Shattered Dreams

My Life as a Polygamist's Wife

By: Irene Spencer

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Irene Spencer did as she felt God commanded in marrying her brother-in-law, Verlan LeBaron, becoming his second wife. When the government raided the fundamentalist, polygamous Mormon village of Short Creek, Arizona, Irene and her family fled to Verlan's brothers' Mexican ranch. They lived in squalor and desolate conditions in the Mexican desert with Verlan's six brothers, one sister, and numerous wives and children. Listeners will be appalled and astonished but, most amazingly, greatly inspired. Irene's dramatic story reveals how far religion can be stretched and abused, and how one woman and her children found their way out, into truth and redemption.

©2007 Irene Spencer (P)2007 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Engrossing....An intense story." ( Kirkus)
"Nothing short of astonishing....Emotional and shocking." ( Publishers Weekly)

The narration couldn't have been any better!

This book is well-written. I continue to be amazed by the LeBaron story. I've listened to books written by several of the family members.

interesting subject matter, too long

I've been interested in Mormonism and polygamy, and have read several books on the subject. This book fell short of the others, not without being interesting. SHATTERED DREAMS is a memoir by Irene Spencer, a second wife who goes in her tender teens to live in a sect in Mexico. Her story is incredible and quite painful to imagine living, but it was the subject herself I had trouble with. She seems to have no issue with the marrying off of young girls to men much older or the inferior position of women in general--unless it relates to herself. When she describes having to have more wives added to her family, the only problem she has with it is her jealousy, that she will have to share. I guess I was somehow under the impression that this would be a scathing view of a Mormon sect, but it's really not. In fact I found myself thinking this woman should just get herself together and stop whining! Either you're in or you're out! I thought the book was good in revealing the capacity of humans and culture, but it was too long and should have been edited A LOT.

Important Work

Thank you Irene for giving us this insight into what polygamy is really about with regard to early Mormonism and Fundamentalism. As a long-time Mormon I could really identify with, and certify, the wreckage that results from following the "teachings of men" blindly. This was well-written and well-read by Laural Merlington.

Gripping

Would you consider the audio edition of Shattered Dreams to be better than the print version?

I'm not sure, I've never read the print version

What did you like best about this story?

I really enjoyed the honest and straightforward approach to this book. I'm glad Irene Spencer decided to tell her story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did cry a few times. It was a beautiful story, sad at times.

really good

Ok so i really liked this book and Irene too! her story was both heartbreaking, inspiring and sincere.

there were so many times i wanted to shake her and yell, "get out of there!" and other times i wanted to hug her.

i am so happy that she got the love she deserved in the end. im so happy she understands that God loved her and wanted her to have joy not just sacrifice and pain.

i am sad that i found this book only after her death. i would dearly have loved to write her a letter.

Completely revealing of a strange religion

Really enjoyed the delving into a completely different lifestyle and religion. i had no idea. Joseph Smith was a nut!

Whoa!!

I have l listened to about 5 memoirs of polygamist wife’s and this was by far the best!

Just Wow!

The strength and courage of women in polygamy is astounding. Irene’s journey from a polygamist wife searching for love and happiness, to monogamist wife finally finding it is such an emotional journey! I cried so many times right along with her. In the end, God’s perfect love prevails! Well done Irene...well done!

AMAZING AMAZING

This book is AMAZING! Well written and the narrator did fantastic! Lots of tears were shed while listening to it. It crazy how she loved her husband so much amd he never appreciated her till it was to late.

Unbelievable

For anyone interested in a polygamist's perspective, this is the go-to-book. It was interesting to hear the experiences, feelings, and emotions of Irene Spencer. For goodness sake, she eventually ended up having over 7 sister wives! To hear her describe her jealousy about sharing her husband was expected. I'm not sure what woman would genuinely not hold jealous feelings when being in a plural marriage. However, as she explained her first relationship - which was monogamous and how some in the Mormon community (not inluding her mother) manipulated her several times into absolving that relationship was terribly unfortunate. I could not imagine being in her shoes - however, she does a good job at explaining what it was like if I were. It is best to listen to this with an open mind - very open.