Imagine that a pair of fresh-faced young women show up at your door with a message of hope just as you’re trying to cope with the recent death of your baby. And they offer an idyllic community — a perfect Zion that seems too good to be true. And it…
Author: chanson
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Happy Gay Day Edition!!
A mighty cheer rang out across teh Interwebs and beyond, as the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the ironically-named “Defense of Marriage Act” and Proposition 8. Now same-sex couples can marry in California again (plus in a couple other new states that recently passed laws allowing it),…
The profound truths of the Book of Mormon
A few weeks ago — after more than two years of loving the album — I finally got to see God’s favorite musical performed live! I love all of the songs, and in particular, I think that the song You and Me (But Mostly Me) is my #1 favorite Broadway…
Some comments on my brother’s “Mormon Stories” interview
The Swiss post-mo club had a fantastic party yesterday — thanks friends!! — and the subject of the recent Mormon Stories interview with my brother (John Hamer) came up. I had linked to it for about a week in the “Exmo Radio” widget (until replacing it with a discussion of…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Sex Edition!!
This past week was pretty steamy! And wouldn’t be complete without drugs and rock’n’roll! Sex + books: The overeducated housewife has taken up writing porn, and Diana recounted her experience of discovering erotica in Grandma’s basement! In other books, this book on religion by Ryan Cragun looks pretty interesting! Heaven…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Books Edition!!
Last week the book Hippie Boy — one of the Mormon Alumni Association books — made it to the New York Times Best Seller List!! In celebration, the author Ingrid Ricks is giving away two signed copies. The lucky winner will be drawn from those who comment this week on…
Mormon Alumni Association Books!
Faith-promoting LDS books have a whole publishing-and-distribution network in Deseret Books (plus Seagull and others) — not to mention Mormon literature organizations and a ready-made audience in LDS wards around the world who’d like to help Orson Whitney’s prediction “We will yet have Miltons and Shakspeares of our own” come…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Life Issues Edition!!
Ladies, do you remember these lovely object lessons? Black folks, does this account sound familiar? (Books like this one may be conveniently forgotten about, but good luck ever seeing a repudiation and apology…). And if you’re intersex? Then where do you fit into the plan? Hell, kids in general get…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Surviving Edition!
I’m looking forward to hearing what happens at the Pride Parade, especially considering the controversy! If it’s not too late, here‘s a guide for straight allies. Sometimes marriage comes just in time!! Yet sometimes surviving is a bit more complex. Whether you’re surviving a new culture, a religious upbringing and…
Adventures in family-building: “The Book of Thompson” by David J. Larkin Jr.
What do you do when you’re a housewife raising four kids and you suspect your husband of cheating on you? If you’re also Mormon and it’s 1954, the answer is: have another kid! And then another… The Book of Thompson by David J. Larkin Jr. tells the story of three…