The Sound of Gravel: A New York Times Bestselling True Story
The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir by Ruth Wariner
If you are looking for a captivating and moving memoir that will keep you hooked from start to finish, you might want to check out The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner. This book is the remarkable true story of one girl's coming-of-age in a polygamist Mormon doomsday cult. In this article, we will tell you what the book is about, why you should read it, and how you can get the sound of gravel epub for your e-reader.
the sound of gravel epub
What is The Sound of Gravel about?
The Sound of Gravel is the autobiography of Ruth Wariner, who was born into a fundamentalist Mormon sect that practiced polygamy and believed in the imminent end of the world. Ruth was the thirty-ninth of her father's forty-two children, and grew up in a remote farm in rural Mexico, where she faced poverty, violence, abuse, and neglect.
A brief summary of the book
The book begins with Ruth's father, Joel LeBaron, who was the founding prophet of the Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times, a splinter group from the mainstream Mormon Church that rejected its renunciation of polygamy. Joel was murdered by his brother Ervil, who wanted to take over the leadership of the church and ordered a series of assassinations against his rivals.
After Joel's death, Ruth's mother Kathy remarried Lane, another faithful member of the church who already had several wives and children. Lane moved his family back and forth between Mexico and the United States, where he worked odd jobs and collected welfare. Ruth and her siblings lived in a ramshackle house without indoor plumbing or electricity, and suffered from hunger, disease, and abuse.
Ruth grew up believing that God would punish the wicked by destroying the world, and that women could only ascend to heaven by entering into polygamous marriages and giving birth to as many children as possible. She was taught to obey her mother and her stepfather without question, and to accept her fate as a child bride.
However, as Ruth grew older, she began to doubt her family's beliefs and question her mother's choices. She realized that she wanted a different life for herself and her siblings, one that was free from fear and oppression. She decided to rebel against her stepfather's authority, escape from her community, and pursue her education. She also discovered the truth about her father's murder and her uncle's crimes.
The book follows Ruth's journey from childhood to adulthood, as she struggles to balance her fierce love for her siblings with her determination to forge a better life for herself. It is a story of courage, resilience, and hope.
The main themes and messages of the book
The Sound of Gravel explores several themes and messages that resonate with readers from different backgrounds and experiences. Some of these themes are:
Family: The book shows the complex and contradictory nature of family relationships, especially in a polygamous setting. Ruth loves her mother and her siblings, but also resents them for their complicity and dependence on Lane. She feels responsible for her younger brothers and sisters, but also wants to break free from her family's expectations and limitations. She also learns to appreciate her extended family, such as her grandparents and her cousins, who offer her support and guidance.
Faith: The book examines the role of faith and religion in shaping one's identity and worldview. Ruth grows up in a cult that claims to have the ultimate truth and authority, but also exposes her to violence, abuse, and deception. She questions the validity and morality of her family's beliefs, and seeks to find her own spiritual path. She also encounters different forms of faith and spirituality, such as Catholicism, mainstream Mormonism, and atheism, and learns to respect and understand them.
Survival: The book depicts the harsh realities of living in poverty, isolation, and danger. Ruth faces many challenges and threats, such as hunger, illness, accidents, sexual assault, kidnapping, and murder. She learns to cope with these difficulties by relying on her inner strength, her intelligence, and her sense of humor. She also finds joy and beauty in simple things, such as music, books, nature, and friendship.
Freedom: The book celebrates the value of freedom and the power of choice. Ruth realizes that she has the right to decide her own destiny, and that she does not have to conform to the norms and rules of her society. She rebels against her stepfather's control, escapes from her community, and pursues her education. She also helps some of her siblings to follow her example and leave the cult. She discovers that freedom comes with a price, but also with a reward.
Why should you read The Sound of Gravel?
There are many reasons why you should read The Sound of Gravel. Here are some of them:
The book is a New York Times bestseller and has received rave reviews
The Sound of Gravel was published in 2016 and became an instant hit. It reached the number one spot on the New York Times bestseller list for nonfiction e-books, and stayed on the list for several weeks. It also received glowing reviews from critics and readers alike. For example:
People Magazine called it "a haunting, harrowing testament to survival."
New York Magazine described it as "an addictive chronicle of a polygamist community."
The Washington Post praised it as "a riveting memoir that reads like a thriller."
Kirkus Reviews hailed it as "a courageous memoir that speaks out about a dark period in American history."
Publishers Weekly said it was "a wrenching yet ultimately uplifting story of resilience."
The book is a powerful and inspiring story of survival and resilience
The Sound of Gravel is not only a fascinating account of a polygamist Mormon doomsday cult, but also a compelling story of a young girl who overcame incredible odds to create a better life for herself and her siblings. Ruth Wariner's voice is honest, raw, and captivating. She does not shy away from describing the horrors and hardships she endured, but she also does not dwell on them or portray herself as a victim. Instead, she shows how she used her courage, intelligence, and compassion to survive and thrive. She also demonstrates how she found healing and forgiveness in the process. Her story is an inspiration to anyone who has faced adversity or trauma in their lives.
The book offers a rare glimpse into a polygamist Mormon doomsday cult
The Sound of Gravel is one of the few books that reveal the inner workings and secrets of a polygamist Mormon doomsday cult. Ruth Wariner's perspective is unique because she was born into the cult and lived there for most of her childhood. She witnessed firsthand the beliefs, practices, rituals, conflicts, scandals, and crimes of the Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times. She also exposes the effects of polygamy on women and children, such as abuse, neglect, jealousy, competition, rivalry, and exploitation. Her book is an eye-opening and informative look into a hidden and controversial world.
How can you get The Sound of Gravel epub?
If you are interested in reading The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner, you might want to get it in epub format for your e-reader. Epub is a popular file format for e-books that allows you to adjust the font size, style, layout, color scheme and orientation of the text to suit your preferences and device. Epub also supports images, audio, video, and interactive features that enhance your reading experience. Epub is compatible with most e-readers, such as Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony, and iPad.
What is an epub and why is it better than a PDF?
Epub stands for electronic publication, and it is a standard file format for e-books that was developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF). Epub is designed to be flexible and adaptable to different devices and screen sizes. Unlike PDF, which preserves the exact layout and appearance of the original document, epub allows the text to reflow and adjust according to the user's settings and preferences. This makes epub more user-friendly and accessible for e-readers.
Some of the advantages of epub over PDF are:
Epub files are usually smaller and faster to download than PDF files.
Epub files can be easily converted to other formats, such as mobi, azw3, or txt.
Epub files can be edited and customized using various software tools, such as Calibre, Sigil, or Adobe InDesign.
Epub files can support multimedia and interactive features, such as audio, video, animations, hyperlinks, bookmarks, annotations, quizzes, etc.
Epub files can support accessibility features, such as text-to-speech, zooming, font resizing, color contrast, etc.
Where can you download or buy The Sound of Gravel epub?
There are many websites and online platforms where you can download or buy The Sound of Gravel epub for your e-reader. Some of them are:
Kobo.com
Kobo.com is one of the leading online retailers of e-books and e-readers. You can find thousands of titles in various genres and languages on their website. You can also access their free app for iOS and Android devices. Kobo.com offers The Sound of Gravel epub for $9.99. You can also get a free sample of the book before you buy it. To get The Sound of Gravel epub from Kobo.com, you need to:
Create an account or sign in with your existing account.
Add the book to your cart and proceed to checkout.
Select your payment method and confirm your order.
Download the book to your Kobo library or sync it with your device.
Oceanofpdf.com
Oceanofpdf.com is a website that provides free PDF and epub downloads of various books. You can browse their collection by categories or search by keywords. You can also request a book that is not available on their website. Oceanofpdf.com offers The Sound of Gravel epub for free. To get The Sound of Gravel epub from Oceanofpdf.com, you need to:
Go to their website and search for The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner.
Click on the book title and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Click on the download button and choose epub as the file format.
Wait for a few seconds until the download link appears.
Click on the download link and save the file to your device.
Rakuten Kobo
Rakuten Kobo is another online platform that sells e-books and e-readers. You can also access their app for iOS and Android devices. Rakuten Kobo offers The Sound of Gravel epub for $11.99. You can also get a free preview of the book before you buy it. To get The Sound of Gravel epub from Rakuten Kobo, you need to:
Create an account or sign in with your existing account.
Add the book to your cart and proceed to checkout.
Select your payment method and confirm your order.
Download the book to your Kobo library or sync it with your device.
Conclusion
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner is a captivating and moving memoir that will keep you hooked from start to finish. It is the remarkable true story of one girl's coming-of-age in a polygamist Mormon doomsday cult. It explores themes such as family, faith, survival, and freedom. It is also a New York Times bestseller and has received rave reviews from critics and readers alike. If you are interested in reading this book, you can get it in epub format for your e-reader from various websites and online platforms, such as Kobo.com, Oceanofpdf.com, or Rakuten Kobo. We hope you enjoy reading The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner:
Q: Is The Sound of Gravel a true story?
A: Yes, The Sound of Gravel is a true story. It is the autobiography of Ruth Wariner, who was born into a polygamist Mormon doomsday cult and escaped from it when she was 15 years old.
Q: How many siblings does Ruth Wariner have?
A: Ruth Wariner has 41 siblings from her father's side and 9 siblings from her mother's side. She is the thirty-ninth of her father's forty-two children and the fourth of her mother's ten children.
Q: What happened to Ruth Wariner's father and uncle?
A: Ruth Wariner's father, Joel LeBaron, was the founding prophet of the Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times, a polygamist Mormon doomsday cult. He was murdered by his brother Ervil LeBaron, who wanted to take over the leadership of the church and ordered a series of assassinations against his rivals. Ervil LeBaron was arrested and convicted for his crimes and died in prison.
Q: What happened to Ruth Wariner's mother and stepfather?
A: Ruth Wariner's mother, Kathy Wariner, remarried Lane, another member of the church who had several wives and children. Lane moved his family back and forth between Mexico and the United States, where he worked odd jobs and collected welfare. Kathy Wariner died in a bus accident along with four of her children when Ruth was 15 years old. Lane survived the accident and continued to live in Mexico with his other wives and children.
Q: What is Ruth Wariner doing now?
A: Ruth Wariner is now a teacher and a writer. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two children. She has also reconnected with some of her siblings who left the cult or were born after she left. She published her memoir, The Sound of Gravel, in 2016.
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