Favorite Wife Audiobook By Susan Ray Schmidt cover art

Favorite Wife

Escape from Polygamy

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Favorite Wife

By: Susan Ray Schmidt
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen
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She had no choice in the matter - none of the girls did. Her mission was to give birth to and raise many children in devoted service to a shared husband. Susan was 15 years old when she became the sixth wife of Verlan LeBaron, one of the leaders of a rogue Mormon cult, who was engaged in a blood feud with his brother that from 1972 to 1988 claimed up to two dozen lives.

In this gripping and eloquent book, Susan Ray Schmidt tells the story of growing up on the inside and of her ultimate escape with her children from an oppressive and violent life. Delving more deeply into this mysterious underworld than any previous work, Favorite Wife is a powerful account of the affairs of the heart, coming of age under exceptional circumstances, and the tough choices that are sometimes painfully necessary to preserve human dignity.

Susan Ray Schmidt was once a member of the Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times and the child-bride of polygamist Verlan LeBaron in Colonia LeBaron in Mexico. After eight years of marriage, she left her husband and fled with her five children back to America. She remarried three years later.

©2006 Susan Ray Schmidt (P)2018 Tantor Marriage Mormon Mexico Latin America Cults Nonfiction
Compelling True Story • Well-written Memoir • Pleasant Voice • Fascinating Account • Riveting Narrative
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This book has been extremely exciting and very emotional. I should have read this book sooner after reading a Shattered Dreams by Irene Spencer. I really enjoyed all of the genealogical details that are given in this book. It would not matter if you are young or old, man or woman, this story has been a gift for anyone to read.

Very Exciting and Touching

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What a treacherous way to grow up! She had such strength of spirit. Definitely worth reading.

Fascinating

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I call this book a prequel in my title because the last book I listened to was The Polygamist's Daughter, by Anna LeBaron, which continues this story, just along a different branch of it. After I read that one, which was about Anna's youth in the 1970s and 80s as Ervil LeBaron's daughter, I found this one, which is more about Verlan LeBaron and one of his "wives," Susan. My Favorite Wife takes place in the decades preceding Anna's childhood--the 50s-70s. I recommend to other readers that they listen to My Favorite Wife first and then The Polygamist's Daughter. The former fills in a lot of information that the latter refers to, and now I understand the whole saga much better. Anna's story is, in some ways, even more shocking and riveting than this one, but both are excellent. My Favorite Wife is much longer and a little slow in places, though.

I'm not a fan of the reader for this book. Whereas Anna's story is read by the author, which gives it a more realistic, personal quality, the reader for Susan's story is clearly "performing". Her voice is pleasant to listen to, almost musical, but her oral interpretation has a theatrical quality that I found off-putting. Even so, I recommend both books highly. Now I would like to know how the whole "church" got started in the first place, so I may seek out that chapter of the saga eventually.

Wow--amazing prequel!

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The book is well written and told, however it is overall disturbing. The author's account details her love for her former husband but knowing her age at the time makes this a hard listen at times.

Disturbing

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Makes you grateful for the problems you have and let’s you see that there are others in the world that have it worse.

Wow

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It kept my attention! This is a fascinating story and it swept me up. I felt like I was there very well done on all levels.

Excellent

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This book is well written and well performed. Amazing grit that this woman displayed in her life. So happy she found the true God!!

Excellent memoir

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I have listened to several titles having to do with polygamy & this book does not disappoint. The genealogy in this one is terrific. Several of these names sounded familiar from other books & this one put most of those names in place and was easy to follow. Very few details were left out & Susan has an amazing strength and grit to her. Thoroughly enjoyed this book!!

An amazing addition to my library

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This was a good read,I would recomend to friends.Looking forward to more in this genera.

Good read

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Susan's life story had me captivated from the very beginning. There were some instances where I really wanted to scream at her to be smarter and make better decisions.Throughout the story you could really hear her maturing and growing which I really enjoyed.

Captivating

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