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Keep Sweet
Alva Jane has never questioned her parents, never questioned her faith, never questioned her future. She is content with the strict rules that define her life in Pineridge, the walled community where she lives with her father, his seven wives, and her twenty-eight siblings. This is the only world Alva has ever known, and she has never thought to challenge it.
But everything changes when Alva is caught giving her long-time crush an innocent first kiss. Beaten, scorned, and now facing a forced marriage to a violent, fifty-year old man, Alva suddenly realizes how much she has to lose--and how impossible it will be to escape.
But everything changes when Alva is caught giving her long-time crush an innocent first kiss. Beaten, scorned, and now facing a forced marriage to a violent, fifty-year old man, Alva suddenly realizes how much she has to lose--and how impossible it will be to escape.
215 pages, Hardcover
First published February 24, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
August 16, 2018
Books like this are tough to rate. The first reason is that the terrible world this story takes place in is a fictionalized version of the real thing. The other reason is that the FLDS and Mormons in general are something most people don't genuinely know about beyond jokes, rumours, and what we see on reality shows like Sister Wives, which makes it difficult to read something like this without becoming wildly enraged and hating everybody in Utah. This leads me to believe that it may also be challenging to write a book like this without becoming wildly enraged and hating everyone in Utah - so there's no telling how much of Keep Sweet was sensationalised.
This was undeniably worst case Mormon scenario. I'm convinced Michele Dominguez Greene did her research, but I myself know nothing about the FLDS community. So. I mean. What can I really say here?
Keep Sweet surpassed my expectations by a mile to say the least. It was compulsively readable; I finished it in an evening and only took a break to step out and buy groceries. Alva Jane is a really good protagonist who shows a great deal of realistic character development. She's completely brainwashed for much of the book and I assumed at some point she would uncharacteristically snap out of it, but Michele Greene takes her time with the small revelations and I really appreciated that Alva tried desperately to hold on to her faith even when she was questioning everything.
In conclusion, Keep Sweet is a very swift and engaging read. It's definitely geared towards Teens, but if you're interested in polygamy, cults, the FLDS church and you're partial to YA novels then I say have a go at it. It definitely doesn't disappoint.
This was undeniably worst case Mormon scenario. I'm convinced Michele Dominguez Greene did her research, but I myself know nothing about the FLDS community. So. I mean. What can I really say here?
Keep Sweet surpassed my expectations by a mile to say the least. It was compulsively readable; I finished it in an evening and only took a break to step out and buy groceries. Alva Jane is a really good protagonist who shows a great deal of realistic character development. She's completely brainwashed for much of the book and I assumed at some point she would uncharacteristically snap out of it, but Michele Greene takes her time with the small revelations and I really appreciated that Alva tried desperately to hold on to her faith even when she was questioning everything.
In conclusion, Keep Sweet is a very swift and engaging read. It's definitely geared towards Teens, but if you're interested in polygamy, cults, the FLDS church and you're partial to YA novels then I say have a go at it. It definitely doesn't disappoint.
January 29, 2011
I'm beginning to feel like stories of young women in oppressive FLDS sects are getting rather repetitive - that the publishers keep putting them out there just so there'll be a new one every year (and every publisher has one), but they're really all telling the same story.
The last two YA stories in this vein I read were Sister Wife and The Chosen One. Those two had a lot of uncanny similarities - Keep Sweet changes up some of the details, but the broad strokes of the story are exactly the same - young woman is totally devoted to her faith, falls for a young man, ends up promised in marriage to a much older man, and must devise a way to escape. Previous stories have included benevolent fathers and mothers who were pained to see their child hurt, but Alva Jane's parents seem to have been utterly brainwashed and care only for their standing in the community, and how Alva's "willfulness" could jeopardize that standing, so I suppose there's a bit of a twist, but it's not much of one.
Is this a bad story? No. Greene is a talented writer and Alva's a believable character. I'm giving this three stars because all on its own, this is a solid story that doesn't skimp on the details of some of the horrors of FLDS life. On the other hand, I can't rate it any higher because the book doesn't exist in a vacuum, and it's not the first to share this story.
Also, I have to add: I'm no design expert, but who thought it was a great idea to put aqua font on a dark blue/green background for the jacket copy? I'm in a well lit room and I can barely make out the jacket blurbs, and I'm not that old!
The last two YA stories in this vein I read were Sister Wife and The Chosen One. Those two had a lot of uncanny similarities - Keep Sweet changes up some of the details, but the broad strokes of the story are exactly the same - young woman is totally devoted to her faith, falls for a young man, ends up promised in marriage to a much older man, and must devise a way to escape. Previous stories have included benevolent fathers and mothers who were pained to see their child hurt, but Alva Jane's parents seem to have been utterly brainwashed and care only for their standing in the community, and how Alva's "willfulness" could jeopardize that standing, so I suppose there's a bit of a twist, but it's not much of one.
Is this a bad story? No. Greene is a talented writer and Alva's a believable character. I'm giving this three stars because all on its own, this is a solid story that doesn't skimp on the details of some of the horrors of FLDS life. On the other hand, I can't rate it any higher because the book doesn't exist in a vacuum, and it's not the first to share this story.
Also, I have to add: I'm no design expert, but who thought it was a great idea to put aqua font on a dark blue/green background for the jacket copy? I'm in a well lit room and I can barely make out the jacket blurbs, and I'm not that old!
January 19, 2012
For some reason, it seems that fringe societies are the popular topic this year. From memoirs retelling stories of life in a strict religious group or escape from such a group to young adult fiction depicting the same, everyone is interested in these groups. This book was just one of about half a dozen such books on the "new young adult fiction" shelf at the library. I chose this book because it discusses the FLDS, a group about which I have read recently.
Alva is a daughter of her father's favorite wife, and things are going pretty well for her. She watches her mother jockey for her father's attention and is certain, even when her father adds a seventh wife, that her mother will still be the favorite. Alva plans to do this same thing once she is married, although she hopes to be someone's first wife.
All of this changes when outsiders enter the community. A man and his wife choose to join the FLDS, and Alva finds herself becoming friends with Brenda, the short-haired, pants-wearing wife who works at a bank in town and can't sew or cook to save her life. Alva begins to realize that perhaps the world outside isn't nearly as evil as everyone suggested, and that there might be some things wrong with the FLDS beliefs.
Alva's decision to flee the community comes after she is caught almost kissing John Joseph, a boy she is hoping to marry. Her father's swift reaction - having the boy expelled from the community, beating Alva with a belt, locking her in the cellar for the night, and marrying her off to a very violent 50-year old man - convinces Alva that she must leave.
This book was a very quick read for me. I enjoyed learning about life inside an FLDS community from the perspective of a child, and I was on the edge of my seat as Alva attempted to escape the community. I was cheering for Alva in her second escape attempt, this time in the trunk of Brenda's car. I found myself comparing Alva's escape to Jonas's in Lois Lowry's The Giver, and I cheered with Alva when she discovered that John Joseph, now one of the lost boys, had been looking for her. Overall, this story was very well-written and kept me interested.
However, I have to offer one rather large caveat: when Alva attempts to escape the first time, she is caught and returned to the community. Upon her return, she is forced into a marriage with a 50-year old man, who then takes her to the basement of the building and consummates the marriage. Alva is not yet 15 at this time, and the rape scene, although brief, is graphic and scary. There is also a scene earlier in the book where Alva witnesses this same man beating one of his wives who attempted to escape. That scene is particularly violent and distressing that so many people could watch in silence while a man broke his wife's jaw and ribs and beat her into unconsciousness.
Because of these two scenes, I do not recommend this book to anyone who is a teenager or has a history of abuse, and I recommend extreme caution for all others. I understand why the author would choose to include these scenes, and I appreciate their brevity and the way they help to move the plot along, but when I finished this book I had to "clean out my brain" with another book before I could go to bed that night. Greene's depiction of life within the FLDS community seems fairly accurate from the little I know and have read, and she walks a fine line between condemning their unusual beliefs and showcasing the reasoning behind some of their actions.
Alva is a daughter of her father's favorite wife, and things are going pretty well for her. She watches her mother jockey for her father's attention and is certain, even when her father adds a seventh wife, that her mother will still be the favorite. Alva plans to do this same thing once she is married, although she hopes to be someone's first wife.
All of this changes when outsiders enter the community. A man and his wife choose to join the FLDS, and Alva finds herself becoming friends with Brenda, the short-haired, pants-wearing wife who works at a bank in town and can't sew or cook to save her life. Alva begins to realize that perhaps the world outside isn't nearly as evil as everyone suggested, and that there might be some things wrong with the FLDS beliefs.
Alva's decision to flee the community comes after she is caught almost kissing John Joseph, a boy she is hoping to marry. Her father's swift reaction - having the boy expelled from the community, beating Alva with a belt, locking her in the cellar for the night, and marrying her off to a very violent 50-year old man - convinces Alva that she must leave.
This book was a very quick read for me. I enjoyed learning about life inside an FLDS community from the perspective of a child, and I was on the edge of my seat as Alva attempted to escape the community. I was cheering for Alva in her second escape attempt, this time in the trunk of Brenda's car. I found myself comparing Alva's escape to Jonas's in Lois Lowry's The Giver, and I cheered with Alva when she discovered that John Joseph, now one of the lost boys, had been looking for her. Overall, this story was very well-written and kept me interested.
However, I have to offer one rather large caveat: when Alva attempts to escape the first time, she is caught and returned to the community. Upon her return, she is forced into a marriage with a 50-year old man, who then takes her to the basement of the building and consummates the marriage. Alva is not yet 15 at this time, and the rape scene, although brief, is graphic and scary. There is also a scene earlier in the book where Alva witnesses this same man beating one of his wives who attempted to escape. That scene is particularly violent and distressing that so many people could watch in silence while a man broke his wife's jaw and ribs and beat her into unconsciousness.
Because of these two scenes, I do not recommend this book to anyone who is a teenager or has a history of abuse, and I recommend extreme caution for all others. I understand why the author would choose to include these scenes, and I appreciate their brevity and the way they help to move the plot along, but when I finished this book I had to "clean out my brain" with another book before I could go to bed that night. Greene's depiction of life within the FLDS community seems fairly accurate from the little I know and have read, and she walks a fine line between condemning their unusual beliefs and showcasing the reasoning behind some of their actions.
March 3, 2022
ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book!
I usually read cult memoirs that are true, but this was the first fiction book I read that was based off of the FLDS cult. Some of this story was taken from the nonfiction book, Stolen Innocence, which I haven't read yet but definitely want to. I think that's why I loved it so much, because it was so real. This was a super fast read, so entertaining but also sad to see that young girls are treated this way in the FLDS cult.
I usually read cult memoirs that are true, but this was the first fiction book I read that was based off of the FLDS cult. Some of this story was taken from the nonfiction book, Stolen Innocence, which I haven't read yet but definitely want to. I think that's why I loved it so much, because it was so real. This was a super fast read, so entertaining but also sad to see that young girls are treated this way in the FLDS cult.
May 9, 2010
Title: Keep Sweet
Author: Michele Dominguez Greene
Publisher: Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster)
Is it just me, or are former television stars really enjoying the YA book world? We have Lauren Conrad (who I still need to try out) and her L.A.Candy novels, Carolyn Henessey from That 70's Show with her Pandora series for Middle Grade students, and in the future, Hilary Duff with Elixir. Naturally, picking up this book came with slight fears of bad writing and a cliched storyline. No offense to these writers by any means, but having a name can make getting something bad published a lot easier.
Michele Dominguez Greene managed to blow my expectations out of the water.
Alva Jane has grown up and forever known the world of Pineridge, a FLDS community in the borders of Utah. The Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints have treated her well, and through all that she's known, they've been right. Holy. And what's more, she's caught the eye of the sweetest boy in the community - Joseph John. When she realizes he shares these unguarded feelings for her as well, her life just seems to be happier and happier. After all, Joseph John has had dreams about being together. If he goes to the prophet, he can eventually have her as his wife. His first wife.
But when a new couple moves in to Pineridge, and the wife is less than thrilled to adjust to everything, things get worse. Suddenly, Alva Jane finds herself in a world of increasing clarity. Her father has his eyes on a loose girl of sixteen - and her mother, already fighting with seven other wives for her spot as top affection holder, isn't too pleased. And the brother of the prophet discovers his wife trying to escape - leading Alva Jane and her half sister to witness her being punished in the name of the Lord. Things only get worse. And when Alva Jane finds herself in a sect scarier than ever before, the motto 'Keep sweet' doesn't seem so innocent anymore. And neither do the people.
Books involving polygamist religions and these types of troubled faiths are always hard to judge. On one hand, these stories are interesting to me, because they handle the importance of questioning and open faith, the importance of fair treatment, and many branches of psychological issues. Plus, more often than not, these cults and religions often have dire consequences involving the children in the heart of the community. While I find these to be positives to the plot, it may very well make other people feel uncomfortable. Rape, abuse, abandonment, and brain washing are all big parts of this novel. But if the reader can suck in their fears and questions, they are bound to find a book that is both compelling and an important look into the cult ideals we hear about, but never truly see first hand.
Alva Jane is a protagonist that's hard to pin down. Greene's writing isn't bad, though it suffers from sometimes telling more than showing. However, the first person narrative of Alva Jane is never really awkward, and the characters manage to come of the page pretty well, though some of the wives tend to blend together. Not that juggling so many secondary characters is easy by any means. The important characters are done pretty well, though they manage sprinklings of depth that could have been expanded upon. What's most important is that through all of Alva Jane's hardships, the reader feels immense disappointment if she fails, or triumph if she succeeds. More than once I found myself wondering how I came to care so much about her escaping her life - because you really don't see the growing affection with the character so easily.
While Greene showed a lot of strong points, her book could have been longer. The story was plotted well and it never had a dull moment, but she could have expanded more on her other characters and been better off later on for it. Also, sometimes it got slow if there were many paragraphs between dialogue and action. Usually the pace wasn't bad, but the times were noticeable when it was.
This is not a book for everyone. This book will not impress everyone, and some people will be put off by the horrific actions that happen. It's protagonist is strong. It's plot is strong too - maybe too strong at some points. Either way, it hits home every point it means to. While the writing could have been a bit more polished in some areas, it managed to be more than I thought it was, and I have to commend Greene for writing about something - and researching it beforehand - that will affect many teens, and that needs to be told to the world. It's not the best, but it's a darn good interpretation of a teenager's life in a cult, and all of the confusion that goes with it.
Cover Comments: A great cover by any means! The hair is so symbolic, and I love the marring lines that hold the title, and the chapter titles inside. One of the better YA covers out there so far - even if it doesn't portray the plot so much as the emotion going on inside the plot.
Rating: 4 Stars
Copy: From Teens Read Too and Simon Pulse (Thankies!!)
This review can also be found at Dreaming in Books, http://dreaminginbooks.blogspot.com
Author: Michele Dominguez Greene
Publisher: Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster)
Is it just me, or are former television stars really enjoying the YA book world? We have Lauren Conrad (who I still need to try out) and her L.A.Candy novels, Carolyn Henessey from That 70's Show with her Pandora series for Middle Grade students, and in the future, Hilary Duff with Elixir. Naturally, picking up this book came with slight fears of bad writing and a cliched storyline. No offense to these writers by any means, but having a name can make getting something bad published a lot easier.
Michele Dominguez Greene managed to blow my expectations out of the water.
Alva Jane has grown up and forever known the world of Pineridge, a FLDS community in the borders of Utah. The Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints have treated her well, and through all that she's known, they've been right. Holy. And what's more, she's caught the eye of the sweetest boy in the community - Joseph John. When she realizes he shares these unguarded feelings for her as well, her life just seems to be happier and happier. After all, Joseph John has had dreams about being together. If he goes to the prophet, he can eventually have her as his wife. His first wife.
But when a new couple moves in to Pineridge, and the wife is less than thrilled to adjust to everything, things get worse. Suddenly, Alva Jane finds herself in a world of increasing clarity. Her father has his eyes on a loose girl of sixteen - and her mother, already fighting with seven other wives for her spot as top affection holder, isn't too pleased. And the brother of the prophet discovers his wife trying to escape - leading Alva Jane and her half sister to witness her being punished in the name of the Lord. Things only get worse. And when Alva Jane finds herself in a sect scarier than ever before, the motto 'Keep sweet' doesn't seem so innocent anymore. And neither do the people.
Books involving polygamist religions and these types of troubled faiths are always hard to judge. On one hand, these stories are interesting to me, because they handle the importance of questioning and open faith, the importance of fair treatment, and many branches of psychological issues. Plus, more often than not, these cults and religions often have dire consequences involving the children in the heart of the community. While I find these to be positives to the plot, it may very well make other people feel uncomfortable. Rape, abuse, abandonment, and brain washing are all big parts of this novel. But if the reader can suck in their fears and questions, they are bound to find a book that is both compelling and an important look into the cult ideals we hear about, but never truly see first hand.
Alva Jane is a protagonist that's hard to pin down. Greene's writing isn't bad, though it suffers from sometimes telling more than showing. However, the first person narrative of Alva Jane is never really awkward, and the characters manage to come of the page pretty well, though some of the wives tend to blend together. Not that juggling so many secondary characters is easy by any means. The important characters are done pretty well, though they manage sprinklings of depth that could have been expanded upon. What's most important is that through all of Alva Jane's hardships, the reader feels immense disappointment if she fails, or triumph if she succeeds. More than once I found myself wondering how I came to care so much about her escaping her life - because you really don't see the growing affection with the character so easily.
While Greene showed a lot of strong points, her book could have been longer. The story was plotted well and it never had a dull moment, but she could have expanded more on her other characters and been better off later on for it. Also, sometimes it got slow if there were many paragraphs between dialogue and action. Usually the pace wasn't bad, but the times were noticeable when it was.
This is not a book for everyone. This book will not impress everyone, and some people will be put off by the horrific actions that happen. It's protagonist is strong. It's plot is strong too - maybe too strong at some points. Either way, it hits home every point it means to. While the writing could have been a bit more polished in some areas, it managed to be more than I thought it was, and I have to commend Greene for writing about something - and researching it beforehand - that will affect many teens, and that needs to be told to the world. It's not the best, but it's a darn good interpretation of a teenager's life in a cult, and all of the confusion that goes with it.
Cover Comments: A great cover by any means! The hair is so symbolic, and I love the marring lines that hold the title, and the chapter titles inside. One of the better YA covers out there so far - even if it doesn't portray the plot so much as the emotion going on inside the plot.
Rating: 4 Stars
Copy: From Teens Read Too and Simon Pulse (Thankies!!)
This review can also be found at Dreaming in Books, http://dreaminginbooks.blogspot.com
April 10, 2010
I found this book hauntingly accurate. The author has done her research and has told a tale of a fictional young woman with a story very similar to many others who have told their story of FLDS women in the culture.
I was a little disappointed with some of the improbable scenarios as I think she may have gotten the LDS church confused with FLDS church which are very, very different. The FLDS don't actively proselyte. The FLDS do not attend BYU because it is difficult to get admitted and they would have to pay non-member prices since the members subsidize the school with tithes. I mean members of the mainstream Mormon church. It is much more likely a member of the FLDS church would be "chosen" and called to attend Southern Utah University or Dixie State. They are not an uncommon sight at those two colleges.
Besides that, the story is solid although a couple of other facts are crossed over to the LDS church. These churches split over a hundred years ago and have clearly developed in different directions. I would have appreciated a more clear delineation.
That said, Michele Greene's writing style is flowing and she weaves an engaging story that is difficult to put down. I look forward to more of her books.
I was a little disappointed with some of the improbable scenarios as I think she may have gotten the LDS church confused with FLDS church which are very, very different. The FLDS don't actively proselyte. The FLDS do not attend BYU because it is difficult to get admitted and they would have to pay non-member prices since the members subsidize the school with tithes. I mean members of the mainstream Mormon church. It is much more likely a member of the FLDS church would be "chosen" and called to attend Southern Utah University or Dixie State. They are not an uncommon sight at those two colleges.
Besides that, the story is solid although a couple of other facts are crossed over to the LDS church. These churches split over a hundred years ago and have clearly developed in different directions. I would have appreciated a more clear delineation.
That said, Michele Greene's writing style is flowing and she weaves an engaging story that is difficult to put down. I look forward to more of her books.
December 27, 2012
Keep Sweet is a story about a young girl born into a fundamentalist Mormon polygamist cult, rife with domestic abuse, rape, and child abuse. It was stomach-churning to read parts of this book that showcase the way that women are treated, and even worse to read how the women buy into it and think that they literally have no other option but to live this way (either for salvation or because they are forced to stay).
This wasn't the best book I've ever read, but I couldn't put it down. I read it all in an evening; it's a quick read. I love stories about cults (I feel a little weird saying that, like I get pleasure from other people's horror stories - that's not the case, I just think it's interesting microcosms of society and case studies on cultural/societal domination and whatnot...). The cool thing about this book was that the author did a lot of research to ensure that the stories in the book were based on fact, even though the story is fiction. To think that these types of places still exist is mind-blowing and sickening, and I pray that there is someone out there working diligently to take them all down and get the women and children to safety.
This wasn't the best book I've ever read, but I couldn't put it down. I read it all in an evening; it's a quick read. I love stories about cults (I feel a little weird saying that, like I get pleasure from other people's horror stories - that's not the case, I just think it's interesting microcosms of society and case studies on cultural/societal domination and whatnot...). The cool thing about this book was that the author did a lot of research to ensure that the stories in the book were based on fact, even though the story is fiction. To think that these types of places still exist is mind-blowing and sickening, and I pray that there is someone out there working diligently to take them all down and get the women and children to safety.
June 15, 2017
This book was phenomenal, wonderful writing, a strong, realistic character that you love and root for. Highly recommended!! But I don't even have words... I feel so sick. THIS FLDS SHIT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON. IN AMERICA. LITTLE GIRLS ARE BEING FORCIBLY MARRIED OFF AND RAPED!!!! AND NO ONE DOES SHIT ABOUT IT!! THIS MAY BE A WORK OF FICTION BUT IT'S BASED ON A DISGUSTING TRUTH.
September 22, 2024
Holy crap. This book is so good!i read most of it in one sitting!!! I wish the ending would have been more in depth i still have questions and stuff but it was really well written! I also started watching "keep sweet pray and obey" on netflix! But seriously this book it so creepy and intense!
August 7, 2024
4.5/5 ⭐
This was a very powerful book. I feel so bad for Alva Jane.
Warning - this book is graphic. It doesn't shy away from depictions of sexual contact with underage girls, and it really exposes you to the horror these girls faced, because sadly that's something that actually happened in these cults..but..be warned. It's horrific and sad.
This was a very powerful book. I feel so bad for Alva Jane.
Warning - this book is graphic. It doesn't shy away from depictions of sexual contact with underage girls, and it really exposes you to the horror these girls faced, because sadly that's something that actually happened in these cults..but..be warned. It's horrific and sad.
October 2, 2010
Having read Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka and The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams, I was definitely interested in reading another YA novel about polygamous societies. Keep Sweet is just as good as both of these books.
Keep Sweet is about a girl named Alva, living in the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints community of Pineridge. She never questions her faith, or the fact that her dad has seven wives. She is a perfectly respectable young woman, but all that changes when she is caught giving her crush a first kiss. Forced to marry a violent, fifty-year-old man, Alva starts to see her faith for what it really is, and realizes she needs to escape if she wants a chance at a good life.
Wow. This book was horrifying and shocking. The narration at the beginning was so strange. Here's Alva, speaking about things so abnormal, but saying it as though it's no big deal. Like she believes it. Because, in the beginning, she does.
This book was scary, more so than the other two I mentioned earlier. Alva seems more mature than other female protagonists, so she speaks of things in a very knowing way. So when she finally ends up getting married, it just makes everything so creepy. Greene doesn't mind getting a little graphic and harsh. I think she had to. She really wanted to drive home how horrible life is for the young women in these communities. And she did a remarkable job.
Okay, so this is not necessarily what you could call an 'enjoyable' read, but it's a good one nonetheless. It's also very educational, so it's a great way to learn about polygamy while being intrigued by such a gripping book. If you liked Sister Wife or The Chosen One, I would definitely recommend this one. And if you haven't read those two, add them to your list along with Keep Sweet!
Keep Sweet is about a girl named Alva, living in the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints community of Pineridge. She never questions her faith, or the fact that her dad has seven wives. She is a perfectly respectable young woman, but all that changes when she is caught giving her crush a first kiss. Forced to marry a violent, fifty-year-old man, Alva starts to see her faith for what it really is, and realizes she needs to escape if she wants a chance at a good life.
Wow. This book was horrifying and shocking. The narration at the beginning was so strange. Here's Alva, speaking about things so abnormal, but saying it as though it's no big deal. Like she believes it. Because, in the beginning, she does.
This book was scary, more so than the other two I mentioned earlier. Alva seems more mature than other female protagonists, so she speaks of things in a very knowing way. So when she finally ends up getting married, it just makes everything so creepy. Greene doesn't mind getting a little graphic and harsh. I think she had to. She really wanted to drive home how horrible life is for the young women in these communities. And she did a remarkable job.
Okay, so this is not necessarily what you could call an 'enjoyable' read, but it's a good one nonetheless. It's also very educational, so it's a great way to learn about polygamy while being intrigued by such a gripping book. If you liked Sister Wife or The Chosen One, I would definitely recommend this one. And if you haven't read those two, add them to your list along with Keep Sweet!
August 28, 2010
I'm glad I read this hugely spaced apart from The Chosen One because there are a lot of (unintentional, I'm sure) overlaps. Ultimately they cover a lot of the same ground, and while I think The Chosen One is the superior book - and the one to read if you only want to read one book about a girl in a Polygamist Mormon sect, if your choices are limited that way - there is some ground covered in Keep Sweet I appreciated.
Really loved the Mrs. Norton storyline, and appreciated that Dominguez Greene let Alva really suffer, didn't magically save her from the realities of cult life.
I do agree with the reviewers who said her voice wasn't necessarily as consistent as it could have been. Her fears about the outside world seemed to pretty abruptly disappear once she considered becoming a part of it. Also it's always a tough thing when within the book is EXACTLY when someone begins really examining problematic components of their culture. However, I do think SPOILER ALERT removing her possibility of marrying the boy she loved was a good way to provide a really good BEFORE and AFTER. Also, let's be honest - sometimes, especially when you're younger and more self-centered, until something bad is a possibility FOR YOU it doesn't seem as bad.
(Three stars because I gave The Chosen One four.)
(read: 128)
Really loved the Mrs. Norton storyline, and appreciated that Dominguez Greene let Alva really suffer, didn't magically save her from the realities of cult life.
I do agree with the reviewers who said her voice wasn't necessarily as consistent as it could have been. Her fears about the outside world seemed to pretty abruptly disappear once she considered becoming a part of it. Also it's always a tough thing when within the book is EXACTLY when someone begins really examining problematic components of their culture. However, I do think SPOILER ALERT removing her possibility of marrying the boy she loved was a good way to provide a really good BEFORE and AFTER. Also, let's be honest - sometimes, especially when you're younger and more self-centered, until something bad is a possibility FOR YOU it doesn't seem as bad.
(Three stars because I gave The Chosen One four.)
(read: 128)
November 1, 2010
Alva Jane, 14, lives inside the gated community of Pinecrest, a FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints) stronghold. She lives with her mother, Maureen and father Eldon Ray, and all the sister wives of Eldon. As she approaches her inevitable marriage to a member of the community, she sees her world crumble and fall apart with the decree that she will not be marrying her childhood friend, Joseph John. Instead she will marry Wade, a wicked, abusive man nearly 35 years her senior.
She starts to question this lifestyle and fate, and begins to plan her escape, enlisting the help of another woman who was brutally beaten by Wade. Together they plot, save, and gather in silence the things she will need to make it on her own in order to get far enough away from the fundamentalist communities. Only in this way, will she be able to enlist aid from authorities who will protect her from this abuse.
Keep Sweet is a gruesome, creepy, nightmarish story of life inside one of these righteous sects. How much of the story is based on fact is hard to determine, yet if any one of these scenarios paint a truthful picture, it will be enough to turn one's stomach. The abuse and violence administered to these children is unthinkable.
She starts to question this lifestyle and fate, and begins to plan her escape, enlisting the help of another woman who was brutally beaten by Wade. Together they plot, save, and gather in silence the things she will need to make it on her own in order to get far enough away from the fundamentalist communities. Only in this way, will she be able to enlist aid from authorities who will protect her from this abuse.
Keep Sweet is a gruesome, creepy, nightmarish story of life inside one of these righteous sects. How much of the story is based on fact is hard to determine, yet if any one of these scenarios paint a truthful picture, it will be enough to turn one's stomach. The abuse and violence administered to these children is unthinkable.
December 31, 2010
Keep Sweet.... it's what every girl is taught who is raised in the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints community. No impure thoughts, do as you are told, give into the hand of man to quench his desires.
Kids... I was raised in a different way... but that shouldn't persuade my review.
This book gives you a glimpse into the life of a 14 year old FLDS girl who lives on a compound in Utah with her father and his seven sister-wives and his 20-something children. Most girls her age are already married off but Alva has yet to start her cycle which will mark her entrance into womanhood (because she can bear children).
Joseph John is an eighteen year old boy who has fallen in love with Alva. He has had dreams of the two being together for many years. All that is standing in his way for asking the prophet's permission to wed her is the start of her cycle.
This is a very interesting book. I feel more informed with their way of life but pity the poor girls that have to endure it. It would make for a great Lifetime tv movie.
Kids... I was raised in a different way... but that shouldn't persuade my review.
This book gives you a glimpse into the life of a 14 year old FLDS girl who lives on a compound in Utah with her father and his seven sister-wives and his 20-something children. Most girls her age are already married off but Alva has yet to start her cycle which will mark her entrance into womanhood (because she can bear children).
Joseph John is an eighteen year old boy who has fallen in love with Alva. He has had dreams of the two being together for many years. All that is standing in his way for asking the prophet's permission to wed her is the start of her cycle.
This is a very interesting book. I feel more informed with their way of life but pity the poor girls that have to endure it. It would make for a great Lifetime tv movie.
November 2, 2011
This is a pretty quick read, but one that is hard to read in some parts. Although this book is fiction, the sad thing is that the events are really going on for the people who live in these places and this is not fiction for them. It was really hard to read Alva's beating and even more so her wedding night. It is so hard to believe that people actually live that way and think it's okay to have those kind of rules and that multiple wives and children will secure their place in heaven. The idea of a mother being okay with her 14 year old daughter being married off to someone much older and in many cases violent in horrifying. Even if the mother is raised that way, how can a mother be okay with their daughters being married off, or sons being expelled and beaten for minor offenses.
I have read a couple of books on this topic and am shocked at their beliefs and shocked that this goes on and no one stops it.
Recommend this read to anyone, but not a happy book by any means.
I have read a couple of books on this topic and am shocked at their beliefs and shocked that this goes on and no one stops it.
Recommend this read to anyone, but not a happy book by any means.
January 25, 2011
I found this young adult novel about life in a polygamist cult to be an incredibly compelling read. Alva Jane is the oldest daughter of a favored wife, and has enjoyed her childhood on the compound, oblivious to the darker tones that underpin her life. She is looking foward to marrying a young man in her community until one innocent stolen kiss shatters all their dreams. Married off to a violent abusive older husband, Alva Jane is forced to take a new look at her life and the lives of those around her.
Alva Jane reads as a complete and believable character with a strong narrative voice. I read this book through in one sitting, unable to walk away from Alva Jane and her suffering. An excellent novel, this book does deal realistically with the darkness of child marriage and so includes sex scenes that may be disturbing to some readers. A highly recommended read.
Alva Jane reads as a complete and believable character with a strong narrative voice. I read this book through in one sitting, unable to walk away from Alva Jane and her suffering. An excellent novel, this book does deal realistically with the darkness of child marriage and so includes sex scenes that may be disturbing to some readers. A highly recommended read.
March 30, 2010
Unlike other recent YA fiction releases about polygamy, this book went all the way. It wasn't just set in a mysterious polygamous religious community, it was set in the FLDS church. It also went all the way in terms of marrying the main character off and making her escape quite difficult (though it seemed to me that that fizzled a little in the end, but maybe in a realistic way). Quite good, and very well done. I would have liked to see more questioning of Alva Jane's faith--coming to terms with what she's told to believe versus what she actually believes--but then that's what I always want to see.
January 15, 2014
Oh my gosh!! How does this book only have 565 reviews?!? This book is all kinds of awesome!!
The main character is very sheltered and we get to explore with her the realization that her way of life is a lie. It's so heartbreakingly good.
I loved alva for her strength and perseverance! Whenever she got knocked down she plotted more, she hit harder and she got back up. She didn't wallow in self pity. She just wanted to right the wrongs against her. This young woman is a true literary heroine! No Mary Sue here!
I hope more people read this! It's absolutely wonderful and heartbreaking!!
The main character is very sheltered and we get to explore with her the realization that her way of life is a lie. It's so heartbreakingly good.
I loved alva for her strength and perseverance! Whenever she got knocked down she plotted more, she hit harder and she got back up. She didn't wallow in self pity. She just wanted to right the wrongs against her. This young woman is a true literary heroine! No Mary Sue here!
I hope more people read this! It's absolutely wonderful and heartbreaking!!
July 5, 2011
What an incredible story! This book should be made into a movie! The author put together a fictional FLDS group, and using actual events she has heard about created this amazing story! If this is a topic of interest to you then you don't want to pass this book by.
April 13, 2012
Social content - high school
January 19, 2013
Something startling and suprising.
August 16, 2014
Not the best of this kind of book I've read.
August 24, 2017
Where in the Bible does it say that women are subservient? Everywhere.
December 21, 2010
Inhalt
Alva Jane wächst in einer Gemeinschaft namens Pinerdige in der Wüste Utahs auf. Die Bewohner haben sich der Fundamentalistischen Kirche Jesu Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage verschrieben und führen ein streng geregeltes Leben. Alva Jane lebt mit ihrem Vater, dessen 7 Frauen und ihren insgesamt 28 Geschwistern zusammen. Polygamie ist in ihrem Dorf eine Pflicht, da sonst weder Mann noch Frauen die Chance auf den Eintritt in das Heilige Reich haben. Sobald Mädchen ihre erste Periode bekommen, gelten sie als heiratsfähig. Alva Jane kann diesen Tag kaum erwarten, denn ihr Schwarm Joseph John hat ihr versprochen, dass er um ihre Hand anhalten würde. Doch Alva und Joseph haben die Kontrollgier der Propheten unterschätzt und als sie bei einem heimlichen Treffen erwischt werden, verändert das alles.
Rezension
Zig Ehefrauen, unzählige Kinder, Propheten und eine verbotene, unschuldige Jugendliebe – kommt das irgendwem bekannt vor? Ja? Genau! The Chosen One (dt. Auserkoren) hat nicht nur das gleiche Grundrezept, es schmeckt auch fast genauso. Ich möchte der Autorin keinesfalls Ideenraub vorwerfen (Keep Sweet erschien nach The Chosen One), ich denke viel mehr, dass die Quellen und Berichte sich einfach unheimlich ähnlich sind (möglicherweise, weil es nicht viele Frauen gibt, die so einer Gemeinde entkommen und dann auch noch offen darüber berichten) und man diese beiden Bücher deshalb auf keinen Fall kurz hintereinander lesen sollte. Für mich liegt über ein Jahr Pause dazwischen, daher habe ich die vielen Parallelen zwar wahrgenommen, aber nicht als sonderlich störend empfunden.
Als Alva Jane mich mit in ihre Welt genommen hat, war ich zuerst schockiert. Sie trug altbackene Kleidung und teilte sich ein Zimmer mit ihren drei Schwestern und ihrer Mutter. Ihr Vater hatte für jeden Tag (und jede Nacht) in der Woche eine andere Frau. Wenn ihre Mutter die Auserwählte war, musste Alva mitanhören wie er nachts zu ihr ins Bett schleicht und sie sich um den Nachwuchs kümmern. Eine gebärfreudige Frau hat in Alvas Weltansicht nämlich mehr Chancen nach ihrem Tod ins Heilige Reich aufgenommen zu werden. Eine Frau ohne Mann und Kinder wird als Schande angesehen. Was mich erschüttert hat, war für Alva ganz normaler Alltag. Sie ist in Pineridge aufgewachsen und kennt kein anderes Leben. Sie weiß zwar, dass es eine Welt außerhalb ihres Dorfes gibt, eine Welt die anders ist, aber ihr wurde auch beigebracht, dass die Menschen in jener Welt in Sünde leben.
Ich bin zwar unendlich froh nicht in einer Welt wie Alvas leben zu müssen, aber ich kann auch nicht bestreiten, dass ich es extrem spannend fand ihre Lebensweise und Überzeugungen zu erkunden. Jedes Mal wieder haben mich neue Informationen sprachlos gemacht, z.B. als Alva vom Kinderkriegen erzählt:
Erschreckend, was man mit Religion alles begründen kann. Eigentlich hatte ich die ganze Zeit das Gefühl in einer dystopischen Zukunfts- (oder eher Vergangenheits-)gesellschaft gelandet zu sein. Leider ist Alvas Geschichte alles andere als fiktional, denn in den USA gibt es wirklich Gemeinden, die genau so leben.
Alva Jane habe ich schnell ins Herz geschlossen. Sie ist ein sehr herzlicher, hilfsbereiter Mensch, der sich aber auch nicht alles gefallen lässt. Ihren Schwarm John Joseph beansprucht sie beispielsweise für sich und nimmt es voller Genugtuung hin, dass manch andere Mädchen sich grün ärgern über die Aufmerksamkeit, die er ihr widmet.
Alva ist vollkommen überzeugt von dem Leben, das sie führt, sie kennt es nicht anders und vertraut ihren Eltern und ihrer Gemeinschaft. Dennoch entwickelt Alva mit der Zeit Zweifel. Sie macht sich Gedanken darüber, ob es richtig ist, wenn ihre jüngeren Schwestern oder Freundinnen mit Männern, die über 50 Jahre alt sind verheiratet werden. Umso älter sie wird, desto mehr erfährt sie und beginnt Grundsätze in Frage zu stellen. Dieser Zwiespalt macht ihren Charakter so interessant und es ist spannend zu beobachten wie sich ihre Ansichten und Gedanken verändern.
In meiner Zeit in Pineridge habe ich aber nicht nur Alva kennen gelernt sondern auch andere Frauen, die von den verschiedensten Schicksalen gezeichnet sind. Zum einen wäre da Ann-Marie, die versucht aus der Gemeinschaft zu fliehen und als Strafe brutal zusammengeschlagen wird. Oder Donna, die mit ihrem Mann in die Gemeinschaft zieht und große Schwierigkeiten hat, sich an die neuen Lebensumstände anzupassen.
Diese beiden Figuren haben nicht nur gezeigt, wie unterschiedlich es den Frauen in Pineridge ergehen kann, sie waren auch elementar für den Verlauf der Handlung.
Am Ende noch eine kleine Warnung: Keep Sweet ist in manchen Szenen wirklich nichts für schwache Gemüter. Es gibt Momente, in den Brutalität sehr deutlich geschildert wird. Auch sexueller Missbrauch wird thematisiert und bei dieser einen Szene musste sogar ich das Buch für ein paar Minuten zuklappen.
Ich finde das Thema FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) wirklich hochspannend und würde gern noch mehr darüber erfahren. Kennt jemand zufällig eine gute Dokumentation oder ähnliches?
Was ich richtig toll fände, wäre ein Jugendbuch, das erzählt wie es einer Frau ergeht, die die Flucht aus so einer Gemeinde gelungen ist und die sich nun in unserer Welt zurechtfinden muss.
Offene Fragen
Was ist damals mit Sharrie passiert? Warum hat sie einen Hilferuf in die Wand geritzt?
Fazit
Ein erstaunliches Buch über ein grausiges Thema. Michele Greene schildert das Leben in einer FLDS-Gemeinschaft äußerst authentisch durch die Augen eins jungen Mädchens. Ich habe viel über das Leben und die Ansichten einer solchen Gemeinschaft gelernt und gerade die Umstände dieses Lebens dort, haben mich mit Alva zusammengeschweißt und ich habe gehofft und gebangt, dass sie diesem Ort entkommen kann.
Absolut lebenswert, aber man sollte vor dem Lesen seine Gedanken für diese schockierende, streckenweise perverse Reise stählen.
[4 STERNE]
Optische Gestaltung
Das Cover ist sehr passend und aufmerksamkeitsstark. Umso länger ich es betrachte, desto besser gefällt es mir. Es würde definitiv auch zu einem Buch passen, das von Selbstverletzung oder Missbrauch handelt. Mit letzterem lag der/die Designer/in ja gar nicht so falsch.
Auf der Rückseite findet man noch ein kleines ovales Porträt, das das Covermodel (vermute ich) von vorn zeigt, mit geflochtenem Zopf und in traditioneller Kleidung. Sehr hilfreich, wenn man Schwierigkeiten hat, sich Alvas Erscheinung oder ihren Kleidungsstil vorzustellen.
Trivia
Der Titel des Buches lässt sich auf das Motto der Gemeinschaft zurückführen. Die oberste Regel der Frauen dort lautet „keep sweet“, wörtlich übersetzt „bleib süß“, was bedeutet, dass die Frauen zu jeder Zeit ihrem Mann gehorchen sollen, sich nicht auflehnen oder rebellieren dürfen. Sie sollen stets ihr Gesicht wahren und sich den Männern nicht widersetzen.
Ein sehr ähnliches, wirklich gutes Buch
The Chosen One – Carol Lynch Williams
Alva Jane wächst in einer Gemeinschaft namens Pinerdige in der Wüste Utahs auf. Die Bewohner haben sich der Fundamentalistischen Kirche Jesu Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage verschrieben und führen ein streng geregeltes Leben. Alva Jane lebt mit ihrem Vater, dessen 7 Frauen und ihren insgesamt 28 Geschwistern zusammen. Polygamie ist in ihrem Dorf eine Pflicht, da sonst weder Mann noch Frauen die Chance auf den Eintritt in das Heilige Reich haben. Sobald Mädchen ihre erste Periode bekommen, gelten sie als heiratsfähig. Alva Jane kann diesen Tag kaum erwarten, denn ihr Schwarm Joseph John hat ihr versprochen, dass er um ihre Hand anhalten würde. Doch Alva und Joseph haben die Kontrollgier der Propheten unterschätzt und als sie bei einem heimlichen Treffen erwischt werden, verändert das alles.
Rezension
Zig Ehefrauen, unzählige Kinder, Propheten und eine verbotene, unschuldige Jugendliebe – kommt das irgendwem bekannt vor? Ja? Genau! The Chosen One (dt. Auserkoren) hat nicht nur das gleiche Grundrezept, es schmeckt auch fast genauso. Ich möchte der Autorin keinesfalls Ideenraub vorwerfen (Keep Sweet erschien nach The Chosen One), ich denke viel mehr, dass die Quellen und Berichte sich einfach unheimlich ähnlich sind (möglicherweise, weil es nicht viele Frauen gibt, die so einer Gemeinde entkommen und dann auch noch offen darüber berichten) und man diese beiden Bücher deshalb auf keinen Fall kurz hintereinander lesen sollte. Für mich liegt über ein Jahr Pause dazwischen, daher habe ich die vielen Parallelen zwar wahrgenommen, aber nicht als sonderlich störend empfunden.
Als Alva Jane mich mit in ihre Welt genommen hat, war ich zuerst schockiert. Sie trug altbackene Kleidung und teilte sich ein Zimmer mit ihren drei Schwestern und ihrer Mutter. Ihr Vater hatte für jeden Tag (und jede Nacht) in der Woche eine andere Frau. Wenn ihre Mutter die Auserwählte war, musste Alva mitanhören wie er nachts zu ihr ins Bett schleicht und sie sich um den Nachwuchs kümmern. Eine gebärfreudige Frau hat in Alvas Weltansicht nämlich mehr Chancen nach ihrem Tod ins Heilige Reich aufgenommen zu werden. Eine Frau ohne Mann und Kinder wird als Schande angesehen. Was mich erschüttert hat, war für Alva ganz normaler Alltag. Sie ist in Pineridge aufgewachsen und kennt kein anderes Leben. Sie weiß zwar, dass es eine Welt außerhalb ihres Dorfes gibt, eine Welt die anders ist, aber ihr wurde auch beigebracht, dass die Menschen in jener Welt in Sünde leben.
Ich bin zwar unendlich froh nicht in einer Welt wie Alvas leben zu müssen, aber ich kann auch nicht bestreiten, dass ich es extrem spannend fand ihre Lebensweise und Überzeugungen zu erkunden. Jedes Mal wieder haben mich neue Informationen sprachlos gemacht, z.B. als Alva vom Kinderkriegen erzählt:
„Since then I’ve heard of other babies that came backward and Mama says it is because there is something crooked in the mother’s spirit, that her faith is not strong and God is giving her a trial to set her on the right path. The only doctor that a pregnant woman is allowed to see in Pineridge is Doc Levi, who didn’t go to a school to learn about medicine. His father had the gift and passed it on to his son. Besides, Mama has told me many times that the Gentile doctors cannot be trusted. They only want women to have three or four children and they will give you a hysterectomy or some other abomination to render you infertile during an exam. So, what woman who wants to fulfil her duty to her husband and the Lord would take such a risk?”
(S. 22)
Erschreckend, was man mit Religion alles begründen kann. Eigentlich hatte ich die ganze Zeit das Gefühl in einer dystopischen Zukunfts- (oder eher Vergangenheits-)gesellschaft gelandet zu sein. Leider ist Alvas Geschichte alles andere als fiktional, denn in den USA gibt es wirklich Gemeinden, die genau so leben.
Alva Jane habe ich schnell ins Herz geschlossen. Sie ist ein sehr herzlicher, hilfsbereiter Mensch, der sich aber auch nicht alles gefallen lässt. Ihren Schwarm John Joseph beansprucht sie beispielsweise für sich und nimmt es voller Genugtuung hin, dass manch andere Mädchen sich grün ärgern über die Aufmerksamkeit, die er ihr widmet.
Alva ist vollkommen überzeugt von dem Leben, das sie führt, sie kennt es nicht anders und vertraut ihren Eltern und ihrer Gemeinschaft. Dennoch entwickelt Alva mit der Zeit Zweifel. Sie macht sich Gedanken darüber, ob es richtig ist, wenn ihre jüngeren Schwestern oder Freundinnen mit Männern, die über 50 Jahre alt sind verheiratet werden. Umso älter sie wird, desto mehr erfährt sie und beginnt Grundsätze in Frage zu stellen. Dieser Zwiespalt macht ihren Charakter so interessant und es ist spannend zu beobachten wie sich ihre Ansichten und Gedanken verändern.
In meiner Zeit in Pineridge habe ich aber nicht nur Alva kennen gelernt sondern auch andere Frauen, die von den verschiedensten Schicksalen gezeichnet sind. Zum einen wäre da Ann-Marie, die versucht aus der Gemeinschaft zu fliehen und als Strafe brutal zusammengeschlagen wird. Oder Donna, die mit ihrem Mann in die Gemeinschaft zieht und große Schwierigkeiten hat, sich an die neuen Lebensumstände anzupassen.
Diese beiden Figuren haben nicht nur gezeigt, wie unterschiedlich es den Frauen in Pineridge ergehen kann, sie waren auch elementar für den Verlauf der Handlung.
Am Ende noch eine kleine Warnung: Keep Sweet ist in manchen Szenen wirklich nichts für schwache Gemüter. Es gibt Momente, in den Brutalität sehr deutlich geschildert wird. Auch sexueller Missbrauch wird thematisiert und bei dieser einen Szene musste sogar ich das Buch für ein paar Minuten zuklappen.
Ich finde das Thema FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) wirklich hochspannend und würde gern noch mehr darüber erfahren. Kennt jemand zufällig eine gute Dokumentation oder ähnliches?
Was ich richtig toll fände, wäre ein Jugendbuch, das erzählt wie es einer Frau ergeht, die die Flucht aus so einer Gemeinde gelungen ist und die sich nun in unserer Welt zurechtfinden muss.
Offene Fragen
Was ist damals mit Sharrie passiert? Warum hat sie einen Hilferuf in die Wand geritzt?
Fazit
Ein erstaunliches Buch über ein grausiges Thema. Michele Greene schildert das Leben in einer FLDS-Gemeinschaft äußerst authentisch durch die Augen eins jungen Mädchens. Ich habe viel über das Leben und die Ansichten einer solchen Gemeinschaft gelernt und gerade die Umstände dieses Lebens dort, haben mich mit Alva zusammengeschweißt und ich habe gehofft und gebangt, dass sie diesem Ort entkommen kann.
Absolut lebenswert, aber man sollte vor dem Lesen seine Gedanken für diese schockierende, streckenweise perverse Reise stählen.
[4 STERNE]
Optische Gestaltung
Das Cover ist sehr passend und aufmerksamkeitsstark. Umso länger ich es betrachte, desto besser gefällt es mir. Es würde definitiv auch zu einem Buch passen, das von Selbstverletzung oder Missbrauch handelt. Mit letzterem lag der/die Designer/in ja gar nicht so falsch.
Auf der Rückseite findet man noch ein kleines ovales Porträt, das das Covermodel (vermute ich) von vorn zeigt, mit geflochtenem Zopf und in traditioneller Kleidung. Sehr hilfreich, wenn man Schwierigkeiten hat, sich Alvas Erscheinung oder ihren Kleidungsstil vorzustellen.
Trivia
Der Titel des Buches lässt sich auf das Motto der Gemeinschaft zurückführen. Die oberste Regel der Frauen dort lautet „keep sweet“, wörtlich übersetzt „bleib süß“, was bedeutet, dass die Frauen zu jeder Zeit ihrem Mann gehorchen sollen, sich nicht auflehnen oder rebellieren dürfen. Sie sollen stets ihr Gesicht wahren und sich den Männern nicht widersetzen.
Ein sehr ähnliches, wirklich gutes Buch
The Chosen One – Carol Lynch Williams
June 25, 2021
Fifteen-year-old Alva Jane is ready to be a wife, especially if it’s with her crush Joseph John Hilliard, a boy who’s on the cusp of adulthood and marriageable age. Except, one stolen kiss destroys everything she’s ever hoped for. Now, instead of dreaming of a blissful future with the man she loves, she must avoid wedding a violent, loathsome man while learning just exactly who she is and what lengths she’ll go to maintain the very limited rights and freedoms she’s beginning to understand women in Pineridge have.
——
Alva is a perfect blend of piously naive and willfully unsettled by the accumulating injustices she sees. One by one, her world topples as she faces starling truths about everyone and everything she knows. As Alva encounters each obstacle that tests her faith, she begins to realize how unstable her religion is. I love Alva’s natural transition and growth as she challenges blind and unconditional obedience and her rising need of independence. There is significant protagonist development, realism in establishing the sect’s laws, and visible consequences to rebellion.
Keep Sweet is one of the most riveting, immersive, and well-written novels I’ve ever read. It deals with topics such as underage brides, patriarchy, non-consent, domestic violence, and religious brainwashing. In the FLDS community, girls are raised for marriage to breed as many children as they can, and men must take at least three wives to bring them all to salvation. This is one of those books that I wished had a sequel! It closes affirmatively, but I want to see what happens next. What has become of her and those Alva knew?
I’m really confused at how there are so many below 4 star ratings. The writing and literary devices are solid with minimal grammatical errors, the dialogue and emotions are digestible and tangible, tension and conflict are omnipresent, and the heroine is a reliable narrator with an arc. On top of that, the story and plot are enjoyable! I didn’t even sleep as I read and reviewed Keep Sweet overnight!
🍉🍑🍍
Heroine rating: 4.8 stars
Writing mechanics (literary elements/devices usage included): 4.8 stars
Plot rating: 5 stars
Dialogue rating: 5 stars
Storytelling rating: 4.8 stars
Story ending rating: 4.8 stars
******************************************
Overall rating: 4.9 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
—
Read: June 25, 2021
Review: June 25, 2021
Posted: June 25, 2021
——
Alva is a perfect blend of piously naive and willfully unsettled by the accumulating injustices she sees. One by one, her world topples as she faces starling truths about everyone and everything she knows. As Alva encounters each obstacle that tests her faith, she begins to realize how unstable her religion is. I love Alva’s natural transition and growth as she challenges blind and unconditional obedience and her rising need of independence. There is significant protagonist development, realism in establishing the sect’s laws, and visible consequences to rebellion.
Keep Sweet is one of the most riveting, immersive, and well-written novels I’ve ever read. It deals with topics such as underage brides, patriarchy, non-consent, domestic violence, and religious brainwashing. In the FLDS community, girls are raised for marriage to breed as many children as they can, and men must take at least three wives to bring them all to salvation. This is one of those books that I wished had a sequel! It closes affirmatively, but I want to see what happens next. What has become of her and those Alva knew?
I’m really confused at how there are so many below 4 star ratings. The writing and literary devices are solid with minimal grammatical errors, the dialogue and emotions are digestible and tangible, tension and conflict are omnipresent, and the heroine is a reliable narrator with an arc. On top of that, the story and plot are enjoyable! I didn’t even sleep as I read and reviewed Keep Sweet overnight!
🍉🍑🍍
Heroine rating: 4.8 stars
Writing mechanics (literary elements/devices usage included): 4.8 stars
Plot rating: 5 stars
Dialogue rating: 5 stars
Storytelling rating: 4.8 stars
Story ending rating: 4.8 stars
******************************************
Overall rating: 4.9 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
—
Read: June 25, 2021
Review: June 25, 2021
Posted: June 25, 2021
October 1, 2018
1. Reading about religion really fascinates me, but particularly I like to read books on FLDS, I've not read much of biographies on FLDS books, but I've read a few and this is one of my favorites, this book inspires me to want to read more books based on FLDS.
2. The book to me was weird at first, I couldn't really get hooked on it, even though I was only through the first two chapters when I felt that way. I actually almost wanted to stop reading it, but I continued to just because I was curious, after the first couple of chapters, it really can grasp your attention and make you want to read more. It's the type of book if you don't read it a lot then it's not that interesting, but once you start to read it you never want to put it back down.
3. Over all it was a good book, but I absolutely hated the ending. It was a good ending, but it was the type of ending that made you long for me, which is what you want out of a book, but with this book I longed for more so much it just angered me.
4. Overall it was a tremendously good book.
2. The book to me was weird at first, I couldn't really get hooked on it, even though I was only through the first two chapters when I felt that way. I actually almost wanted to stop reading it, but I continued to just because I was curious, after the first couple of chapters, it really can grasp your attention and make you want to read more. It's the type of book if you don't read it a lot then it's not that interesting, but once you start to read it you never want to put it back down.
3. Over all it was a good book, but I absolutely hated the ending. It was a good ending, but it was the type of ending that made you long for me, which is what you want out of a book, but with this book I longed for more so much it just angered me.
4. Overall it was a tremendously good book.
April 18, 2023
I was on the edge of my seat reading Keep Sweet. I felt so deeply for the narrator Alva Jane. The way the author portrays her childlike innocence and naivety when it comes to her FLDS religion makes you want to shake some sense into Alva Jane from an outsiders perspective. But also comfort her and oddly let her continue on believing what she believes because she holds so stead fast to the principle. I was gripped by this story. At multiple points I had to put the book down because my heart was beating out of my chest. This book truly stuck with me because it felt like this could be happening in 2023 America, right now, and most people would have no idea. Just like the outsiders of Pineridge have no idea. In some ways the modern society aspect made it a bit creepier than reading The Handmaids Tale. I loved this book and just had to rave about it! I had it on my bookshelf for years and finally decided to read it. I wish I remembered how I obtained it because this book was just amazing to me.
December 9, 2018
I found this novel very enlightening towards others beliefs and ways of life. This novel was very informative and enjoyable to read. I was able to learn how different one's life can be and the struggles they conquered, coming from a hard, strict lifestyle; which was portrayed well through the main character Alva Jane Merrill. I believe the message the narrator is trying to illustrate is that although you may be brought up with different ideas and beliefs; your age, knowledge, and curiosity may cause you to question your morals and faith and lead you towards a different path of life. Which is exactly what Alva Jane did. I believe the author wants women to recognize their strengths and be able to overcome such issues no matter how impossible they may seem, and know that it can be done. I believe Keep Sweet by Michele Dominguez-Greene is a book worth reading and I would highly recommend it to others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2019
This book was a very interesting look into another type of lifestyle for me. In modern days, we hear a lot about these types of communities but never have an inside look. Although it is very interesting, I’ve noticed that every book like this has the same plot. A young girl has a crush on someone about her age, but instead has to marry someone much older and has to make a plan to escape. I did like the story line, but if the author could’ve incorporated something more that makes this book different, it would’ve gotten a higher rating for me. Also, throughout the book the pacing was very off. Some scenes the author would spend too long on, dragging each little detail out, and other scenes like when she finally escaped with Marianne were very vague. I didn’t like when such important parts were so fast and rushed. I would’ve liked for the author to go more in depth in the end and finish the story correctly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2020
No matter how many books about polygamist compounds I read, I continue to be both horrified and fascinated by them. It’s just crazy to me that this kind of thing can happen in this day and age.
This story is a novel, but it reads just like the many polygamy memoirs I’ve devoured throughout the years. There’s a part of me that almost had a harder time reading this one, because if it’s a memoir I know that means they eventually escaped to write the book, but as a novel I have no idea if they will or not.
This was definitely hard to read at times, but it was absolutely gripping and I didn’t want to put it down. My big complaint is about the ending, though. This really needed an epilogue or something, because I’m dying to know if
This story is a novel, but it reads just like the many polygamy memoirs I’ve devoured throughout the years. There’s a part of me that almost had a harder time reading this one, because if it’s a memoir I know that means they eventually escaped to write the book, but as a novel I have no idea if they will or not.
This was definitely hard to read at times, but it was absolutely gripping and I didn’t want to put it down. My big complaint is about the ending, though. This really needed an epilogue or something, because I’m dying to know if
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