
    Thank you.
    makeupgirl21@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  21. Please includeme in the giveaway.
    +2 I subscribe via Google Reader
    I'm a follower of your blog. Thank you.
    makeupgirl21@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  22. Please include me in the giveaway. I am a follower of you blog.
    + 5 I follow you on Twitter
    Thank you.
    Twitter: makeupgirl21

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi, I am a subscriber by google.

    runningmatey at hotmail dot com

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  24. I'm a follower and I would love to read this book.

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    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm really interested in this book.
    I went to school with some kids who were polygamous.
    Jolynn_Reads at yahoo

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm a email subscriber, without a blog.

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  27. This sounds like such an interesting story. I follow your blog.
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  28. Please enter me. Thanks for the chance. I follow on google friend connect.

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    ReplyDelete
  29. I forgot to put that I subscribe through Google.
    I also told 3 friends about your great Blog & they were suposed to say that I refered them. I can't figure out if they did or not they are Angie H.
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  42. I am a follower

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