Customer Reviews (10)

Blood of the Prodigal
This is the first book in the Ohio Amish Mysterys by this author.It starts a little slow, but don't give up,it gets better.Each book in the series is a little better than the last. I am on the 4th one and can say I have really enjoyed reading them. These books are suitable for all ages and pretty good reads.

Amish Tale
I found this a very interesting book with many insights into the Amish of the Ohio. It was well written and flowed easily. It had a bit of a bash at the end.

Great
Although I haven't had a chance to read it yet; can't wait to get started.

Quick and Intriguing book
I bought the book yesterday after hearing the author give a speech at the library. He entertained us royally with stories of the Amish lifestyle and I knew that I just had to buy his books. So far, I've only read one (it sure is a quick book!) and I had to force myself not to cheat and figure out the ending before the end of the book.

It was worth the wait.

This is a novel that I am proud to say is from Ohio. I have been in Holmes County but not to gawk at the Amish. We have Amish living near by just half an hour away. We see them all the time on our way to Indiana.

This book, Gaus' debut novel, is about the father/son relationship in an abstract way. Branden, a professor at a local college, was called upon to find an Amish bishop's grandson who was kidnapped by his father. The search leads to murder and suddenly, the hunt for the missing boy becomes urgent. With detective reasoning by the young sheriff deputy, Branden and Branden's wife, the race to find the boy intensifies.

This is a gripping novel and it is surprising that it hasn't been moved up the bestseller's lists. It really is a well-written novel and intense. If you are interested in learning more about the Amish, this is an excellent novel to start with. It gives you the basics of the Amish faith and why they do the things the way they do.

It is a great read for summer if you're looking for something quick to read.

4/21/08

A Fantastic, Captivating Read!
I could hardly put this book down! I read it entirely in two evenings and enjoyed it immensely. This author knows all the details of the Amish lifesyle and has a way of putting it into words that can really peak your interest! Get you hands on it as soon as you can...you won't be sorry! ... Read more

Product Description
"I had an obsession with the Amish. Plan and simple. Objectively it made no sense. I, who worked hard at being special, fell in love with a people who valued being ordinary."

So begins Sue Bender's story, the captivating and inspiring true story of a harried urban Californian moved by the beauty of a display of quilts to seek out and live with the Amish. Discovering lives shaped by unfamiliar yet comforting ideas about time, work, and community, Bender is gently coaxed to consider, "Is there another way to lead a good life?"

Her journey begins in a New York men's clothing store. There she is spellbound by the vibrant colors and stunning geometric simplicity of the Amish quilts "spoke directly to me," writes Bender. Somehow, "they went straight to my heart."

Heeding a persistent inner voice, Bender searches for Amish families willing to allow her to visit and share in there daily lives. Plain and Simple vividly recounts sojourns with two Amish families, visits during which Bender enters a world without television, telephone, electric light, or refrigerators; a world where clutter and hurry are replaced with inner quiet and calm ritual; a world where a sunny kitchen "glows" and "no distinction was made between the sacred and the everyday."

In nine interrelated chapters--as simple and elegant as a classic nine-patch Amish quilt--Bender shares the quiet power she found reflected in lives of joyful simplicity, humanity, and clarity. The fast-paced, opinionated, often frazzled Bender returns home and reworks her "crazy-quilt" life, integrating the soul-soothing qualities she has observed in the Amish, and celebrating the patterns in the Amish, and celebrating the patterns formed by the distinctive "patches" of her own life.

Charmingly illustrated and refreshingly spare, Plain and Simple speaks to the seeker in each of us. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (48)

Must read for anyone in a "pressure cooker" job
This is a very uplifting trip taken and proves that fancy, 'doodads' in our lives are really totally unnecessary for real to-the-bone happiness and sense of worth.

Huge disappointment
I picked this up because I've been fascinated by the Amish for years,and thought it would be lovely to read a firsthand account from someone who had gotten to spend some time in an Amish household.
I walked away from this book with the thought that Sue Bender is incredibly narcissistic and overly critical of others. In the beginning she mentioned that she had been brought up to "be a star". Let me tell you, she seems to think that she is the SUN and everything revolves around her.

At one point, she offers to do the dishes in the Amish household. And then proceeds to tell us how doing the dishes is her least favourite domestic chore blah blah blah. What an angel, to offer to wash the dishes by hand for these people who DO IT EVERY DAY.

She constantly reminds us that she's privledged and fairly well off and gets all of these amazing opportunities in life and she's well educated etc etc etc.

What bothered me most was her criticism of the Amish wife's weight. The first thing she seemed to have noticed was how chubby the wife was. And later in the book, while meeting the Amish husband: "After meeting his chubby wife, he looked as if he has come from a more modern generation that knew being fat wasn't healthy."

You can do far better than this book if you're looking for firsthand accounts with the Amish. Don't waste your time or your money.

it is a product of when it was written
i think that this book has to be understood as, first and foremost, a women's studies title and also very much a product of when it was written.also of the times that the author is actually recounting, which was in the 60s/70s/80s.if you keep that context, then i think a lot of what it is criticized for is more understandable.it's dated.it could be deeper.and, yes, the author does come over as a bit self-focused.but it's not the worst account out there, either.worth borrowing from the library?

Plain and Simple:A women's journey to the Amish
This book arrived in a short amount of time and was in very good condition

Really horrible book
This book is a self-centered piece of random musings. It is not about the Amish. It is about the author, and frankly, she's not someone I would really care to meet and discuss important issueswith. She spends SO much time on HER thoughts, HER ideas, that one forgets this is supposed to be a book about the Amish way of life.This is not a journey TO the Amish. It is a boring, breathtakingly conceited journey into the author's confused mind. I suggest counseling for her. Her book just plain stinks. ... Read more

Product Description
In Indiana’s Amish country, families work, play, and worship much as they have since they arrived in the 1800s. Here there are few modern-day conveniences to distract people from the important tasks of living plainly and serving their God. In this lovely book, well-known photographer Darryl D. Jones captures the spirit of the Amish people, their land, and their daily lives.

Jones’s photographs are at once inspiring and intimate, expressive of the landscape and those who work the land. They do show the Amish as many have come to see them—plowing a field behind a team of horses, going to market in a black buggy, and dressed in suspenders and plain smocks. But Jones’s photographs go beyond tourist caricature. In them we glimpse faces lined by hard work and wrinkled with pleasure; tasks performed in ways that seem timeless and tasks done with the aid of modern machinery; young people who make a sport of harvest and join eagerly in a game of baseball. In them we glimpse as well the deep satisfaction of living in harmony with the rhythms of life.

Amish Life: Living Plainly and Serving God is a pictorial memento to be treasured. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Living Plainly & serving God
This book is a wonderful guide through traditional Amish life as lived by children.The photographs are wonderfully done and give a true feeling for the daily life of young Amish children and their unique lifestyle. I loved it! ... Read more

Product Description
SCANDAL ROCKS AMISH CLAN:MURDER, SEXUAL DEPRAVITY.Forget the images of 19th century farmers, close-knit families, and hard-working craftsmen immune to the stresses of our modern times.The Amish find themselves facing ever-greater scrutiny as reports of polio outbreaks, child abuse, rape, incest, and bestiality grab the headlines. Once the symbol of better, simpler times, the closeted world of the Amish is now in the spotlight and at the center of growing controversies.Chris Burkholder, the son of an Amish bishop, has shattered the silence. At the cost of being excommunicated and ostracized by his own father, Chris reveals what it is like to grow up in a world where brainwashing, terrifying violence and sexual depravity are commonplace. In Amish Confidential: The Bishop’s Son Shatters the Silence, Chris Burkholder shares his harrowing tale of abuse and reasons that compelled him to leave his family and faith in search of a new life among the ‘sinful and condemned world’ of the rest of us Americans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Pathetic!
Chris Burkholder is a miscreant that lies about his family and the things they alledgedly did. He is the one who has the major problems. From the time he was a little boy, he got "release" and was "thrilled" when he killed chickens! And he just got worse from there. This book is a way for him to freak people out and make the Amish out to be bad people. Additionally, he has major issues and is an admitted animal abuser. I do know plenty of Amish families who are normal and happy people. They live green, off the grid, and leave others alone. They are better off without him.

Don't waste your money on this one! I am going to use the pages from this book for scratch paper in my hobby room.

Sometimes hard to keep reading
I'm not saying this isn't a good book, but being an animal lover, it is sometimes hard to keep reading with all the very graphic descriptions of animal cruelty in this book. I almost didn't finish reading it.It also seems to me as though the author constantly blames his father and his upbringing for all his OWN disturbing acts of violence.The author comes across as quite a hypoctite, which is what he accoused his father of being.Toward the end, he seems to realize this, but doesn't go into much detail after he leaves the Amish community.I don't know if I will read his next book or not.

Sensationalist tripe.
This is book falls into the same category as "Devil's Playground" shockumentary:it represents 0.1% of the culture.If the details he describes are really true and not exaggerated or sensationalized, that's truly sad and unfortunate.Everyone is responsible for their own actions, regardless of what culture they have grown up in.Bottom line though,this is certainly NOT how the majority of the Amish behave.Take this (and the tripe by Anna Dee Olson) with a grain of salt...

"Bound to be the Talked-About Book of 2009"
"Bound to be the Talked-About Book of 2009"
Chris was the son of an Amish bishop.Unfortunately, in the Amish Church, most rules are man-made. Most are asinine and have no true relevance to God's will.

Chris describes the beatings--with wire, sticks (not twigs), boards, and chains.He explains how the ignorance of sex and the changes associated with puberty create confusion.Even after marriage, there is a confusion about sex, because sex is to be only for procreation, which is in conflict with human sexuality.All this ignorance leads to molestation, incest, and bestiality (sex with animals).

I have had a fascination with the Amish for years, and I have read countless novels and tell-all books.I thought that the book True Stories of X-Amish:Banned-Shunned-Excommunicated was explosive.This book tells so much more and will erase any preconceived notions about the Amish's quaint life.Their man-made dogma has created hard hearts that are not focused on grace, faith, love, and hope.The animal abuse, child abuse, and drug and alcohol abuse are heart-breaking.The beginning of the book tells about a grandfather who cruelly slaps a one-year-old and forces food down its throat, because he was tired.I did not think I would be able to read rest of the story.It is that emotionally draining.Grab your tissues and read this!

It is easy for us to say that they have the freedom of religion, but do they have the right to cover up all their wrong doings by saying it is God's will?America did not think so when the authorities raided the polygamist camp in 2008.

This book is so real and truly the best
This book is one of the best true stories of the life of the Amish, and yes it may sound harsh at some parts but it is for real and really very good. No one wants to hear what isn't true and were not in a hurry to put them down. I feel they need prayer
Thank you for your open heartnest I know it had ot be very hard to write. Thank you again for your book ... Read more

Product Description
Byler, an Old Order Amish from Middlefield, Ohio, offers an autobiographical medicine diary and recipe book, that's been over 50 years in the making. Here are recipes for general tonics, poultices, plasters, and remedies for specific ills, instructions for making soap, furniture polish, glue, and varnish remover, plus recipes for everything from cherry pie to Rivvel Soup. Illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Don't trust the herbal info
In chapter 7 under "Pregnancy" the author writes:

"Strawberry or red raspberry leaf tea may be used until about three weeks before birth only."I don't know about strawberry leaf tea but I know that any herbalist will tell you that you can use red raspberry leaf tea before the last three weeks before the birth.Although, there is some controversy over whether or not it should be used in the first trimester.In the same paragraph, the author writes, "Black cohosh and blue cohosh teas are also good." But, the author doesn't specify a time-frame in pregnancy in which the cohoshes could be used which may lead one to believe that they are okay to use at any time in pregnancy, which they definitely are not.

A couple of books I recommend for herbs in pregnancy are "The Complete Woman's Herbal" by Anne McIntyre and "The Naturally Healthy Pregnancy" by Shonda Parker.Both books are written by professional herbalists.

Native American Medicine and Amish Wisdom
Five hundred years ago, it was illegal to own a Bible written in any language other than the dead language of Latin.But the invention of the printing press created a vibrant black market in vernacular Bibles in Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, - thus the Reformation was born.Out of this came a group of Bible readers called the Anabaptists (again baptized) from which the Amish emerged along with the Hutterites and Mennonites, who in time took their beliefs and philosophy of nonviolence to North America.The Native Americans found the Amish to be friendly and not warlike as the English were.Hence, the Amish learned of many native plants and herbs, and how to grow them.

Emma Byler is Amish.Her father taught her the Native American foods and herbal medicines such as golden seal for a sore throat.He and the Amish community also taught her Amish Biblical wisdom.Her subsequent life experience taught her the rest:she raised ten kids on her own beginning at age 33 after her husband died."We had to make do with what we had", she wrote.Through the years, she recollected the home remedies she had learned and wrote them down; she also wrote down recipes and even an occasional memo of a memorable event.As her writings grew, she found an empty shoe box to keep them in while she kept writing and adding to her library.

One day an anthropologist, Peter Gail, met the now 70-some year old Amish woman and learned of her library.Seeing the treasure there in recipes, Native American home remedies, homemade household goods, food preservation, and decorative knot-tying, Dr. Gail helped her to compile this book.The food list for a 200 guest wedding dinner alone is worth the price of this book.

In addition, Mrs. Byler shares her Amish wisdom brightened by a wonderful sense of humor honed by her faith in God and many life experiences.She offers much food for thought in addition to her recipes for many foods - a delightful chairside companion!

Very good "back to basics" book!!
Mr. Gail and Emma byler have done a fine job helping us remember all those skills that our grandparents grew up with.Today, with everything brought to us at a supermarket, we have lost much of the knowledge that was commonsense years ago.This book lets us in on some of that knowledge that hasbeen forgotten in this fast paced world of today!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A guide to the Ceremonies of the Amish, Mennonites, and Brethren
Although this People's Place Book No. 8 focuses on Amish sects, it also includes other Old Order Communities such as the Mennonites, the Old German Baptist Brethren, and the River Brethren (of which the author is a member).There are black and white photographs throughout the text.

My favorite chapter is "A Lancaster Amish Wedding" where the author creates two composite characters, Levi Lapp and Mary Beiler, then takes them through their courtship, marriage, and the early stages of establishing their own household.Many items that are included in a typical American marriage, such as flowers, a veiled bride dressed in white, and the exchange of rings are not part of this Amish wedding.Much of the wedding sermon is taken from the apocryphal Book of Tobit, and the story of how Isaac married Rebecca, and how Jacob married Rachel.

All of the bride's clothing is new, and she usually makes her own dress (in shades of blue or purple).Among older generations, at least, the bride's cap and apron would be put away after her wedding day, to be worn only once more at her funeral.

This book is full of lovingly described details, and not just for the wedding ceremonies of the Amish, Mennonites, and Brethren.It also includes baptisms (the Mennonites pour and the Brethren dunk), the choosing of ministers, funerals, Sunday services, communions, Pentecost and Love feasts, auctions, and other celebrations.The stories are fictional but depict typical happenings in actual communities.There is also a brief history of the plain people and how they emigrated to America and Canada.

The "People's Place" books are published by The People's Place, a museum and heritage center specializing in Amish and Mennonite life, located in the village of Intercourse, Pennsylvania.I've read several of them now, and can highly recommend the whole series.

A warmhearted and fascinating look at these people
This book is the eighth in the People's Place Booklet series on the Amish and other Old Order Anabaptists. This wonderful book covers a group of special occasions (such as weddings, baptisms, choosing a pastor, funerals, and much more!), explaining how they are run and what they mean. But, this is more than a boring recitation of information. Instead, the author weaves fascinating stories, bringing the ceremonies to life through the eyes of fictional participants!

Overall, I found this to be a warmhearted and fascinating look at these people, really bringing their lives and ceremonies right to me. The Amish wedding chapter was great, and I found the Old Order Mennonite baptism to be especially touching. If you are interested in the Amish and other Old Order groups, then I cannot recommend this book to you enough. Get it!

informative and enjoyable
This book is not at all stuffy. It presents its material clearly and accurately, but in a style that is easy and enjoyable to read. ... Read more

Product Description
Following in the tradition of their top-selling The World of Amish Quilts, the Pellmans have created a Treasury of Amish Quilts, a collection of jewel-like quilts--gathered from Amish communities troughout North America--in all their rich, colorful glory. Extensive captions detail the date ans settlement from which each quilt came, and highlight its particular features. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

due to packaging this product arrived folded
perhaps you could put your books into better packaging or at least put a piece of stiff cardboard in the package to prevent the book from moving in the packaging and folding--I realize it is an extra expense but it would at least assure that the books would arrive in better condition.

A Treasury of Amish Quilts
This book is a treasure of Amish quilts.It is strictly a picture history of quilts, with a short introduction into the world of the Amish quiltmaker.I have this in my quilt library to sit and simply look atbeautiful quilts.I would recommend it as a gift, which is how I receivedit. ... Read more

Product Description
Treasury of Amish patchwork artistry considers color combinations, borders, quilting methods, backings, binding. Instructions, full-size patterns for such colorful beauties as "Honeycomb" "Sunshine and Shadow," "Wild Goose Chase," many more—all derived from Amish quilts of late 1800s, early 1900s.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A good How-To book with patterns and templates
Forty-six patchwork patterns with templates and 12 quilting patterns are the heart of this book. Including most of the popular traditional patterns , such as 'Ocean Waves, 'Bear's Paw,' 'Shoo Fly,' and 'Double Irish Chain.' The template are easy to copy and accurate.Suzy Lawson also includes and interesting chapters on Amish quilt colors, border, and backing and binding.Set in typescript so it is sometimes difficult to read, but full of information and theprice can't be beat. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

AMISH MEDICINE?
WELL, IF ONE IS INTERESTED IN OLD WIVES REMEDIES, PERHAPS THIS IS FOR YOU; INTERESTING, BUT I'LL STICK TO MY PRIMARY M.D. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Good but smelly
The book was in great condition and was exactly how they described it.Can't believe they only wanted a penny for it!The only thing was the first time I had to sit down and read it for a long period of time I started to smell something and when I pulled the book closer to my nose, I realized that it was the book that smelled like cigarette smoke.I gag almost everytime I open it, but spraying it with body spray seems to be helping =)

True story of an Irish girl raised Amish
First written in 1940, this book tells the story of the author's mother, an Irish girl who was orphaned as a newborn and raised by an Amish neighbor after her father and older siblings move away.Rosanna grows up to be Amish in everyway, and over the years, she does get a chance to see her Catholic siblings from time to time and the difference in their lives.

I enjoyed the character Rosanna and reading about her life.Her characterization, and that of other characters was good, but not outstanding.What makes this book so enjoyable is how naturally the author brings you into the Amish lifestyle.We learn about dress, selection of ministers, the bann, courtship, worship services, etc and very much feel like we're part of the scene.There are some differences compared to the Amish of today (and between different groups), in the exact specifics of dress, most using generators and having bathrooms today, etc, but the fundamentals of the group and their basic principles are the same.

To anyone who is fascinated by the Amish or enjoys reading other Amish books, I would definitely recommend this one.This book has the advantage of being written by one who grew up in the community.It conveys the lifestyle very well and is an enjoyable read.

Story is so good I read it twice!
I read this book almost thirty years ago, and read it again this year.My memories of a great story about the Amish were completely confirmed on the second reading.Joseph Yoder tells a very sensitive and caring story about his mother, Rosanna, and the family and Amish community in which he grew up.The reader must accept that the book was first published many decades ago and therefore was written to different standards than today's family stories.I credit the author with refraining from judgement when it comes to doctrinal differences among various Amish and Mennonite groups.The fact that he left the Old Order church of his childhood for a less conservative church, yet was still fully accepted in the community of his youth speaks for the respect he retained in the Old Order group.If you are looking for a completely family friendly story with great information on the Old Order Amish of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, you will not find a more enjoyable read.Rosanna's Boys

A very interesting book!!!!
I thought this was one of the most interesting books I've read all school year. I've always wondered about the amish society, but until I finished this book this afternoon, I didn't have any clue as to what the amish believed.
Joseph Yoder makes it possible for people like me to really enjoy a school book.
I really think that if you have any questions about the amish to go straight to this book and read it.

Interesting take on the Amish lifestyle!!!
While this book may not be for everybody, and it might not include all the aspects that a reader might expect - kind of a one stop shopping to tell everything that is necessary to understand this sect - it nevertheless tells you what the Amish are really like and why they wear the unusual clothes they do, as well as preach against the "worldly wisdom."You get to follow Rosanna through her childhood, youth, courtship, and marriage, and child-rearing.Not only that, you see how her Amish life will differ from that of her Catholic friends, especially when they visit from their Philadelphia home.

While this is not a modern day presentation, it is really useful as a historical piece.Just don't get bogged down by expecting a thorough intellectual examination of the Amish.The book is not intended for that.It is written as a honest, sympathetic and straightforward reflection of these folks from a religious, social, and economic snapshot.The traditions of the Amish are celebrated, and it's done very nicely.Recommended!!! ... Read more

Product Description

Nearly 90 percent of those who grow up Amish choose the Amish way: a lifetime commitment to the faith and a traditional way of life. To outsiders immersed in the daily realities and luxuries of the modern world, this statistic may seem unbelievable. In this in-depth study of Amish adolescence, Richard A. Stevick offers a balanced, comprehensive, and engaging account of the social forces and rituals -- including Rumspringa -- that contribute to this statistic.

In Growing Up Amish, Stevick reveals the world of Amish youth caught between the expectations of their traditional community and the growing pressures and temptations that accompany adolescence. Drawing from a dozen years of research in more than seventy communities in fifteen states, he carefully details home life and school, social singings and wild parties, isolated settlements and Amish youth gangs, and courtship practices and wedding rituals. Stevick shows how the strong and distinct Amish identity is fostered by the entire community -- parents, ministers, teachers, and neighbors. With positive reinforcement and constant modeling of Amish behavior and values, this strong identity keeps most youth from feeling at ease in and identifying with the outside world.

This definitive work provides new and important insight into what life is really like for the adolescents, their families, and their communities during the "running around" years and how these fascinating rituals have, in fact, helped the Amish preserve their unique culture.

Customer Reviews (2)

The Real Story of The Amish!
This is an excellent read that was written by a real Amish person. You'll love it!
The quality is good and the delivery fast! I'll leave the judgement up to you about the price.

A 'must' for any collection strong in either Amish history and culture or regional American community sociology.
The Amish way is a lifetime commitment to the faith as well as a way of life: nearly 90 percent of those who grow up Amish choose the Amish way. Here is an in-depth study of Amish adolescence which considers its religion, society, and rituals which reinforce the statistics surrounding this chosen way of life. A dozen years of research in over seventy Amish communities in fifteen states lends to this study, which reveals how the Amish identity is fostered by an entire community of behavior and values. A 'must' for any collection strong in either Amish history and culture or regional American community sociology. ... Read more

Product Description
Mystery reading and quilting seem like disparate interests, but irrepressible Amish grandmother, Hannah Miller, moves between them enthusiastically.Hannah discovers her friend murdered; the police investigation falters.Hannah and her non-Amish granddaughter must find the murderer before they are next. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Sorry, but not good!
I am an avid reader of Amish fiction and read some Amish non-fiction.This book is like nothing I have ever read.The details concerning the Amish ways sounded to me like it was taken straight from the pages of research.
The story of Granny Hanny as an Amish detective bordered on ridiculous.Amish women are dedicated to home and family, it's inbred in them from childhood.Granny Hanny was much to knowledgable for a mother and homemaker with an 8th grade education to be the saavy detective she was protrayed to be.
The convenience of the granddaughter Carolyn, the attorney, was just a bit too conveinent for me. She was the mother of a small child she was never with through out the book, the child was always with the English housekeeper of the estranged husband.Really, this is way out there for all the Amish fiction I have read.
Oh, the ending was confusing as well.In the films that showed the earrings, was the camera shooting Nettie from the backside of her ear!How would you do that?
Maybe is was just me but this isn't a book I could ever reccommend for a reader of Amish fiction.I didn't read the sequel. country home body

What I love about In Dutch Again.
It is well written and flows smoothly.Once you start reading it is hard to stop. The author makes all of the people come alive as if you were really there. I love Granny Hanny. She is someone I would like to have for a friend.

Love The Mystery
I have read several books by Barbara Workinger, and love her mysteries.The Amish Country is such an interesting area, and she has them down to a "T". I am so happy she has kept on writing since she has moved and am looking forward to more of her books,

A Trip to Lancaster Without the Hassle
In this book, author Barb Workinger visits the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country to show that even secluded Amish communities can't escape conflict and crime.The characters of Carolyn and Granny Hannah are as interesting a contrast as Lancaster itself--the traditional and contemporary side by side.Infused with touches of humor, interesting facts about "plain people," and intriguing mysteries, this book multitasks for readers everywhere.

An Amish Quilt w/Norman Rockwell Brilliance & a Spice Slash of Stephen King's Dark Jewel Tones.

The murder in this novel comes up in the first scene, with a simple realism which is sometimes lacking in cozy mysteries due to their style of underplayed viscera, a simple realism which is sometimes strangely unsuccessful in true crime novels due to overdone, exaggerated gore.Working from the murder scene, the book moves forward through a natural intimacy among characters, allowing a warmth to develop without discounting the chilling essence of death by malice and violence.

The style of Workinger's storytelling maintains a shifting balance between the boundaries of cozy Vs crime novels, a balance which gives a more engrossing reading experience that either style could accomplish within its separate, defined bailiwick.

Natural, real, warm, and engrossing are the best words I can use to describe the reading experience of Barbara Workinger's IN DUTCH AGAIN.Only half-through the reading of IDA, I found that these qualities had seeded a growing desire to continue reading many more books in this Amish setting of Granny Hannah & Granddaughter Carolyn.The shoop sisters were also creating a presence which seemed to want to move forward in future plots.

The flow of composition in IDA gave me several indications that Barbara Workinger is a born novelist.A prejudice exists (though it's not often stated this way) that sometimes professional journalists (which Barbara has been in spades) or established nonfiction writers don't have the natural Right Brain flow to ride the sometimes terrifying creative chaos of characters in a novel taking over their own parts and personalities, and sometimes the plot.

My review (post date 10/13/05) on Stephen King's ON WRITING discusses R/L Brain stuff a bit, but I could write a nonfiction book on that subject, probably a series of books on creative writing.

Returning to my preliminary discussion of IDA...

The personality, age difference, and background contrast between Carolyn and Hannah works very well.Workinger's characters, even the less involved, "single-story" ones, have life in them, the lack of which is an indication of a nonfiction writer trying to be a Good Frankenstein but not possessing whatever it is in the brain, heart, and soul which gives the born-author-gene-pool, or however you want to bill it.

It was easy for me to live in this story.Each time I picked up the book to begin reading, the settings came to mind easily, effortlessly, and stayed as a backdrop for character movement.Sometimes a novel forces me to painfully read and reread setting descriptions, in order for them to seat and stay, and without that fiction-reality-foundation, the characters seem to be trying unsuccessfully to move in a molasses tinged fog, which, strangely, doesn't stick, doesn't do the job.

Nettie's new/old farmhouse and 2 acre grounds is particularly well set, probably because of the way Workinger plotted Hanny going there and opening the bloody murder scene (with the lovely white-on-white quilt described so gorgeously in contrast), all of which was very well done; actually it was excellently executed, with just the right amount and type of detail. The description and use in setting (and upsetting) of the deep, wrap-around-front-porch symbolism was particularly effective.And Hannah's dealing with, reacting to and taking action relative to that front porch scene; her studying and getting around the alarm system, provided great character development and a perfect means of sliding the reader('s own bloody footprints) into the story.

As noted above, I enjoyed the gestalt and main characters enough in this mystery pilot that only a few short scenes into the book I was feeling compelled to continue reading more there and to pick up the next books in series.I'm also wanting to review additional books in this series, as long as I'm able to continue my current efforts of posting on Amazon.com (until I get my mystery pilot with its own brand of lively, author manipulating characters a worthwhile contract).One step, page, at a time?

Mentioned periodically in IDA is a prior mystery Hannah had solved, related to her grandson, Josh, as the seeding of the characters' disdain of the police presence in the Lancaster area, focusing on the lack of knowledge, experience, aptitude, and natural detecting talent in acting chief, Benton.Does Workinger have an earlier pilot offering for this series, or is she using reference to that situation as a foundation from which to work IDA as the pilot (which would be a brilliant ploy).

Or...

Is she consciously or unconsciously doing a Star Wars type of sequencing deal of going back in time as well as forward for future sequels in the series? (Which would also be an intriguing plotting, time-sequencing, which I'm toying around with in my mystery series.)

So, in this pilot we have a heightened issue which is common in amateur sleuth offerings, that of how the sleuth gets around and/or works with and relates to official police proceedings and character presences. It seems that Workinger may be working from a personal or professional experience of distaste of the controlling police persons' aura. Yet, her natural soul generosity of not wanting to condemn any human being once he's become somewhat known to her (even in fiction), seems to be automatically giving Benton a warm, likable side. It feels to me like the author is trying to make him a negative, almost villainous character, yet he continues to be too human to trash or bash, except to say he's lazy, and to play on what she sees as a general desire/habit of police people to jump quickly to conclusions and get a case wrapped up without actually doing any true investigating.

Of course not all of police professionals do this, but some do, and many amateur sleuth and PI mysteries use this too-quick-to-conclude attitude to justify their actions in criminal investigations.

Based off the kingpin of fictional homicide inspector Paavo Smith, Joanne Pence's Angie Amalfi series is uncannily true to life in dramatizing the very real split in the police bailiwick between the dedicated (burning midnight oil 24/7, not just at midnight) and the lazy (or push-hurry-to-any-conclusion tendencies).See my Listmania and reviews on that series, or visit Pence's official web site to read a beautifully condensed presentation of my reviews, which Pence titled, "A Treatise on Angie Amalfi."

There's LOTS I could say about these issues, not only from my years as an English teacher, and my extensive reading and reviewing of novels from many sides of the detective fiction genres, but also from my background in police workings, several years worth, having been married to a Multnomah County Deputy Sheriff in Oregon, and having worked for the City of Portland Police Bureau. I've also lived in a few small town communities in which the police presence is as different as you could get (pro and con) from the experiences and people I worked with in the Portland, OR area (and for a very short time in NJ & NYC). There's lots of true heroic glow as well as a presence of horribly ugly corruption to be found in most realms of criminal control, investigation, etc. Having been immersed in the dark and bright angles from both outside and inside this realm ...

Also have to say that I'm thoroughly disgusted with whoever told Workinger that an Amish setting is too localized to work with the general mystery audience!!?? Don't they know of the popularity of Tamar Myers's PenDutch Inn series??(See my Listmania's and reviews on Myers's two great mystery series.)

One of the most successful "reader-live-in" techniques in this novel is the contrast in lifestyle of the Amish (wedding celebrations) Vs the English (murder & mayhem), as it plays around two intriguingly intertwined murders and their resolution.

The resolution of this mystery was fascinating and perfect from the perspectives of all issues, angles, and culprits brought to justice.Half way through the read, I had a culprit and conclusion in mind.Mine was way darker than the one Workinger brought through the portal of plot perfection, and mine would have required a mindset closer to that of Stephen King.(Don't ask me where THAT came from; my novels are the essence of ethereal effervescence compared to the Master of Horror.)Workinger's wrap was just right for her voice, talent, background, characters, setup, and setting. Yeah, it was.Chust.Right.Already.

This author is not only a natural born novelist, she's a master of maneuvering the convolutions of mystery to her own ends as a writer.What more could you want?Look for more from this author.There's a reading richness here that's not to be denied, not found elsewhere, and which will flourish in its own course.

I'm sold.

Linda G. Shelnutt ... Read more

Product Description
Comprehensive in its treatment of the Amish quilt, this authoritative work's topics include the origin and beliefs of the Amish; the Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch culture; historical development of the Amish quilt; and more. 100 color plates. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The best on the subject
I've bought, read, or browsed through many books on this subject. Granick's book on Amish quilts is the most comprehensive and fascinating I've seen.A delight to read. A delight to the eyes. I recommend it highly.

A 5 star read
I highly reccommend this book to anyone interested in Amish quilts.The pictures are gorgeous and the historical text is fascinating. I bought an antique quilt 2 years ago and was told it came from a farm auction in an Amish community in Iowa.As it is a double wedding ring pattern with a multitude of small print calicos and pink backing I dismissed the idea that it was of Amish origin.However, after reading about quilts from Iowa and their use of patterned fabrics I am thrilled to think that it probably is Amish.

A wonderful book!

A great history!
Not ony does Eve Wheatcroft Granick walk through the evolution of the Amish quilt, she also helps the reader grasp Amish heritage and culture.I would highly recommend this book!

The best on the topic of Amish quilts
As a serious collector of Amish quilts, and a textiles professor who also does research on the topic, I am so glad that this book is in print. So many of the others on Amish quilts show the quilts without the culturalcontext.The cultural and religious context is briefly presented in thisbook, which is a departure from most of the others. ... Read more

Product Description
Recipes adapted form the kitchens and pantries of Amish cooks. Presented in their historical setting. Beautiful color photos. Delicious, savory recipes.Main Selection Better Homes and Gardens Books Club. Featured by Book of the Month Club ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Meals like grandma used to make!!
The recipes in this book are very easy to make and they use ingredients that you would normally have on hand.The meals remind me of the "old fashioned" kind of dinners that grandma would make.Definitely comfort food, nothing fancy or fussy about this book.

Molly's Reviews
The Best of Amish Cooking is a collection of dishes that go back as far as 80 year-old-members of the Amish church can remember or find in old hand scripted cookbooks belonging to their mothers.Some recipes are prepared in old fashioned method, while others are adapted to modern days and products available from the grocery store.The old handwritten recipes were often only a listing of ingredients with no reference to measurement or procedure.Writer Good offers measurements and procedures for the recipes found in this work.Historical notes and asides are included along with recipes for specific dishes.

Good story,Bad recipe book
The stories behind the development of these recipes is very interesting. So if you are looking for the stories behind the way the Amish cook, this book is worth the price. However if you intend to actually USE the book to cook then don't waste your money. The recipies set you up for failure from the beginning. The pie crust on page 117 is dry and does not roll out well. The ratio of flour to wet ingredients is wrong. The chicken pie recipe on page 15 is exceptionally bland and the crust is too wet for rolling. The addition of extra flour helps but it's still a hard dough to work with. I would not recommend this book for people who cook unless you are an experienced cook who can recognize and correct what's wrong by sight and feel before you are finished with the recipe.

Excellent Coverage of Dutch Classics. Cheap.
`The Best of Amish Cooking' by Phyllis Pellman Good is one of the high points of a cottage industry devoted to writing about Pennsylvania Dutch cookery. It is so much of an industry that Good is not only the author of this book, but its publisher as well. And, `Good Books', based in darkest Lancaster County, Pennsylvania publishes several other books on `Pennsylvania Dutch' (Amish and Mennonite) subjects. For the very few of you who may not be familiar with this fact, I quote `Dutch' and the phrase `Pennsylvania Dutch' since the term is actually a corruption of the name for German natives, or `Deutch'. Of course, the `Pennsylvania Dutch' return the favor and label all non-Amish / Mennonites as `English', including French, Poles, Italians, Russians, and Spanish. So there.

As someone who grew up in the bosom of the `Pennsylvania Dutch' cuisine, I have a closer connection to this cooking than to any other. That prejudice aside, I think it is safe to say that the `Pennsylvania Dutch' cuisine is much more coherent, that is, easier to understand from a few paradigms than, for example, Southern cooking, Tex-Mex, or California Cuisine, as the Amish and Mennonite traditions all came from not only from a single European country, but from a single region (North Central Germany). There is a small New World influence in the importance of corn (maize) in `Dutch' cookery. A second condition leading to continuity in this cuisine over time is that roles in the Amish household are clearly defined in that women do virtually all cooking. Men may handle butchering and preserving meats, but women handle everything else connected with food.

The foods for which `American' cuisine owes most to the `Dutch' cuisine would be pretzels, sweet and savory pies (Wayne Harley Brachman calls Lancaster County the American `dessert central' in his excellent book, `American Desserts), sugar cookies, corn relishes, and potato salad. I judge this book's claim to be the `Best', by looking to see if it has recipes for the most common dishes from my past which are associated with the Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. And, I am not disappointed.

The touchstone dishes are stuffed pig stomach, corn pie, chow chow (corn relish), hot bacon dressing, and apple dumplings. I am happy to report that not only are all these recipes in place in this volume, but that they are as good or better than our `family' recipes. Yet, these are not what you would consider gourmet recipes. The recipe for pork and sauerkraut is an excellent case in point. In classic terms, this is a braise, yet Ms. Good's recipe does not do the classic braise drill of browning the pork and deglazing before simmering the meat with the kraut. Ever since I took over cooking for my household, I follow a much more French influenced recipe than a classic Pennsylvania Dutch procedure, so I add the sear, onions, wine, and Juniper Berries (a James Beard addition to braised cabbage) to my recipe. I also use a professional pastry chef's recipe for piecrusts instead of the author's crust that includes chicken fat and baking powder. Yet another departure is the recipe for chicken potpie. While I make this often, I follow James Beard's more sophisticated recipe which includes directions for creating the chicken broth and more elaborate instructions for creating the thickened sauce.

Thus, like a lot of books on Southern cooking and lots of other books on Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, this volume is more of an historical document for foodies than it is a source of fine cooking. The irony is that for a select few recipes, this book in fact does have the best recipes for distinctively Dutch preparations. In neither `The Joy of Cooking, `James Beard's American Cookery', or my three books on salads is there a decent recipe for the Pennsylvania Dutch hot bacon dressing. This is a staple on the shelves of Pennsylvania supermarkets, costing close to three dollars for enough to serve two to four people. So, there is much to be gained by learning how to make it fresh. It is a bit more difficult than your typical vinaigrette (and a bit harder on the waistline as well), but for a once a month treat, it's something you really should know. And, with cheap bacon ends, you can make it for half the price of `Wos-Wit' bacon dressing that may have been sitting on the shelves for a month.

This book does have a lot of contemporary value as a source of recipes for sour salads. While Italy and Province have their share of these antipasto dishes, the Dutch have their own twist on the technique, which they developed for exactly the same reason as their Latin cousins. It was the method they used to preserve a lot of produce for the winter.

I have seen many Pennsylvania Dutch cookbooks and, for its size and price, this is clearly one of the best.
... Read more

Product Description
Shortly after Kristie Matthews moves to an Amish farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, she encounters old Mr. Geohagan in the hospital emergency room, who gives her a key and swears her to silence. When she finds herself at the center of a petty crime wave that puts her life in danger, she knows the old man is using her for something illegal-she just doesn't know what. A local politician is somehow involved, and so is Mr. Geohagan's key. But how? Kristie struggles to solve the mystery while fighting her unwanted attraction to Clarke Griffin, a man who always seems to be around when things get crazy.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Key
Read the whole series of three books. Enjoyed them very much. Right now I let someone from church borrow them and then someone else wanted to borrow them. Very good reading

The First Book in an Outstanding Series
In THE KEY, artist and schoolteacher Kristie Matthews yearns for a simpler life.The day she moves into her new apartment, she sustains a dog bite necessitating a trip to the emergency room.Jon Clarke Griffin, who is atthe farm to visit his friend, Jake, takes her to the hospital.While sheis in the Emergency Room, a stranger hands her a key telling her to keep itfor him but to tell no one she has it. She ends up befriending theelderly stranger as he is hospitalized recovering from a heart attack.Shehas no idea she is putting herself in danger as well. Meanwhile Kristiebreaks off the relationship with her lawyer boyfriend, Todd Reasoner andsoon thereafter begins seeing Clarke Griffin. Soon a series of peculiarevents including a break-ins, make Kristie wonder what she has gottenherself into.

The three books in this series, set on the Zook's Amishfarm, each have an element of suspense in addition to the romance.Eachstory is told in first-person from the heroine's point of view. Gayle Roperis a master at storytelling! I also heartily recommend THE DOCUMENT and THEDECISION as well as THE KEY - it's been a long time since I read all threebooks in a series back-to-back, but I really couldn't put these down. ... Read more

Product Description

Simple joys like sliding in the snow, singing carols, and sharing gifts with family members are what an Amish Christmas are all about. Here's a look at the customs of these plain-living folk with Pamela Patrick's appealing, festive art.Amazon.com Review
How does a young Amish boy spend the days surroundingChristmas? From ice skating on his uncle's pond to the schoolChristmas pageant, An Amish Christmas introduces holidayroutines and Amish way to young readers. The illustrations are paintedin vibrant colors and a realistic style. A charming book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Christmas cultural adventure
This book is filled with the details of how Christmas is celebrated in the Amish community.It traces the actions of a boy and his younger sister, during Christmas Eve, the two days of Christmas, and the following day.We meet the boy's family and learn about their Christmas customs.Interspersed in the text are Pennsylvania Dutch phrases, together with their meanings.The book both satisfies and develops curiosity about cultural differences.It shows children an example of how people do things differently, yet deep-down, many of the beliefs are the same.The book is suitable for older kids, with about 2000 words.

A warm celebration of Amish life
"An Amish Christmas" combines an informative text by Richard Ammon with illutrations by Pamela Patrick. The text is the first-person narration of an Amish boy who tells about his life and the way his family celebrates Christmas.

The text captures many interesting details of Amish life. Particularly interesting is the presentation of the bilingual culture of this Amish community, whose members speak both Pennsylvania Dutch (which is actually a dialect of German) and English. Ammon includes a number of Pennsylvania Dutch words and phrases, with translations, in the text. Example: "Siss am schneea" ("It's snowing").

Ammon's intelligent text is wonderfully complemented by Patrick's beautiful illustrations. Her style is realistic and colorful, and she superbly captures the facial expressions of the Amish children. There are many wonderful images and details: a horse's breath visible on a frosty December day, a colorful patterned quilt, a friendly snowball "fight," and more. Simply marvelous.

Informative and captivating
The beautiful illustrations in this book only enhance the simple story of how the Amish celebrate the Christmas holiday.Narrated by a young Amish boy, readers are quickly transported into the Amish world and the Christmas season.Great for readers of all ages. ... Read more

Product Description
Their distinctive clothes and horse-drawn buggies make the Amish stand out. Outsiders are curious about the lifestyle of these "plain people" now living in 23 US states and Canada. This book with its 150 vivid color photos from three settlements answers many questions including: How do they raise their children to be Amish? How do they have fun? Why does their schooling stop at 8th grade? How are their businesses successful without further education? How do the Amish care for large families and gardens with so few modern time-savers?

This book also describes a home birth, Sunday morning church in a suburban basement, a sisters' day making chow chow (a vegetable relish,) an Amish schoolday and a silo-filling ring at work. This is an inside view based on the author's experiences with Amish families. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Beautifully illistrated
The Amish are always an interest to my visiting friends and family.Amish Ways is a wonderful gift to give them to keep their memories alive and to show others when they return home.

This book answers all my questions about the Amish
This hardcover makes you feel like you're right inside an Amish home.I loved the home birth, their education in a one-room school and the way they have church and lunch at somebody's house.I never realized all the ways they shared in their community.The author and photographer must have spent a lot of time with the Amish to do such a good book.The beautiful pictures made me want to visit the Amish ... Read more

Product Description
The Amish women of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country have been creating exquisite quilted masterpieces since the 1800s. Amish quilts represent personal expression, craftsmanship, and frugality, and are the most desired in the world. This book is the first to take quilters inside the Amish tradition of the Circle letter. From each letter, a quilt block is created to represent a significant event in the life of the quilter; these letters and blocks are passed around a circle of 11 friends, and once 121 blocks have been created, they are joined together to create a beautiful work of art that tells the story of family and friends - a circle quilt.

With this book, quilters will step into the everyday life of the Amish community and follow the journey of 11 women who maintain their friendships while keeping a record of their lives. Quilters will enjoy the heartwarming stories while following step-by-step instructions for creating their own Amish circle quilt, as well as a baby quilt, wall hanging, table runner and appliquéd aprons and bags.

-Heartwarming stories give readers insight into the Amish community-Instructions for creating and Amish Circle Quilt as well as 8 smaller projects with a similar motif-Full-size color patterns - a great value ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

intriguing book for quilters
I loved the stories that tied to the block designs and I especially liked the many different blocks.I'm selecting fabrics now for my next quilt and plan to use several of the blocks shown in this book.

Amish Circle
This book is full of 121 quilt block patterns, but I was actually a little overwhelmed to think about making a quilt using all of them, so I haven't made anything using this book yet.I would like to at least make a quilt using some of the block patterns in the future.

An anthology of 121 actual-size piece and applique quilt block patterns
Award-winning quilter Rosemary Youngs presents The Amish Circle Quilt: 121 Quilt Block Patterns That Tell A Story, an anthology of 121 actual-size piece and applique quilt block patterns and correspondence between 11 women who maintained their friendships lifelong. A brief introduction walks readers through the basics of quilting, but most ofThe Amish Circle Quilt is devoted to the patterns themselves and the letters of true friends. A heartwarming survey of easy-to-make Amish quilt blocks, excellent for direct use or inspiration for one's own cozy creations.
... Read more

Product Description
This sensitive and thoughtful meditation on the horrific events of October 2, 2006, reflects on the response of the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where a gunman killed himself, five school children, and wounded five others. The tragic crime evoked expressions of shock and sympathy worldwide. But even many Christians were stunned when the Amish community, in the midst of its grieving, offered words of forgiveness toward the dead killer and his family. John L. Ruth considers that extraordinary forgiveness as the legacy of that heartbreaking day. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Forgivenesss
This book is very interesting, and gives a lot of information about the Amish way of life.

We need more forgiveness
John Ruth begins with the Amish community's tremendous act of forgiveness for the man and his family who killed and wounded their children. Then he explores the roots of such love in their community life and theological outlook and their faithfulness to the bible and especially the sermon on the mount. This book is well written and highlights the great need for this forgiving love in our society.
Dr. Ruth is a Mennonite pastor with a Harvard PHD in English literature who has written many books and articles about the Anabaptist tradition. He has also written film scripts and produced numerous video's about this traditions contributions to all of us.

Forgiveness A Legacy of the West Nickel Mines Amish
This book is awesome and anyone from any faith can stand to learn from this book. Forgiveness: A Legacy of the West Nickel Mines Amish School

Reviewed by Ashley Merrill
At first glace, this book appears as though it is going to be a recap of the horrific events that took place in an Amish community in Pennsylvania.One quickly realizes that this book is so much more.Almost in one chapter the book can sum up what happened on October 2nd, 2006, and the rest of the time is spent on numerous other topics, all of which relate to the concept of forgiveness.

It seems pretty obvious that if a member of your community went to your child's school and point blank shot them to death because he felt he was wronged earlier in life, you would want that guy either dead, in jail, or at least to pay dearly for the loss he caused you.You would also probably never ever want to see him or have contact with him, unless it was to be in a court room watching him be sentenced for his crime. John L. Ruth shows us how the media is absolutely shocked to find that the families of the deceased children invite the killer's wife to the funerals, and tell her that she is welcome to stay living in the community, and that they forgive her husband for what he did.If the Amish did not want media attention before this odd behavior, they only made it worse by going against everything our culture tells us is acceptable to feel for someone who has wronged us.

John L. Ruth takes us back to when the Amish first became what they are, how they developed their beliefs, what they had to go through to get to where they are, etc.This helps us to try and understand where they are coming from and how it is that they can have peace of mind and no ill feelings towards such an evil, disturbed man.They accept that they are here on earth for both good events to take place, and for tragedies to take place.They know Jesus suffered for all of us, so it is only appropriate to sometimes do the same.

The end of this book really had you thinking about our culture and the ideas that are ingrained into our heads at such a young age.Should we all be as forgiving as the Amish are?Should we just accept that life is full of tragedies; that life is all about how you deal with them and move on? I have to say that I came pretty close to being convinced that life would be much easier if we did not dwell on the hardships in life and think of it as events that were obviously meant to happen; it was god's will, and the man with the gun was just carrying out god's wish.Unfortunately I have had it pounded into my head so much that seeking revenge and vengeance is the proper thing to do when someone wrongs you so horribly, that I do not think I could swallow that and forgive. It makes you wonder how good of a society we really are.

Not what I expected
If you are looking for a detailed book about the unfortunate crime which took place in the Lancaster, PA area, you will be very disappointed. The book doesn't even give names of the murdered or anything. All you get is a bunch of bible quotes and lyrics from hymns. It is all interesting if you want to learn the religious ways of the Amish, but this book shouldn't come off as a "true crime" book. ... Read more