• Shattered Dreams

  • My Life as a Polygamist's Wife
  • By: Irene Spencer
  • Narrated by: Laural Merlington
  • Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (464 ratings)

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Shattered Dreams  By  cover art

Shattered Dreams

By: Irene Spencer
Narrated by: Laural Merlington
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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)

What listeners say about Shattered Dreams

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully Written!

Told with wit and heart. A captivating true story unlike any other. Irene Spencer was an amazing woman that I had the pleasure of talking to over the phone several years ago when I first read this book. I reached out to her on Facebook because I had friends from Colonia Lebaron. She called me almost immediately and we talked for about 45 minutes. She made me feel like we had known each other for years. Although we only spoke that one time, she made such an impression on me. I only wish she had been the one to narate this book for Audible.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What a remarkable memory of a woman of endurance

What made the experience of listening to Shattered Dreams the most enjoyable?

To hear this story was remarkable of the hardships we often put ourselves through with our choices. How she has kept any sanity at all means that she has the ability to love, endure, change, and accept.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • DK
  • 01-03-13

One woman's story of Polygamy-I found interesting

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Anti-climatic, but it is a 'true' story.

Any additional comments?

This was an interesting read about a religious practice/culture I do not believe is Biblical. However, I have a bit more insight and understanding why young women feel they are supposed to live this lifestyle.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

love this story

I have been on a kick of reading books about polygamous wives and their trials and tribulations for their faith and as soon as I started listening to Shattered Dreams I couldn't stop. Irene's story is amazing and inspiring and I am looking forward to reading Cult Insanity!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A triumph!

I’m something of a LeBaron sleuth having first read this some 12 years ago. I reread it occasionally along with many others. This is the first time I’ve listened. I adore the narrator. She is my favorite having listened to her on Ann Rule books. Irene had a lot to cover; from FLDS principles, to an infamous murder, yet her story of that of vulnerability and then strength as a woman is never lost. It is instead the beams that bolster the heavy material

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Riveting

I was enthralled from start to finish. Irene Spencer beautifully and heart wrenchingly told her story of living in polygamy. I couldn’t stop listening!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Sad story

Amazing story and very well written. Sad to hear how she went down this path in life but very glad she had the strength to leave.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Eye Opening... Difficult Listen... Honest

Other reviews have called this a long-winded whining. I didn't see it that way. Irene Spencer sprinkles humor in with tragedy. Her account reveals her own weakness as much as the weakness of those she lived with. She is both angry and empathetic. There is a sense of settled understanding even in the midst of chaos.

I wouldn't recommend this as entertainment, but it was a fascinating insight into fundamentalist Mormon poligamy. It teaches broader themes as it recounts the story of one woman.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

eye opening

this was a fabulously written, revealing and personal narrative. I appreciated the honestness and openness of the author. I highly recommend it.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

I Now Know Something About Polygamy

Irene Spencer's story is an easy read and details her life in a polygamous family. I have never read about this subject before and it is incredible how someone could live like this but then you can also understand a little bit when reading the full story. It is sad and pretty clear that polygamy is most definitely more appealing to the men than the women.. Bottom line, women do not get much out of the deal. The book had me hooked just to see if Irene would ever be able to leave. I think this is one of those stories that could not be made up!

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3 people found this helpful