Comments on: Review: Under the Banner of Heaven

By: Kim L

Kim L — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:28:56 +0000

I felt very conflicted about this book as well. I enjoyed Krakauer’s excellent research and great writing, and I was both fascinated and horrified by the in-depth look at a religion that is not well understood. But it is still hard to fathom the death of the mother and child. I think the conclusion Krakauer seemed to come to is that even understanding the religion, the murders are still hard to comprehend.

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:46:53 +0000

Yeah, that one is disturbing too, although less than this one, at least for me.

I agree with you about fundamentalists being creepy and and fascinating. This book tries to explain it, although in some ways I find it inexplicable.

I just finished listening to The Wordy Shipmates, and I think I feel the same way about Puritans, although Vowell has a more bemused look at them than Krakauer has about Morman fundamentalism in this book.

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:45:03 +0000

I can’t wait to hear what you think — I feel like this is a book that warrants strong reactions.

By: Fyrefly

Fyrefly — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:10:25 +0000

“thought-provoking and disturbing” is pretty much how I’d describe Into the Wild, too.

I keep seeing this at the bookstore, and toying with the idea of picking it up – you do make it sound fascinating. Fundamentalists of all stripes both creep me out and fascinate me, so if this book goes even a little way into explaining that mindset, it sounds like it’d be worth a read.

By: Lu

Lu — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:44:06 +0000

On my TBR, I’m looking forward to reading it! Thanks for the review

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:13:35 +0000

Thanks for the link!

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:10:23 +0000

Yeah, this book doesn’t really make you feel good about people and the world around you — the people in this book are pretty scary. I think it’s an important topic, but I can only do it in small doses — no books on Mormonism for me for awhile!

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:09:00 +0000

I’d been wanting to read it forever and just happened to find it at a used bookstore when my sister and I were in San Francisco. It was one of those books I knew I’d buy if I found it, since I’d want to keep it to read again (Krakauer is one of my favorites).

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:07:59 +0000

Thanks for reading. It’s an interesting book, that’s for sure.

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:07:41 +0000

Thanks for asking