Customer Reviews

Assault on Eden: A Memoir of Communal Life in the Early '70s

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the author and her husband, along with 2 childrenhelped start a commune in New Mexico in the early1970's. this new edition of her book, written shortly after the commune's demise in 1975, maps out the problems she had there, starting at day one. Alas, the book never really answers the questions it claims to explore, and the final fate of her and her family was unsatisfying. Above average writing, and some probing insights, but ultimately a bleak history lacking in much revelation.

I picked up this book by happenstance on a sale table and was drawn to the title and the cover, which illustrates a beautiful sunset in the Southwest. Within, I was interested to revisit some of the societal issues of the 1970's, including the rebellion against middle-class values and life styles on the part of idealists, people who wish to try out their ideals in a communal living situation. While the communal experience, as related by Owens, is in many places unsatisfying to the reader for its many frustrations, disappointments, and its ultimate failure, she makes no secret from the very beginning of the outcome of the venture. Owens' description and commentary on male/female relationships challenges the notion that we have grown beyond the traditional expectations and modes of behavior. Owens' realistic look at the disappointments of human behavior reinforce what any thoughtful person has found in trying to get along with others.

Overall, the book is valuable to remind us of efforts to create ideal societies. It is less satisfying in its somewhat pat conclusions about the answers to these efforts in a traditional Christian theology. However, Owens is real enough not to force the theology and to show that even those of faith have periods of despair and confusion.