Escape

by Carolyn Jessop and Laura Palmer

A memoir of Jessop's life with and eventual escape from the breakaway Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) sect, this book reads more like a thriller. Beginning with the story of how she fled with her eight children in the dead of night (Jessop broke ground not only by being the first woman to escape the FLDS with all her children but also by being awarded custody through a court system that traditionally had closed its eyes to FLDS abuses). From there, the storyline returns to Jessop's childhood and moves forward chronologically, finally returning the reader to her current life. Hers is a fascinating story of indoctrination, dreams and attempts for personal growth in a restrictive life and culture, and accessing reservoirs of strength as danger grows around her. This book would be a strong followup to readers who enjoyed Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven, with its perspective of an FLDS insider. -Inanna

A Charmed Life(Growing Up in MacBeth's Castle) by Liza Campbell

Though I'm a bit over the child-of-an-alcoholic breed of memoir, I found this one truly gripping. Admittedly, I was initially interested because I am of Scottish descent and I was hoping for lots of history and descriptions of Scottish scenery. I was not disappointed. Campbell's own story is so intricately woven into the history of Scotland and her family that it is hard to see sometimes where the Cawdors end and she begins--a truly Scottish quality. Campbell asks for no sympathy; in fact, she barely asks the reader for understanding. She seems to be aware that her coming of age was so wildly different from that of anyone reading her book, there can be little common ground... After all, how many of us came of age in the British Aristocracy in the 60s and 70s?
Don't miss.

Child Free and Loving It!

by Nicki Defago

Adults who choose not to have children are gaining more attention on a variety of levels, from in the media to within families, and Defago's book provides a strong introduction to the topic. She weaves the story of the childfree using sources including personal narratives, interviews with experts, and statistical information and covers the range of reasons why people might choose this path. Defago is a British writer and the book is written mainly for a British audience, but her materials cover a variety of nations, including the United States. Despite being chock full of information, the writing flows well and is not overly heavy in tone. This will be a useful book for all no matter what their personal decision on procreation. -Inanna