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The 19th Wife

A Novel
Ebershoff, David (Book - 2008)
Average Rating: 1.5 stars out of 5.
The 19th Wife


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The story of Ann Eliza Young's crusade against polygamy intertwines with a tale of murder involving a polygamist family in present-day Utah.

Author: Ebershoff, David
Title: The 19th wife
a novel
Alternate Title: Nineteenth wife
Imprint: New York : - Random House
Pages: 514
Edition: 1st ed
ISBN: 9781400063970, 1400063973
Language: English
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Statement of responsibility: David Ebershoff
Characteristics: xii, 514 p. ;,ill. ;,25 cm.
Author (Original Script): Ebershoff, David
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recommended by Mom

Dec 17, 2012
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  • dbrh852 rated this: 2 stars out of 5.

This story was interesting for anyone addicted to "Sister Wives". Otherwise, skip it. It should have ended 250 pages sooner than it did.

Oct 05, 2012
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  • tegan rated this: 2.5 stars out of 5.

Another book club read, and well, the first 100 pages were awesome. I was completely engaged. The plot line switches back and forth between the historical fiction story of the 19th wife/the full history of Mormonism, and a current day story of a young man who had been excommunicated from his Mormon town. There are also archival entries to provide other bits of information. The issue though, is that the story is too long (500+ pages) and the story arch for the current day story seems very rushed at the end. I am also not a big historical fiction fan. A bunch of my friends in the book club really like the book.

Aug 16, 2012
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  • 70greengirl rated this: 3.5 stars out of 5.

An interesting read but also difficult. The story goes back and forth in time and is about several groups of people. At times it reads like a history text book, at other times a murder mystery, and also the journal of a jaded young man. He was “thrown away|” by his family at 13 and left to fend for himself. The “town” of the firsts (this young man is from) is hard to wrap my mind around. I find it difficult to believe that there really is a place like what is described in the novel in North America during our current decade!

Jun 25, 2012
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  • mudflapflossy rated this: 3.5 stars out of 5.

Entertaining & though provoking. We’ve got the same story playing out right here in Bountiful, BC. I’ve read a few books on polygamy, I like that this one focuses on how nasty this religion is for boys as well as women. Although I usually find it annoying, I also enjoyed how the author jumped between past & present telling 2 stories at once. Ann Young’s struggle to end polygamy in the late 1800’s became fresh & relevant, while the telling of polygamy’s impact on a gay young man in present times was really poignant. Some good lines in it, I particularly liked the description of “The 1st’s” as the Greta Garbo of cults.

Mar 25, 2012
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  • Infolass rated this: 4 stars out of 5.

A big book, this tome digs into the history of the Mormon Church while at the same time follows the story of Jordan who seeks the truth regarding the supposed murder of his father by his mother – the 19th wife. Well written and crafted if a tad long.

Jan 18, 2012
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  • BrigidScott rated this: 3.5 stars out of 5.

Parts of this were unbearably dreary and tedious, but overall I liked it.

Nov 21, 2011
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  • MsAnnabelle rated this: 3.5 stars out of 5.

If you enjoy watching Big Love you will enjoy this book. It talks about people and places that sound so familiar.

Jun 21, 2011
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  • bgschill rated this: 2 stars out of 5.

The only well written parts in this novel were the purported excerpts from Ann Eliza Young's own book "Wife no.19" published in 1876. The secondary, fictional story seemed like something submitted to a middle school writing club. His characters were shallow and uninteresting and often irrelevant.

May 03, 2011
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  • Sprout4054 rated this: 5 stars out of 5.

Loved this book. Couldn't wait to get home and read it each day!

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Oct 24, 2009
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  • birdie rated this: 5 stars out of 5.

David Ebershoff talks about The 19th Wife

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