This is a book review I did over Under the Banner of Heaven for my feature writing class. It was pretty simple we read the book and then wrote the review.
Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakauer, is a non-fiction novel which has received many high praises. The New York Times Book Review said, “Powerfully illuminating…Almost every section of the book is fascinating in its own right, and together the chapters make a rich picture…An arresting portrait of depravity.”
Krakauer begins by painting a detailed and sometimes graphic picture of the violent history of the Mormon faith. The book begins with the account of the aftermath immediately following the cold-blooded murder of Brenda Lafferty and her baby daughter Erica by two of her brothers-in-law. Dan and Ron Lafferty claimed that the murder was the fulfillment of a divine revelation.
Krakauer also spends a short amount of time discussing the abduction of Elizabeth Smart and explains why she was so susceptible to the influence of her abductor.
The story then continues on to describe how many fundamentalist colonies are taking advantage of the U.S. system of government and then flashes back to the founding of the Mormon Religion by Joseph Smith Jr. in the mid 1800s. He explains why and how Mormonism was able to so quickly take hold and survive in the midst of a religious revolution in the United States when so many other religions failed.
Krakauer describes in great well researched detail various violent events of Mormon history. Many of which were sanction by Latter-day Saint officials. The book tells the story of the journey of the Mormon Church during its early history to eventually settle in Utah after being forced out of New York, Missouri, and Illinois.
He is able to clearly lay out the evolution of the Mormon faith into the religion that it is today as well as explain the deviation of the fundamentalists from the modern Mormon faith.
Under the Banner of Heaven does an excellent job of exploring the tenants of the Mormon faith and how many of the more controversial ones, including plural marriage came to be. It also contains so incite into how these tents, specifically divine revelation have shaped the faith.
Krakauer explains the dramatic and harmful effects that plural marriage has on the young girls that are affected by it. He gives an insightful look into their lives. There are many different first-hand accounts of incest and rape by polygamist.
The story ends with a detailed account of the murders and the drama that unfolded in the court room and prison involving Dan and Ron including Ron’s attempted murder of his brother Dan while in prison which he claims was also divinely reveled.
The story jumps back and forth between the history of the founding of the Mormon faith and it’s violent past and the modern event of several individuals acting on their fundamentalist Mormon beliefs. Even though this method can become slightly confusing at times it is highly effective.
This book is a must read for anyone interested in world religions. It will greatly advance the readers knowledge and understanding of the Mormon and Fundamentalist Mormon beliefs. It is written in an unbiased manner that flows easily. It is evident that Krakauer spent a large amount of time reading historical documents of the Mormon Church and interviewing everyone from religious experts to Dan and Ron Lafferty themselves. The book is well researched and well written.
Krakauer is a non-fiction author and outdoorsman. He grew up in Oregon and was the third child of five. He was surrounded by members of the church and fascinated with the faith. He has worked as a magazine journalist for Outside. His writing has also appeared in Smithsonian, National Geographic Magazine and Rolling Stone.
Krakauer is also the author of a number of other non-fiction works, including best-seller Into the Wild which is being adapted into a film directed by Sean Penn and is set to be release this year. Krakauer also wrote New York Times best-seller Into Thin Air.
Another book on the subject includes The Mormon Conspiracy by Charles L. Woods which looks at the “the political ambitions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how they have become successful in this goal unnoticed by the majority of Americans.”
Krakauer begins by painting a detailed and sometimes graphic picture of the violent history of the Mormon faith. The book begins with the account of the aftermath immediately following the cold-blooded murder of Brenda Lafferty and her baby daughter Erica by two of her brothers-in-law. Dan and Ron Lafferty claimed that the murder was the fulfillment of a divine revelation.
Krakauer also spends a short amount of time discussing the abduction of Elizabeth Smart and explains why she was so susceptible to the influence of her abductor.
The story then continues on to describe how many fundamentalist colonies are taking advantage of the U.S. system of government and then flashes back to the founding of the Mormon Religion by Joseph Smith Jr. in the mid 1800s. He explains why and how Mormonism was able to so quickly take hold and survive in the midst of a religious revolution in the United States when so many other religions failed.
Krakauer describes in great well researched detail various violent events of Mormon history. Many of which were sanction by Latter-day Saint officials. The book tells the story of the journey of the Mormon Church during its early history to eventually settle in Utah after being forced out of New York, Missouri, and Illinois.
He is able to clearly lay out the evolution of the Mormon faith into the religion that it is today as well as explain the deviation of the fundamentalists from the modern Mormon faith.
Under the Banner of Heaven does an excellent job of exploring the tenants of the Mormon faith and how many of the more controversial ones, including plural marriage came to be. It also contains so incite into how these tents, specifically divine revelation have shaped the faith.
Krakauer explains the dramatic and harmful effects that plural marriage has on the young girls that are affected by it. He gives an insightful look into their lives. There are many different first-hand accounts of incest and rape by polygamist.
The story ends with a detailed account of the murders and the drama that unfolded in the court room and prison involving Dan and Ron including Ron’s attempted murder of his brother Dan while in prison which he claims was also divinely reveled.
The story jumps back and forth between the history of the founding of the Mormon faith and it’s violent past and the modern event of several individuals acting on their fundamentalist Mormon beliefs. Even though this method can become slightly confusing at times it is highly effective.
This book is a must read for anyone interested in world religions. It will greatly advance the readers knowledge and understanding of the Mormon and Fundamentalist Mormon beliefs. It is written in an unbiased manner that flows easily. It is evident that Krakauer spent a large amount of time reading historical documents of the Mormon Church and interviewing everyone from religious experts to Dan and Ron Lafferty themselves. The book is well researched and well written.
Krakauer is a non-fiction author and outdoorsman. He grew up in Oregon and was the third child of five. He was surrounded by members of the church and fascinated with the faith. He has worked as a magazine journalist for Outside. His writing has also appeared in Smithsonian, National Geographic Magazine and Rolling Stone.
Krakauer is also the author of a number of other non-fiction works, including best-seller Into the Wild which is being adapted into a film directed by Sean Penn and is set to be release this year. Krakauer also wrote New York Times best-seller Into Thin Air.
Another book on the subject includes The Mormon Conspiracy by Charles L. Woods which looks at the “the political ambitions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how they have become successful in this goal unnoticed by the majority of Americans.”
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