From Housewife to Heretic

Rating:
Summary: bravo!
Review: First of all, to everyone who deems it necessary to attack the author of this book: shame on you. This is a place for reviews on the BOOK, not the author.

On that note, I found Sonia's book to be a delightful read. It's nice to finally read Mormon literature from a woman's perspective. Although a bit outdated, I felt that I could relate to most of what she wrote (both concerning the Mormon church, and not). She did get a bit out of hand with the "labeling" of ALL men. I'm sure that from her experiences, men have been less-than-human. Not all men are that way, though.

Not once does she attack the doctrine of the religion; only the hypocricy of most of the members [with whom she came into contact]. Her story may seem a bit exaggerated, but I don't believe it is. I went ahead and did some research on Sonia, the ERA, etc., and I found her book to be dead on the facts.

I've found myself treating Sonia's book like I would a history book. I've learned things about the Mormon church that I never even knew of when I was a member; all of which rings of some form of truth.

If you're looking for an interesting, compelling book based on one woman's experience within the Mormon church, you needn't look any further.

Rating:
Summary: The truth about the Mormon Church-- can you take it?
Review: I originally read this book when I was ten years old, and a Mormon. God only knows how I actually got ahold of it. I suppose I didn't really know what to make of it at the time. Each time I have read it since, it has more resonance. Most people simply have no idea of what really goes on in the Mormon church. They think it's a nice, sunny, family-oriented religion. They do not know that the ideas of natural inferiority of women and superiority of men are integral parts of the religion, perhaps THE most integral. They do not know that African-Americans were not admitted into the Aaronic priesthood until 1979. They do not know that men are still allowed to store away multiple wives for the afterlife (and that sounds bizarre because it is.) Even many converts do not necessarily know these things. Sonia does come across as bitter and angry throughout much of this book, I agree. But if we don't get angry about certain things, exactly what are we on this earth for? Now, more than ever, this classic book reminds us that there is a time to be angry. I really wonder what Sonia is doing now, and I hope to hear her voice on the current political situation.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling!
Review: I read the first half of this book, and then I just wanted to start making cuts all along my wrists. I find it interesting, as an aside, that every review here that rips on Mormonism gets "this review was helpful", but those who defend their religion get beat on. Whoever asked if "we could take" the truth about the church is dead wrong. What Sonia does in this book is bring 21st century politics into timeless religion. Women should be able to have careers, yada, yada, yada, but what Sonia fails to recognize in her book is that THE CHURCH DOES NOT CHANGE WITH THE TIMES. No church should. Men and women are equal but different. Unfortunately, Sonia is a very angry woman, which comes out in her every word, and she's mad for whatever reason that she couldn't be the next LDS prophet or something like that. Congratulations are in order for Sonia, who was further muddied the waters over the most misunderstood church in American history.

Rating:
Summary: From Housewife to Heretic
Review: Sonia Johnson is a brilliant, incredibly courageous and insightful feminist, as this book (as well as all her subsequent books)reveals. Her powerful sense of personal integrity and authenticity is remarkable, standing unshaken in the face of numerous untruths, betrayals, and manipulations by her spouse, the Mormon church, and society at large. Most of us travel through life taking baby steps, inching forward slowly and with trepidation -- but, in one short life, Sonia has traveled a million miles, taking many bold, daring leaps into the unknown, revealing a depth of character -- and an originality -- that few have ever achieved. And yet, she does not claim to be special; rather, she says we all have this capacity. What she truly is is a catalyst, a trailblazer, showing us women by her example what is possible when we have faith in ourselves and love for ourselves: that we too can scale the heights and walk new roads with our heads held high, courageously testing the waters of our hearts and souls. Through reading this book, I have come to resonate with Sonia's grand vision of life -- for she is a true visionary, a heroine, a Joan of Arc of the present day. Certainly she is the most original, far-seeing -- even mystical -- feminist I have ever encountered in writing. My life has been immeasurably enriched by the wonderful ideas contained in this unique book. Whenever I feel self-deprecating, discouraged and depressed (about life in general, and especially about being female in a patriarchal world!), I reread Sonia's words, and I always feel so much better -- heartened, even exalted and ennobled. Her words gently remind me I am not crazy, contemptible, and "less-than" --that what I am has beauty and power. This is what we women the world over desperately need to hear and to believe about ourselves (lord only knows we have internalized enough terrible lies about who we are, and I for one am sick of it. I now completely refuse to listen to sexist nonsense about who I am...and I have Sonia in part to thank for this wonderful sense of self-empowerment). Sonia Johnson's life has profoundly reached out and touched mine, and for that I am deeply grateful. I highly recommend this wonderful read to all those who truly care about women -- to those who dare to believe we can have a beautiful, magical, and noble world.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling!
Review: Sonia's story is a look into the experience of an individual's religious background. Sonia realized that she wasn't going to stand to be treated like she wasn't equal and did something about it only to be met with judgements and accusations of insanity, instability, and other very negative, unchristian actions. This is the sad part about the book, the very same people that went to the Church, who preached and listened to the good word about being a good christian, did not practice it after they left the parking lot. Just look at the strong words used in the "reviews" of this book. This is a story written by one person sharing their experience with the world. There may be more people out there who feel the same way. If so, who cares? Why would someone waste their energy to fill out reviews completely attacking the PERSON instead of giving a straight review of the BOOK? If you feel that you aren't being treated well and see hipocrisy around you, read this book. It will inspire you to be brave and get out. Get out and move on and find something that works for you. I did, and it feels great and I found comfort knowing that someone went through such a horrible ordeal and had the courage to change their situation and write about it. Good show; well done!

Rating:
Summary: Both revealing and misleading
Review: This book is somewhat dated now, as the Church has gotten a little more "PC" over the years, but it still offers some interesting insights into the Mormon woman experience. It's quite readable, and her story is compelling. However, it is one-sided, to say the very least, and not a totally accurate picture of the LDS Church's part in the ERA opposition or its attitudes toward women in general. It's an anecdotal history, told from her perspective. She describes some pretty clueless and condescending (male) church leaders, who are totally believable characters as far as I'm concerned, but not as representative of LDS men as she'd have you believe. (Yes, even the old-fashioned ones.) I also suspected a few "spins," such as when she laments having her temple recommend confiscated; she claims to have been planning to attend the temple the following morning to get spiritual strength for her church court. She may have been planning to attend the temple, but I strongly doubt that it was to get spiritual strength from an ordinance ceremony that is not exactly silent on the issue of defined gender roles!

This is a good book to read as a supplement to other historical accounts of the Mormon/ERA controversy. Sonia Johnson's personal experience lends color and humanity to the story. To be enlightening, however, it needs to be kept in perspective. Read it in conjunction with books by authors who are less biased--or at least biased in a different direction.

Rating:
Summary: Both revealing and misleading
Review: This book is somewhat dated now, as the Church has gotten a little more "PC" over the years, but it still offers some interesting insights into the Mormon woman experience. It's quite readable, and her story is compelling. However, it is one-sided, to say the very least, and not a totally accurate picture of the LDS Church's part in the ERA opposition or its attitudes toward women in general. It's an anecdotal history, told from her perspective. She describes some pretty clueless and condescending (male) church leaders, who are totally believable characters as far as I'm concerned, but not as representative of LDS men as she'd have you believe. (Yes, even the old-fashioned ones.) I also suspected a few "spins," such as when she laments having her temple recommend confiscated; she claims to have been planning to attend the temple the following morning to get spiritual strength for her church court. She may have been planning to attend the temple, but I strongly doubt that it was to get spiritual strength from an ordinance ceremony that is not exactly silent on the issue of defined gender roles!

This is a good book to read as a supplement to other historical accounts of the Mormon/ERA controversy. Sonia Johnson's personal experience lends color and humanity to the story. To be enlightening, however, it needs to be kept in perspective. Read it in conjunction with books by authors who are less biased--or at least biased in a different direction.