tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post3626639533295243061..comments2024-03-27T03:25:08.267-07:00Comments on Life in the Shoe: Review of Two "Amish" NovelsDorcashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050605764466835485noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-67555819978421079672010-10-18T16:21:58.773-07:002010-10-18T16:21:58.773-07:00Tell Paul to pat himself on the back - my mom is a...Tell Paul to pat himself on the back - my mom is a reader of yours and mentioned your column to me. The idea stuck in my head and didn't come back out until I began work on Jayne. <br /><br />Glad you enjoyed Jayne's snarkiness!Hillary Manton Lodgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15614571234796672008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-76411968995041404422010-10-18T14:48:20.229-07:002010-10-18T14:48:20.229-07:00I recently "read" via audiobook from the...I recently "read" via audiobook from the library Plain Truth. It was well written, but I didn't care for all the bad language and sex, which is one thing I appreciate not finding in Christian novels. I also didn't think Amish would encourage a divorced woman to remarry.Maryhttp://www.maryhake.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-72694537937988818772010-10-10T19:02:40.394-07:002010-10-10T19:02:40.394-07:00In response to "whisperedlongings" quest...In response to "whisperedlongings" question. My "guess" would be that "Amish" novels are allowed but others not because when you know from experience how things are, it's easy to see the stories as fiction. When reading fiction about things you know nothing about, it's easier to think things are really like the author is depicting them. That sounds rather convoluted. Did anyone understand what I meant? lolNonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00813830505686779881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-48144088669882077442010-10-10T16:42:57.356-07:002010-10-10T16:42:57.356-07:00@Hillbilly Handiworks--stores stock the "othe...@Hillbilly Handiworks--stores stock the "other" Amish books because they sell well.<br />You might enjoy reading non-fiction books about the Amish by Donald Kraybill or John Hostetler.Dorcashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07050605764466835485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-19237832469727408182010-10-10T03:31:13.597-07:002010-10-10T03:31:13.597-07:00I liked Plain Truth & it had the ring of authe...I liked Plain Truth & it had the ring of authenticity for me ~ & no, not Amish [no Amish in my part of the world] but I had read a lot of N/F before PT & weighed what people like Kraybill[?] had said about different communities against Piccout's representation & it seemed to fit pretty well. Like any other work of fiction some authors romantacise their subject matter while others go for gritty realism. Let's just say I'm not the romantic sort. ☺Ganeidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176246964466185315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-57584109813510401472010-10-07T14:46:53.882-07:002010-10-07T14:46:53.882-07:00Plain Truth was a very good read...I just did not ...Plain Truth was a very good read...I just did not like the ending and felt it was inconsistent with what she had expressed earlier in the book. I'll leave it at that to prevent spoiling it for others, but it was my major gripe with the book.Garryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06209771082349261612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-18081211012132979482010-10-07T12:31:51.975-07:002010-10-07T12:31:51.975-07:00Dorcas, when is your Mennonite fiction book coming...Dorcas, when is your Mennonite fiction book coming out? I'm not into Amish novels or much fiction for that matter, but would be interested in reading a good Menno novel. <br />Having previously seen, researched, and documented Amish reading habits for a published academic journal, I can say with some authority that yes, the at least the Amish in the big 3 settlements read those commercialized Amish books. All one needs to do to see this for themselves is to watch the young women line up for the latest B.Lewis at the Walnut Creek flea market book stand. <br />(BTW-some of us respect you for not riding the gravy train.)Monica https://www.blogger.com/profile/09434370272889356134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-47903466226239145382010-10-07T08:59:21.545-07:002010-10-07T08:59:21.545-07:00What is even worse than reading those "Amish&...What is even worse than reading those "Amish" books is listening to them on CD! The performers reading them just can't get those Dutch words pronounced right.Miller scribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13040288158057765698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-52164512400861291742010-10-06T19:48:13.483-07:002010-10-06T19:48:13.483-07:00plain truth by jodi picoult.
i like jodi picoult. ...plain truth by jodi picoult.<br />i like jodi picoult. <br />i've read probably half of her books.jmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-86801554009812215542010-10-06T13:11:28.648-07:002010-10-06T13:11:28.648-07:00What I found incredibly fascinating was, while vis...What I found incredibly fascinating was, while visiting my cousins, who are very conservative swartzentruber-type Amish, I discovered that the girls read and collected such "Amish" books when other fiction books were banned by their parents. I have attempted to reason that out, but have yet to understand why books that misrepresent their culture and often put it in a negative light would be allowed, while all other christian fiction is strictly prohibited.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-55423857607705569562010-10-06T12:33:43.334-07:002010-10-06T12:33:43.334-07:00Same for me about shopping in Jamesport, but I thi...Same for me about shopping in Jamesport, but I think they justify it being they are serving the tourist at that store.<br />I was not raised Amish and when I joined my parent/siblings were horrified. After all they knew all about the Amish from reading ....well we know who the authors are. Or worse yet, they had seen a documentary on TV about the Amish and of course that HAD to be accurate. Isn't everything they say on TV true??<br />Every community banns differently and the results depend on the hearts of the people involved.Plainlady's Ponderingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09526327124561246570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-51301804583964924022010-10-06T11:38:35.450-07:002010-10-06T11:38:35.450-07:00Whenever I see one of those "Amish" book...Whenever I see one of those "Amish" books I need to work to keep the sneer off my face. I'm not Amish and never have been, but my parents were both born into Amish families, and I had/have many Amish friends, which often happens when you grow up in the biggest Amish community in the world.<br />Yes, Amish communities vary greatly from one community to the next. Moving from Ohio to PA has taught me that much. And often what bothers me most is not the way the bann is portrayed in the "plain" books, but a host of other things, small things maybe, but those are the things that give away the fact that this author has no deep understanding of the way we plain people think and live. <br />Thanks for the recommendations. I want to read these 2 books!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-2156601208881275852010-10-06T11:12:22.286-07:002010-10-06T11:12:22.286-07:00I got to say that Amish are so different from comm...I got to say that Amish are so different from community to community. In our community the bann was very harsh. Some author's write from their own experience. Your experience as an amish is very different from many people I know back east. It's interesting to me because one of my friends informed me that she didn't like a certain author because she misrepresented the Amish. I on the other hand was shocked because I always thought her to be the most accurate author to represent what I had known. The difference was in the Amish communities. I always resented for instance anyone calling me amish or saying that Mennonites were like amish because in our community, trust me we are so different in our beliefs,morals,etc. And for the most part have no desire to be associated with them. I just wander if the books you think are not truthful about the amish may be truthful, in a totally different way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-71698411404901092742010-10-06T10:36:52.206-07:002010-10-06T10:36:52.206-07:00I live near Jamesport, Mo.
In the Amish quilt sho...I live near Jamesport, Mo. <br />In the Amish quilt shop, they have a little Christian book store... and I am always surprised that they have a prominate display of these 'other' Amish books that you alluded to. Why would they want those in their shop?<br /><br />And is there a GOOD book out there that is truthful and honest about the Amish lifestyle?<br />I would like to read these two that you reviewed.I don't read 'the others' because I want to know what is true first.Miss Hillbillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13422851284570747539noreply@blogger.com