Secrets & Wives

April 25, 2011
Veteran journalist Bhattacharya builds upon his Marie Claire article and Chanel 4 documentary, The Man With 80 Wives, to arrive at a book-length investigation of polygamy that is as much about this fringe community as it is about Bhattacharya's efforts to get them to talk to him. From his telling beginning, a quote from Bob Dylan, Bhattacharya is amusingly off and running, and readers will want to follow his punchy magazine-trained voice wherever it may lead; "dating is verboten in Centennial Park. Only God decides who hooks up with whom." His access into polygamist compounds is impressive, and the subjects that accept him into their home are given ample room to make the case for or against the practice. Ultimately the author finds polygamists to admire, polygamists who are amusing "nutjobs," and polygamists who are utterly terrifying. He inserts himself into the narrative from page one, often voicing the skepticism he expects of most readers ("I believe that the title of this book has already pissed off several million people."). As the story unfolds, focus shifts more inward, and Bhattacharya examines his own spirituality in a move that feels less like a tangent than his obvious, if unexpected, destination.

June 15, 2011

Though fundamentalist Mormon polygamy is portrayed in a benign light on TV (e.g., Big Love), the reality is for the most part much grimmer. Journalist Bhattacharya investigated several Mormon sects who practice "the principle" (not allowed in the Latter-day Saints church) and interviewed dozens of current and past members to get both sides of the story. It's not a pretty one. Clearly, he is more sympathetic to those who oppose polygamy; understandably because in many cases physical and sexual abuse, underage marriage, and incest are rampant. Some groups also display cultlike membership control methods and persecute members who have left. Interestingly, the author comes down on the side of legalizing polygamy, arguing that legalization would make it easier to prosecute abusers and open the practice to more "sunlight." VERDICT As at a car wreck, readers may be drawn to look but nauseated by what they see. Nevertheless, this is a riveting read for both Bhattacharya's wry and heartfelt style and the nature of the material. In a few places he has his facts wrong, but these are fairly minor. This journalistic account is appropriate for general and more serious readers with an interest in the subject.--David Azzolina, Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib., Philadelphia

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2011
Early on, Bhattacharya suggests that the world of Mormon polygamy is similar to a volcano, often ignored until a spectacular explosion brings it to the attention of the public. The latest such eruption, which began in 2004 with the FBIs investigation into Warren Jeffs and his Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, caught the authors attention. Hes been carefully plotting and cataloging the vague and tenaciously hidden world of polygamous Mormon sects ever since. The author takes the subject matter seriously, himself less so, and his light, often funny tone helps the reader examine ideas that are often foreign and sometimes infuriating. Bhattacharya brandishes words like fundamentalist and cult with full knowledge of how incendiary they can be but is exacting in his application of them. Its this sort of care that helps Bhattacharya conduct a thoughtful discussion on what is often considered a lurid subject without sounding like a scandalmonger. If your viewing of shows like Big Love or Sister Wives has left you curious, Bhattacharyas book offers a striking view into a fiercely secretive world.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)