Dragons of the Book of Mormon

In this entertaining collection, Townsend%E2%80%94author of 16 books, including Morman Underwear%E2%80%94creates a kaleidoscope of Morman characters young and old, male and female, gay and straight, who find themselves at odds with the demands of their religion. In %E2%80%9CGoing Home,%E2%80%9D a 56-year-old man no longer wants to live. He maintains good appearances by going to work and loving his family, but worries that wanting to die is a sin. In %E2%80%9CTemple Man,%E2%80%9D a reporter covers the good deeds of an aspiring temple-clothes-wearing superhero, while internally questioning the value of the hero%E2%80%99s deeds. In %E2%80%9CThe Venetian Blinds of Heaven,%E2%80%9D an excommunicated Mormon clings to his religion and agonizes over whether he should continue to pay tithing or let his family endure financial struggles. Although Townsend%E2%80%99s prose is sharp, clear, and easy to read, and his characters are well rendered, some of the stories don%E2%80%99t %E2%80%9Creveal the inner turmoil of LDS life,%E2%80%9D as the author claims. At times, readers will have trouble identifying with the characters%E2%80%94in many cases, the turmoil and chaos of their lives feels far too muted.