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The Sound of Gravel

A Memoir

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The Sound of Gravel

Written by: Ruth Wariner
Narrated by: Ruth Wariner
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About this listen

"The narration by Wariner compliments the candid nature of her story...A captivating and emotional story delivered in a straightforward way without an ounce of self-pity." (Library Journal)

A riveting, deeply-affecting audiobook memoir of one girl's coming-of-age experiences in a polygamist cult.

Ruth Wariner was the 39th of her father's 42 children. Growing up on a farm in rural Mexico, where authorities turned a blind eye to the practices of her community, Ruth lives in a ramshackle house without indoor plumbing or electricity. At church, preachers teach that God will punish the wicked by destroying the world and that women can only ascend to Heaven by entering into polygamous marriages and giving birth to as many children as possible. After Ruth's father - the man who had been the founding prophet of the colony - is brutally murdered by his brother in a bid for church power, her mother remarries, becoming the second wife of another faithful congregant.

In need of government assistance and supplemental income, Ruth and her siblings are carted back and forth between Mexico and the United States, where her mother collects welfare and her step-father works a variety of odd jobs. Ruth comes to love the time she spends in the States, realizing that perhaps the community into which she was born is not the right one for her. As Ruth begins to doubt her family's beliefs and question her mother's choices, she struggles to balance her fierce love for her siblings with her determination to forge a better life for herself.

Recounted from the innocent and hopeful perspective of a child, The Sound of Gravel is the remarkable true story of a girl fighting for peace and love. This is an intimate, gripping audiobook resonant with triumph, courage, and resilience.

©2016 Ruth Wariner (P)2016 Macmillan Audio
Christianity Religious Women Mormon Memoir Marriage Latin America Mexico
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This memoir kept me up listening, deep into the night, and left me in tears. What a powerful story of survival, selfless love, and hope! I highly recommend it.

Riveting and Powerful

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An incredibly well written memoir. The details, the honesty, I was mesmerized throughout. Bravo Ruth ♡

Captivating and fast paced

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A captivating book about a family dealing with poverty, abuse, religion and love. So sad and so heartbreaking.

Heartbreaking

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Definitely worth the read but a very disturbing story of a childhoods that were tragic.

Disturbing Story

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Amazing how one cannot see how their behaviour impacts the lives of others. Tragic and remarkable!

Great book!

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