Five Wives

Five Wives reimagines the true story of Operation Auca, a 1956 missionary expedition in Ecuador that ended in tragedy when five American men were killed while attempting to contact an isolated Indigenous tribe. The narrative focuses on the missionaries' wives and families, both in the lead-up to the events and their aftermath. The book moves between Ecuador and North America, exploring the personal lives and relationships of these evangelical families who left their homes to pursue their religious calling. Joan Thomas examines their daily realities, fears, and convictions as they navigate life in remote jungle outposts and mission compounds. Through multiple perspectives and timelines, this Governor General's Award-winning novel brings together questions of faith, cultural contact, and the complex motivations behind missionary work in the mid-twentieth century. The story raises fundamental issues about the intersection of religious conviction, colonialism, and personal sacrifice.

Readers appreciate the deep research and complex portrayal of the missionary wives in this true story. Many note the balance between historical accuracy and engaging storytelling. The book resonates with readers interested in colonialism, faith, and women's experiences. Liked: - Detailed character development of each wife - Exploration of cultural perspectives beyond the missionaries - Writing style that moves between timeframes - Focus on women often overlooked in historical accounts Disliked: - Multiple timelines and perspectives can be confusing - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some readers wanted more focus on indigenous characters - Religious themes too heavy for some, too light for others Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (150+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (90+ ratings) "Thomas excels at showing the complex humanity of her characters" - Goodreads reviewer "Wanted to love it but got lost in the shifting perspectives" - Amazon reviewer

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📖 The real-life Operation Auca made international headlines in 1956 when all five missionaries were killed by spears from the Huaorani people they were trying to contact. 🌿 The Huaorani (also known as Waorani) people lived in complete isolation in Ecuador's Amazon rainforest until the 1950s, defending their territory fiercely from all outsiders. ✍️ Author Joan Thomas won the 2019 Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction for "Five Wives," one of Canada's most prestigious literary honors. 🎬 The story was previously adapted into a 2006 film titled "End of the Spear," told from the perspective of Steve Saint, son of one of the murdered missionaries. 📚 Elisabeth Elliot, one of the real wives portrayed in the novel, later lived among the Huaorani people who had killed her husband and wrote her own bestselling account titled "Through Gates of Splendor."