Customer Reviews (3)

An Amish Quilt in a Day
When I ordered this, I was hoping that this was another of Eleanor Burn's quilting books such as others that I have ordered in the past.I was pleasantly pleased to receive itvery quickly and in very good condition.It has really given me some great ideas to try.

Great Book
I am very pleased with the books and have used them for several projects and have more I will do.

It a fun quilt
I will make several sizes of this quilt before I'm done with this book. I am going to use many differnt color ways with this pattern. It a great book. It has quilts for the beginner as well as intermidate and advanced quilters. Get this book and have fun quilting. ... Read more

Product Description
A unique collection of songs, prayers, and sayings, plus rare photographs of Amish and Mennonite life, captures the grace with which these people who cherish and revere simplicity as a means to a higher spiritual level live and work among us. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Disappointing in comparison with other boooks
I was raised in Lancaster County, but have not lived there in thirtyyears.I've made more recent visits than usual, as well as extra attemptsto get in touch with my roots, which include the Reformed Mennonite Churchtwo generations back (sometimes called "Herrites").This bookhas some few beautiful photographs, and several lovely sayings -- but itseems superficial and communicates little useful information about theplace and culture.A nice soundbite for those tourists with particularlyshort attention spans, but otherwise disappointing. I recommend checkingother books under Lancaster, PA, and Mennonites, Herald Press, authorMartha Denlinger.I consider most readers would be much more satisfiedwith something else.

More promise than delivery - but still worth owning
Wisdom of the Plain Folk is a well designed book - one that respects the Amish and Mennonites one which it is based.The photography by Robert Leahy is excellent photography that is given an unusual depth because ofthe respect that it shows of his subject and their beliefs.The bookjustifies itself on the photography alone.

I am less enthusiastic aboutthe text - although my lack of familarity with the available texts may havebiased my evaluation.The proverbs, hymns and songs which are quoted haveno specifically Amish/Mennonite quality e.g. "Well begun is halfdone".However, they are well chosen for their pairing with thephotographs.As such, the combination of text and photo leads to anunderstanding of the strength and appeal of the Plain Folk way of life.

stunning, wise and calming
When the authors first arrived in Amish country of Pennsylvania with the intention of opening an inn, they were greeted the first night by their Plain neighbor from across the street who brought them fresh-baked cookies(the author often refers to the Amish and Mennonite people simply as "PlainFolk", capitalized as a proper noun).From there, they began to integratethemselves into the culture and lives of the Plain Folk, winning theirtrust and sharing in their lives.

The book is a collection of stunninglybeautiful photographs of this area and collections and excerpts of sayings,proverbs and songs used as worship.The color photographs are plainthemselves, like the people they chronicle, but contain a profundity thatis difficult to translate into words.For example, I'm looking at aphotograph, probably taken near dusk or just after sunrise, of a windmillagainst a darkening sky.There is a tree next to the windmill, and it'sbranches are bare.Puffy, dissolving cumulus clouds are lazing their wayacross the photo, and the general effect is one of immense calm.It's thevery sort of photo that, despite the sparse content, makes me want to lookat it, drink it in, for hours.To think that this calm scene is no doubtan everyday sight makes my life seem chaotic, busy and loud.

The book isfull of photographs like this one, some almost humorous.In one picture,approximately 15 or 20 buggies are lined up, sans horses, in a field withtheir bright red, triangular "slow moving vehicle" sign attached to theback.But, not so far away in the background are two tall grain silos,slightly blurry and dulled of color with the distance.The ground is brownand the trees bear no leaves.It's a deeply calming scene.At once it isboth a haunting and warm image that makes the typical photograph of a moreurban area seem almost debase and wretched, where people are rushing to andfro on "endless idiocies", as Orwell would put it.

Similarly, the songsand prayers, sayings and proverbs are also simple-Plain.Just to chooseone at random, "Appetite comes with eating; the more you eat, the more youwant.-Amish farmer's proverb".The accompanying photograph is of a corncrib with dulled yellow cobs half under a pile of snow.

The overalleffect of the book has been, for me, one of calm stillness, a mood thatmakes me look around at all the piles of silly JUNK I've got stacked up, ofall the preposterous advertisements blaring at me from television, radioand newspapers, and makes me wonder why do I HAVE all this stuff? It's aneffect that makes me want to sweep away the flotsam and jetsam of my lifeand concentrate on what is REALLY important to me. ... Read more

Product Description
More than 5 million people visit Lancaster County every year to experience the culture of the oldest Amish community in the world. This book by the leading scholar of the Amish in North America explains the uncommon lifestyle of these simple-living people who intrigue so many visitors. Mini essays on all aspects of Amish life, from spirituality and dress to horse-and-buggy transport, are accompanied by beautiful full-color photographs. The author also discusses myths about the Amish, their selective use of technology, the current media attention to Rumspringa, and the tragedy at the Nickel Mines school. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A nicely illustrated introduction to the Amish
Donald Kraybill is a noted authority on the Amish and Anabaptists, particularly those living in Lancaster County.This is a nice introduction to the subject.Other books may have more information, but this book is a valuable reminder of why the Amish, far from disappearing, are increasing and thriving.Recommended for anyone who has visited, or plans to visit an Amish community. ... Read more

Product Description
The author of five bestselling books on quiltmaking now takes readers on a trip through Amish country to find out what makes Amish quilts so hauntingly beautiful and universally appreciated. Horton then shares her insights into Amish design in a series of lessons for making eight of the traditional patterns. 40 color photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

More Color Please
I enjoyed Ms. Horton's talk about color and Amish quilts on Alex Anderson's "Simply Quilts."So I bought the book thinking there would be a lot more information.Yes, she does have some color info and pictures of Amish style quilts, but the actual color illustrations are limited and positioned in the middle of the book.It would have been more helpful to have had several color examples along side the info and explanations given.

I don't buy a book about color to see black and white diagrams.

Great book about color and quilts
I really enjoyed this book and it's clear and concise coverage on color. I like finding out what makes those Amish quilts so great and I'm translating the lesson into my new quilts. Buy it! ... Read more

Product Description
Amid a whirlwind of drugs, sex, and other temptations of the “English” world, a group of Amish teenagers on their Rumschpringe test the limits of their parents’ religion to the breaking point. The murder of one and the abduction of another challenge Professor Michael Branden as he confronts the communal fear that the young people can never be brought home safely. Along with Holmes County Sheriff Bruce Robertson and Pastor Cal Troyer, Professor Branden works against the clock to find a murderer and a kidnapper, and to break a drug ring operating in the county, determined, wherever the trail may lead him, to restore the shattered community. In his desperate search, Branden struggles with the reluctance of the Amish to trust the law to help them find the answers to their problems. In A Prayer for the Night, his fifth Ohio Amish Mystery, P. L. Gaus deftly balances the pace and practices of Amish life in northern Ohio against the unfolding urgency of a hostage situation. As Gaus has proven before, the mystery gains from its exploration of the ever-widening chasm between the traditional life of the Amish people and their interaction with the outside world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This book is another of P.L. Gaus works. I have read all but one of his Amish Detective series and I loved them. He is a very gifted author. He makes the people come alive in his books and makes you feel as if your there yourself. I find his book very intertaining and I am glued to them once I start page one. I travel to where his books are located and I find they help me understand the Amish very much. If you like Amish stories I recommand that you read these. They will keep you coming back for more.
Thanks again P.L.Gaus for such wonderful books.
Shirley Burdett

Amish teens in trouble
The quiet, withdrawn, close-knit world of the Amish community of Holmes County, Ohio, sets the pace and atmosphere of this series, in a tale of murder and coming-of-age.

The Rumschpringe is the free-form period when Amish teens get to try out the "English" world - no questions asked - before deciding if they want to commit to their church and way of life. This particular group has run more wild than most and one of them turns up dead amid rumors of drugs and violence. When a girl is kidnapped the tension ratchets up, along with the bewilderment of her elders.

Gaus takes the reader deep into the community, informing his prose with the Amish philosophy and the rites, relationships and problems of this isolated people. His measured approach transports the reader into the Amish world, ever beleaguered by the temptations of the outside, battered by the sudden violence, but serene in its choices.

Gaus writes with intelligence and a deep knowledge of his subject
In order to make an informed decision about embracing an Amish lifestyle, young adults from those communities are encouraged to explore the tempting outside world of "the English" (i.e. non-Amish) through a process called Rumschpringe.In A Prayer for the Night, P. L. Gaus' fifth Ohio Amish mystery, this process goes wildly awry, plunging an adventurous group of young Amish into a dangerous world populated by thugs, criminals and drug dealers; as the novel opens, one of their number has been brutally slain, and another has been kidnapped, triggering a police investigation into the murder and a frantic search for a missing girl.

The New York Tines Book Review once described Gaus as "...a sensitive storyteller who matches his cadences to the measured pace of Amish life..."Entirely accurate, that phrase manages to catch both the strengths and weaknesses of Gaus's very formal, very sober, very detail oriented writing style.To those accustomed to the stripped down, faster paced style of writing so prevalent in modern police procedurals, Gaus' prose may seem a bit stilted, as reading him requires patience and attention.That effort is rewarded, however, by the telling glimpses Gaus provides into the lifestyle and thinking of today's Amish.Writing with intelligence and a deep knowledge of his subject matter, Gaus draws readers deep into the novel, making them feel as if they are part of the events unfolding before them.It's these insights and attention to detail that have earned Gaus a loyal audience, and which will help him keep it.

A Splendid Read!
This is one mystery you'll truly enjoy! I love reading about the Amish and this book is no exception. The author displays a keen knowledge of the Amish lifestyle and I love the way the three boyhood friends have become modern day sleuths among the people of the past. You won't be sorry for buying this book!

A Prayer for the Night
What a wonderfully written novel.I loved the story of teens looking to find themselves, whether Amish or otherwise.The mystery and problem-solving - very good.I felt that I knew all the characters well - this book has the story-telling quality like CSI - CSI Ohio! ... Read more

Product Description
After a murder case threatens her safety, attorney Brooke Benton seeks sanctuary in the quiet Amish community of Maplecreek. Although the locals disagree with her cosmopolitan ways, she soon manages to find a place in their lives. But when a tragic hit-and-run accident turns fatal, Brooke cannot abide by the community's belief in absolute forgiveness. She wants answers.

Daniel Brand left his childhood home to explore the outside world years ago. Now he has returned to his Amish roots, and worldly Brooke Benton does not fit into his plans. But when his niece dies, he slowly agrees that they must bring to justice the driver who killed her—especially when a silent presence continues to threaten the community. Together Brooke and Daniel begin a journey along a dark road, hoping to bring peace to the small community…and maybe lead their hearts home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Gripping Amish Mystery Novel
MY, what a wonderful book! First time I had read any of Karen Harper's novels. I could NOT put it down, it is so gripping. So glad that I had purchased all 3 of the series at one time. Although, it was complete and didn't leave you hanging till the next book. I am now looking for more of Karen's Amish novels. Thank you so much for the wonderful book, keep up the wonderful writing. GOD BLESS.

Loved this book!!
This book had me from the very first page. I had trouble putting it down and read it in 2 days. I thought it was very well written and found the references to the Amish very interesting. I highly recommend this book.

Want an Amish mystery? Try "Plain Truth" instead.
Pretty bad novel about attorney Brooke Benton (yuck!) who flees the big city (she's being stalked by a maniac who's mad she got a killer off) and moves to Amish country. Not long after she's there, a big truck runs into abuggy full of Amish teens and then flees the scene. The teens all die andBrooke takes over the investigation. All the while, she's swooning overDaniel, a studly Amish guy, and crying a lot. Pretty badly written, notthat entertaining, and a little bit patronizing about the Amish, but ittakes a lot more than that to get me to put down a book once I've startedit. Maybe it's a pride thing. I honestly can't explain why I botheredreading past page 35.

A far, far better mystery involving the Amishcommunity is Jodi Picoult's "Plain Truth."Head on over thereand buy that one instead!

Good informative entertainment.
Karen Harper seldom disappoints and this book was no exception.The story was interesting and the Amish connection was informative as well.Daniel and Brooke seemed like a "real" couple and Daniel's torment about his "Amishness" was realistically portrayed.I look forward to reading EMPTY CRADLE, which is waiting on my shelf.

Mystery and romance in Amish country!
A great story!Mystery, romance and adventure--in a quiet Amish community?Yes!Yes!

A lady lawyer leaves the big cityseeking safety from a stalker for herself and her young niece.They come to Maplecreek to operate a friend's quilt shop.The peaceful communityis disrupted when four young Amish are killed by a mysterious hit and run driver. The lawyer-in-hiding feels compelled to find the killer of her young friends.

Meanwhile an uneasy relationship is building between the worldly lawyer and a 'plain' man who has returned from life outside to commit himself to the Amish ways.

The author pieces together her story like a fine Amish quilt and keeps the reader guessing until the end.The characters are very well developed and believable andI look forward to reading more from Ms Harper ... Read more

Product Description
Explains Amish culture and contains descriptions of motels, restaurants, and museums. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Best Guide to Amish Country!
This book certainly comes in handy to anyone desiring to explore Lancaster county's Amish Country. It was full of useful facts andinformation needed to fully enjoy this beautuful and simple lifestyle and country. I highlyrecommend it to all readers.

Just what I was looking for!
Very detailed.Other PA guide books are too general and only have one chapter on PA Dutch. This is a whole book dedicated to just the PA Amish Country. My favorite part was the self-guided tour of the Amish farmland(complete with approx. miles, etc.) and the covered bridges!It includesplaces to eat and stay (including B&Bs).It's a great guide thatcovers all the bases.I've been visiting Pennsylvania Dutch Country sinceI was little and this book really gave me the information I needed to getthe most out of a recent long weekend there. ... Read more

Product Description
Those returning to the concept of simple living will find pleasure in these 800 hearty recipes, lovingly handed down through the generations.Among the recipes are such favorites as Hot Ham and Cheese Buns and Shoo-Fly Pie.Special sections on canning vegetables, curing meat, using leftovers, drying fruits and vegetables are also included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

One of my favorites
This is one of my top 3 favorite cookbooks. It has such yummy simple recipes. Our family loves the recipe for pancake mix, it makes the best pancakes ever!

Wonderful cookbook!!
This is a great Amish cookbook, try the shoo-fly pie, yummy...and the Cherry pudding, it is not really a pudding!!

It's ok....
I bought this book to see different recipes. These recipes are good for a person that's fixing for an Army. I know the Amish fix bulk when they cook. Like there's one recipe that you are casin and you need 50 pounds of meat and lots of spices. If I was feeding for my entire family that would be different. Overall this book has some great recipes and tips that's why I gave it three stars.

Amish Cooking Made Easy
What a great cookbook!The recipes are easy to understand.Recipes vary from dinner entrees, breads, soups, desserts and candies to canning, making juice from grapes and much more.It contains helpful hints throughout.This would make a great gift for all!There's a recipe for making taffythat would be lots of fun for children, too.Take a look and see foryourself. ... Read more

Product Description
From the Amish country in Pennsylvania, Ron Ransom has been inspired to create patterns and carvings of an Amish family. Six patterns, clear instructions, and color photos guide you in carving a family in traditional Amish dress. Out of respect for their preferences, Ron has left the faces blank. Reflecting the Amish lifestyle, Rons tools, techniques and instructions are plain and simple. When the carvings are complete, painting and antiquing methods are demonstrated as well. A color photo gallery provides a last, close look at these charming basswood carvings. As with all of Ron Ransoms books, the projects presented here will engage the beginner and provide solid bases upon which advanced carvers may add their own creative touches. ... Read more

Product Description
Rachel Yoder, a New Order Amish woman, lost her husband and son in a tragic accident two years ago. Now, returning to her aging parents with her young daughter, she has resigned herself to the life of a widow. With a subdued but cheerful heart she helps her family run a bed-and-breakfast in a quaint Lancaster county town. Philip Bradley, a world-weary journalist from New York City on assignment in Lancaster to write an article on the Amish community, is a lodger at the Yoder's B&B. A chance discovery by Philip of a postcard written in illegible Pennsylvania Dutch in the dresser of his room sets off a series of events that leads him into the heart of the Amish life and to the bedside of a mysterious woman known as "The Storyteller." With the postcard as a link to a haunted past, the woman gradually weaves a riveting tale as old as herself about a community shuttered in secrecy, shattered by betrayal. Fascinated by the story, Philip's and Rachel's lives become inevitably intertwined despite the attempts of the community to protect her from the outsider. Torn by devotion to the people she loves and the awakening feelings in her heart, Rachel searches her past to restore old wounds in order than new love might grow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Enjoy this but...
I really enjoy these Christian books about the Amish and I really enjoy the books by Beverly Lewis.

The Postcard and The Crossing were very easy reads and hard to put down.

However, that said, I can only give this an 'average' review.Why?Beverly Lewis has some very flawed ideas of 'generational sin' in a word/faith church (bad, bad church).I was raised with these teachings of 'generational sin'.It took me years to heal from them.I would equate these generational sin teachings with the powwow doctoring in the books.If you are a Bible-believing Christian, read Ezekiel 18:20.Also please read Exodus 20:5-6

"You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments."

If you love God, you are loved and not cursed. However, as those verses suggest, if you have idols in your life (i.e. money, false gods, etc...), you do need to get your life straightened out quickly.

back cover reads
Rachel Yoder, a New Order Amish woman, lost her husband and son in a tragic accident two years ago. Now, returning to her aging parents with her young daughter, she has resigned herself to the life of a widow. With a subdued but cheerful heart she helps her family run a bed-and-breakfast in a quaint Lancaster county town.

Philip Bradley, a world-weary journalist from New York City on assignment in Lancaster to write an article on the Amish community, is a lodger at the Yoder's B&B. A chance discovery by Philip of a postcard written in illegible Pennsylvania Dutch in the dresser of his room sets off a series of events that leads him into the heart of the Amish life and to the bedside of a mysterious woman known as "The Storyteller." With the postcard as a link to a haunted past, the woman gradually weaves a riveting tale as old as herself about a community shuttered in secrecy, shattered by betrayal.

Fascinated by the story, Philip's and Rachel's lives become inevitably intertwined despite the attempts of the community to protect her from the outsider. Torn by devotion to the people she loves and the awakening feelings in her heart, Rachel searches her past to restore old wounds in order than new love might grow.

A Late Message
This is realy good -the way she brings the past and the present together in this story.what talent!YOu will love it.Nadia Rehmani

Postcard
Hear the story of Adele Herr. And watch it change the lifes of a Amish widower and and Fancy New York City man.

Totally incredible!
I got this book because I'd read a few of Beverly Lewis' books and enjoyed them. I was not disappointed!

This story begins with a tragedy- and the main character is trying to cope with it. Then suddenly, a stranger steps into their life and starts uncovering a dark family secret.
Meet Rachel, who was widowed at an early age because of a driving accident.
Meet her daughter Annie, a rambunctious, talkative 6-year-old girl who always manages to say the wrong thing at the wrong time!
Meet Susanna, Rachel's overprotective mother. She's determined to have Rachel find her "hidden gift" and will go to any length to accomplish that.
And finally, meet Philip. He's a writer for a magazine, and he's on a mission. But he never dreamed that he'd be on this mission!

A tale of suspense and mystery that is worth reading! Can't wait to read the sequel! ... Read more

Product Description
Readers are invited to come along with Jim Butterfield as he takes Amish folks on typical drives across Ohio's large Amish country. This book shows their neighborly life, closeness to nature, sustainable homesteads, good humor, and peaceful outlook. Respectful color photos show the land and the Amish community. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Driving the Amish
The author is a Mennonite, technically an outsider, but by virtue of the fact that the Amish have entrusted him to drive them about in his car when they have a pressing need for such a service, he has an intimate insider's view of the Amish people. I found his accounts to be quite fascinating; short and clearly written, they really give one an appreciation for the perseverance of the Amish people in our modern and technological world. Really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants better understanding of what these people are really like.

Driving the Amish
Excellant reading material.
The author included his reader by capturing the mind, taking you on the journey as his co driver.

exactly right
This is a gorgeous book, written by someone who cares about his subject matter. This book has all the charming qualities that make a great memoir. Butterfield obviously is not a writer, but he jumps into the world and makes this unique subculture familiar and beautiful for the reader.

Sensitive, artistic and conversational
While showing respect for the views and privacy of Amish individuals, Doyle Yoder captures the beauty, simplicity, as well as the complexities of their lives and cow paddies. ... Read more

Product Description
Separate from the Worldis a story of a rift between two Amish factions, one that favors the use of medicine and that participates in a college study of genetic traits particular to the Amish community, and the other that rejects any outside influence. Once more, P. L. Gaus takes us inside a separate culture and, in a manner both gentle and grim, highlights the complex relationship of the Amish and the “English” as they live inside or outside each other's orbits. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Separate from this World .
Very interesting book.I may read more in the future.I love the Amish fiction.

Fantasic
All amish books are fantasic I wish I could find more books to read . I have read every Amish fiction out The Time Cavern (The Time Cavern Series)

Thought-provoking descriptions of the Amish and the academic cultures.
Separate from the World is the sixth in a series of mysteries set in the Amish community of Holmes County, Ohio.The author, Paul L. Gaus teaches chemistry at the College of Wooster in Ohio, and lives near many of Ohio's Amish communities.He is familiar with the Amish and sympathetic with their views.

The book begins with the apparent accidental death of an Amish man and the apparent suicide of a college girl.These seemingly unrelated events are followed by more strange occurrences.It seems impossible that there could be any connection between all of these incidents but of course there is and Gaus cleverly leads us to the solution.The "detective" is Michael Brandon, a professor of history at the college.Brandon is assisted (and sometimes hindered) by his friends, the sheriff and a local minister, as well as by his wife.

At the beginning Brandon is depressed by the grading he has to do at the end of the academic year and wonders if he should give up teaching after more than thirty years.Then the death of the girl who was one of his students does not help.At the same time an Amish man visits him and tells him that the apparent suicide of his brother was really murder. Of course, I will not tell you much more of the clever plot. I don't want to spoil the joy of your matching your wits with Brandon in solving the mysteries.



The author shows real understanding of Amish culture and also of the culture of academe.And, although he is sympathetic with both worlds, he shows the darker sides of each as well.In the academic world, we read about student cheating, partying and studying; faculty and student protests against war and the police: and the pressures of presidential fund raising.Town/gown problems are evident here as well.

Amish beliefs and culture are portrayed sympathetically but the "English," as the Amish refer to outsiders, are frustrated and sometimes angered by the non-resistance of the Amish.When asked if they are not going to do anything to protect themselves, they answer that they are praying.The Amish show patience and peace throughout their troubles.They believe that suffering is God's will for them and that they will grow through the process.

Following is a fragment of a conversation between the professor and the Amish man,

"Humility is the ..."

"Yes, I know - the strongest virtue."

"No Professor.The most beautiful virtue."

The "English" are upset with what they believe are inconsistencies in the Amish use or refusal to use technology or science.One of the problems in the book is that there is a split in the Amish congregation about whether or not to cooperate with a genetic study by college professors and students.Scientists want to study the occurrence of genetic defects among the Amish because of the limited gene pool among them due to the fact that few outsiders marry Amish.On the other hand the Amish believe that the "English" are also inconsistent.The Amish bishop says to Brandon, "Answer this question for me, Professor.We do not understand.How can English be opposed to abortion but in favor of war?Or how can English be opposed to war but in favor of abortion?Are they not both killing?"

I have given just a few of the thought-provoking descriptions of college and Amish life contained in the book.The reader can learn much about both cultures from this captivating and well-written mystery.

This review originally appeared in
THE ENGLEWOOD REVIEW OF BOOKS, Vol. 1, #43

Interesting Ohio Amish mystery
[[ASIN:0821418157 Separate from the World: An Ohio Amish Mystery
This is the sixth book in a series by Gaus.It reminds me of the Hillerman books about SW Native Americans, in that a good story is used to convey understanding about various aspects of a different element (in this case Amish) of American culture.Most of the books in the series are quite good, although the second, Broken English, dove too deeply into technical aspects of weaponry and destroyed the focus on the human element.Separate from the World cleverly shows the conflicts within the Amish community over dealing with science and the "English" (the non-Amish). ... Read more

Product Description
Organized in four sections corresponding to the seasons, this account by an Amish farmer of his life in Southern Ohio, celebrates his daily labours, his family and, most importantly, the flora and fauna of his 70 acre farm. He works his land with horses and without electricity. He describes the proper preparation of Sassafras tea, maple sugaring in late winter, chopping firewood in autumn and rejoices in the vast diversity of the birds. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

One of my favorite books ever
This is a wonderful book. It is a quiet pleasure to read. It is a book you will return to year after year in each season. Buy more then one copy. You will want to give it as a gift. I wish Kline would write more.

Not what I thought it was about
I thought this would be a memoir of an Amish farm with a lot of farming details. It turned out to be mostly about bird watching. I am not into birds so it wasn't very good to me.

DON'T BUY THIS BOOK
I bought this book thinking it would pertain to a year of farming; hence the sub-title An Amish Farmer's Journal.
It did NOT.It is about birds. And that's it. If you are an avid, armchair bird enthusiast of the midwest perhaps this might be of interest, but that is the ONLY subject covered.Gave it to the local library.COmplete and total bore and waste of money. Virginia

Birds and more Birds!
I wish the descriptions had told me that it was basically a bird-watching book, since a vast majority of the chapters dealt with birds and that is not what I was interested in.





1

Living life Vicariously
This is a wonderful book. I live in an Amish area so was very surprised to discover such rich vocabulary and stunning visual imagery due to the fact that typically the Amish only have an eighth grade education. Reading this book is like spending days walking through the woods following animal tracks or bird watching. Or just lying in the hay and watching the world go by! ... Read more

Product Description
Cara Bentley, a romance novelist, is surprised when she finds a document among her late grandparents' possessions that indicates her grandfather was adopted. Why had she never heard this before? Cara's quest for her roots takes her to Bird-in-Hand, a quaint Amish town in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where she takes a room on the Zook farm-first introduced in The Key. But in the face of a closed Plain society, her search seems destined for failure. If not for the money in John Bentley's will, would anyone care where Cara came from? Will she ever discover her grandfather's heritage? Will she ever know her own? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Second in an Outstanding Series
In THE DOCUMENT, romance writer Cara Bentley has just discovered her recently-deceased grandfather's adoption papers and decides to search for his biological family - a search which brings her to Lancaster Co., PAwhere she rents the rooms recently vacated by Kristie Matthews.Theattorney she employs to assist her in her search?Kristie's ex-boyfriendTodd.It's soon apparent Cara and Todd are much more suited than Kristieand Todd were.But there's someone who doesn't want Cara to find hergrandfather's family.

The author gives insights into Amish cultureincluding several traditions which are hard for the English (anyone notAmish) to understand. THE DOCUMENT is doubly enjoyable as itsromance-writer heroine talks about the respectability of romance and evenmentions having more difficulty chosing what books to take on a trip thanwhat clothes to pack, something many romance readers can certainly identifywith!THE DOCUMENT also will appeal to readers who share an interest infamily history and/or adoption search.

This is an outstanding serieswith a wide appeal.Thankyou, Ms. Roper!

Utterly charming!
Gayle Roper is a master of witty dialogue. The repartee between the feisty Cara Bentley and her attorney, Todd Reasoner, is electric and utterly charming. Can't wait to read the other books in Roper's series set in Amishcountry.

Utterly charming!
Gayle Roper is a master of witty dialogue. The repartee between the feisty Cara Bentley and her attorney, Todd Reasoner, is electric and utterly charming. Can't wait to read the other books in Roper's series set in Amishcountry. ... Read more

Product Description
After the first blizzard of an early winter, a Mennonite college girl with a troubled past appears curled up and bloodied outside the offce of her childhood psychiatrist. Mute for many years as a child, Martha Lehman is again not talking.That same morning, the wealthy mother of Martha’s boyfriend is found murdered in her mansion in the country west of Millersburg, Ohio. Professor Mi chael Branden and Sheriff Bruce Robertson begin an investigation that, in the space of a single weekend, implicates Martha, threatens to tear apart the fabric of Millersburg College, pits one professor against another, and brings Caroline Branden near to a breaking point over the girl she once tried so fervently to help and who now seems determined to let no one help her at all.As Martha struggles to understand her enigmatic past and as Professor Branden wrestles with the murder of the college 6's leading benefactor, the real story of Martha Lehman emerges—born Amish, converted to Mennonite, and drawn to the English world for the worst of reasons.In Cast a Blue Shadow, his fourth Ohio Amish Mystery, P. L. Gaus continues to explore the thresholds of culture and faith among the Amish sects and their English neighbors of northern Ohio. Through interwoven plots, Gaus portrays these ways of life at odds with one another despite their seeming harmony. Coupling those clashes with the petty and desperate scufflings of academic politics, Gaus spins a suspenseful tale of power, pride, and tested faith.With Cast a Blue Shadow, Professors Branden and Gaus have done it again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Cast a Blue Shadow casts a dark shadow indeed
Cast a Blue Shadow is so strikingly different from Gaus' previous books that one wonders whether he had a midlife crisis when he wrote it. I had to struggle to finish it. I had purchased it for a library of a private group, but after reading it, could not donate it to such a group. I had blithely ordered all 6 of his series after reading the first book, and that was a mistake. The subject matter and language in this book did not fit with the pattern of the previous books.

Cast a Blue Shadow
This is an Ohio Amish Mystery, It is a good read, and suitable for any age.

Highly disappointing
If there is any mystery in this book, it isn't in the extreme characters that were so one-dimensional and stereotyped that the reader can anticipate what they will say next with great accuracy. The money-hungry mother, rebellious lesbian daughter, and meek son were so cliché that one could hardly muster any interest in what might happen next, let alone form any attachment to their various unfortunate situations. Also disappointing were the faulty and lax details regarding the Amish and Mennonite cultures, such as the background story of Martha (most Amish don't switch to Mennonite that easily, even over a perceived "disgrace" such as her's) and other subtleties that do not ring with authenticity. A tremendous suspension of belief would be needed to find this novel even remotely enjoyable.

Casts a Blue Shadow
I have to say I love his Books. The one complaint I have here is with the lack of Autumn lol. We need a Novel set in the Fall.
But aside from that it was great. I would also like to see the character of Sonny Favor developed in a future book. Perhaps a contrast of Martha Lehams future life to that of Sonny's..

A first-class mystery
This book is sub-titled An Ohio Amish Mystery and is set amid the rolling hills of Holmes County, Ohio.Holmes County and vicinity hosts the largest Amish settlement in the world and Paul L. Gaus knows this area well.

Michael Brandon, the main character in this and Gaus's other books, takes on the academic community in his fictional Millersburg College. Along with Brandon are other familiar characters from Gaus's previous book, notably Pastor Calvin Troyer and Sheriff Bruce Robertson as well as an expanded role for Brandon's wife Carolyn.

A rich Holmes County widow has died after a meeting with members of Millersburg College faculty in which she had announced her intention to change the way she donated money to the college.It appears to be murder and motives abound. Brandon is invited to join the investigation because he is familiar with the principals involved as well as being a lifelong friend of Sheriff Robertson.

The author has learned to put together a good story in which he brings all the pieces together just right. Gaus is not an unabashed cheerleader for the Amish, idealizing their lives, but portrays real people with their own peculiar problems. In fact, it is possible to read this book without really thinking of the Amish as a group. This is a good mystery that keeps you wanting to come back for more. ... Read more

Product Description

During the American Civil War, the Mennonites and Amish faced moral dilemmas that tested the very core of their faith. How could they oppose both slavery and the war to end it? How could they remain outside the conflict without entering the American mainstream to secure legal conscientious objector status? In the North, living this ethical paradox marked them as ambivalent participants to the Union cause; in the South, it marked them as clear traitors.

In the first scholarly treatment of pacifism during the Civil War, two experts in Anabaptist studies explore the important role of sectarian religion in the conflict and the effects of wartime Americanization on these religious communities. James O. Lehman and Steven M. Nolt describe the various strategies used by religious groups who struggled to come to terms with the American mainstream without sacrificing religious values -- some opted for greater political engagement, others chose apolitical withdrawal, and some individuals renounced their faith and entered the fight.

Integrating the most recent Civil War scholarship with little-known primary sources and new information from Pennsylvania and Virginia to Illinois and Iowa, Lehman and Nolt provide the definitive account of the Anabaptist experience during the bloodiest war in American history.

Customer Reviews (1)

A great insight into a seldom discussed aspect of the Civil War
During the American Civil War, the Amish and their fellow Anabaptists such as the Mennonites were largely pacifists, preferring to stay away from secular politics and political movements, and the war created by regional differences within the country.

Authors James O. Lehman and Steven M. Nolt have written a fascinating book that examines the Amish and Mennonites of Pennsylvania and other states during the Civil War. Published by Johns Hopkins Press, this book is perhaps the first detailed study of the pacifistic perspective of the local Amish and Mennonite communities. The book is wonderfully written, flows well, and offers fresh information and a new perspective on the home front in the Civil War that is rarely (if ever) covered in other works.

Mennonites, Amish, and the American Civil War fills a hole in the historiography of the war, adding depth and color to the struggles of this peace-loving group who struggled with the decisions of faith versus Americanism, of individual free-will versus community pressure, and whether to take up arms and renounce their traditional values (and in some cases, risk being shunned by their families and friends to fight in the army).

Scholarly and well-researched, this book is a must-read for York and Lancaster countians wishing to gain a better understanding of the internal conflicts within the region during the war years. The activities of the Quakers and the Pennsylvania German Lutherans are perhaps better publicized and studied, which is why Lehman and Nolt's book is of interest.

The authors begin with a sweeping overview of religion, politics, religious minorities, and their place within the changing American society of the mid-19th century. The Anabaptists, already well established in many regions including Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia, were faced with the soul-searching decision of loyalty to church and family or to the government that called for volunteers to fight a war that many in the Amish and Mennonite community believed was a direct violation of Biblical teachings on seeking peace and avoiding bloodshed. Contrary to popular belief, the Mennonites were not isolationists, but rather held public offices, were involved in setting local laws and policies, and swaying public opinion.

Individual chapters focus on the Mennonites and Amish of Virginia and the controversial "war of self-defense" when the Federal government sent armies into the state. Of local interest, Lehman and Nolt spend considerable time exploring the Pennsylvania German Anabaptists of this region and their Civil War experiences, both on a macro level as well as on a very personal individual look. Early in the war, the decision to fight or to stay out of the war was simply a matter of one's interpretation of the scriptures and teachings versus personal beliefs. When the war came to the North in the summer of 1863, the decision became much more complex, as defending the region became more of a psychological stress.

For example, 61-year-old Peter Nissley was a Mennonite minister who lived near Marietta, Pennsylvania, in rural Lancaster County. When the Confederate division of Major General Jubal Early invaded neighboring York County, with a full brigade sent eastward to threaten Columbia and Marietta, Nissley made the decision to stay at his home with his family, instead of fleeing as refugees deeper into the county. "We had some trying times," he later recalled, as the Rebels came within six miles of his home. He could hear the sound of the Confederate artillery shelling Wrightsville on the late afternoon of Sunday June 28 (the holy day to the Anabaptists) and later that evening could clearly see the flames coming from the burning Columbia-Lancaster Bridge.

From July 1 through the 3rd, Nissley could hear the roar of the Battle of Gettysburg. He wrote, "What awfull (sic) destruction of life and property this war has brought on us." Like others in the Pennsylvania German community, while trying to remain neutral, he sided with the Union in his thinking, remarking that at Wrightsville "Our few men resisted them (the Rebels), retreated to, and Fired that magnificent bridge." He, like most of his religious community, were thankful when the Rebels retired from Pennsylvania.

In the mid-1950s, an excellent movie was produced entitled Friendly Persuasion, starring Gary Cooper. It told the fictional tale of a family of Indiana Quakers who were faced with the same decision as Nissley and the German Anabaptists - peaceful nonresistance or take up arms and join the fighting. The parents agonize when a son rejects his religious upbringing and joins the Union army. Their anguish increases when the Confederates enter their state, and Cooper's character has to make his own decision. I have watched that interesting movie several times, and it first brought attention to the religious conflict in morals that people of this area faced when their homes and livelihoods were threatened by war.

Now, Lehman and Nolt's book brings a detailed examination of that same issue. Peppered with individual stories such as Peter Nissley's, this work is both fascinating and informative. It includes lists of conscientious objectors in places like Holmes County, Ohio, and explores the reasons why men chose not to fight (as well as why some turned their backs on their upbringings to enter the military). Also of strong interest is the authors' examination of the conflict brought upon Virginia's religious minorities in the Shenandoah Valley as armies criss-crossed the area for four years. ... Read more

Product Description
While the details of Amish puzzles vary from settlement to settlement, the cultural vlaues undergirding the puzzles in this book sustain the life of many other Amish communities as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A great primer on the Amish
Sociologist, Donald B. Kraybill is recognized as one of the foremost living experts on the Old Order Amish and has written many books about them, most notably "The Riddle of Amish Culture" and "Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy" (with Steven M. Nolt and David L. Weaver-Zercher - 2007).

"The Puzzles of Amish Life" is the tenth book in the "People's Place" series and is quite well-written and interesting, especially if you have Amish neighbors and are curious about their way of life.

Here is the list of questions that Professor Kraybill answers in this 112-page book:

* How do the Amish thrive in the midst of modern life?
* Why do the Amish separate themselves from the modern world?
* Why do a religious people spurn religious symbols and church buildings?
* Why is humility a cherished value?
* Why do a gentle people shun disobedient members?
* How do the Amish regulate social change?
* Why is ownership of cars objectionable, but not their use?
* Why are some modes of transportation acceptable and others forbidden?
* Why are tractors permitted around barns but not in fields?
* Why are horses used to pull modern farm machinery?
* Why are telephones banned from Amish homes?
* Why are some forms of electricity acceptable while others are rejected?
* How is modern machinery operated without electricity?
* Why are some occupations acceptable and others taboo?
* Why do the Amish use the services of professionals--lawyers, doctors and dentists--but oppose higher education?
* Why do Amish youth rebel in their teenage years?
* Are the Amish freeloading on American life?
* Are the Amish behind or ahead of the modern world?

If you only have time to read one book on the Amish, I highly recommend "The Puzzles of Amish Life" or Professor Kraybill's "The Riddle of Amish Culture."

THE Source for Traditional Amish
This is the best non fiction book ever written. This describes the practice of traditional Amish- no school, no cars, no computers, no blowdryers, no electricity no TVs. It was founded in the 1800s by Jacob Amman. The use of narcotics is pretty much encouraged. It says that when you want something you want it right here right now. College is taboo and they quit school after 8th grade, seldom attending public school. They are on social security, don't join the military and have no technology.

Informative and intelligent
Our private guide n the Amish country recommended this book - and I read it after returning home to New York.Prof. Kraybill really tied all the threads for me - how the Amish choose to live the way they do, what are the pleasures and limitations of their society, how it maintains and governs itself.A short book written in an sophisticated but absolutely lucid, clear, and interesting language.Thank you! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Clouds Without Rain
This is the 3rd in a series from this author.Each one is a little better than the last. the characters are carried through from the first book to each sucseeding book. These are mysterys set in The Amish country of Ohio. They are suitable for all ages and just a good read.

clouds without rain: an ohio amish mystery
very well written story i have read all amish mysteries from this author
he keeps on surprising me! cant wait for another hopefully amishkeep up the good work

Best to date
An Amishman is killed when his buggy is hit as he is making a left hand turn into his driveway.Professor Michael Brandon and his friend from childhood, Pastor Caleb Troyer help another old friend, Sheriff Bruce Robertson unravel the events leading to the crash.In the process Paul Gaus shows the Amish as real people struggling to find a way to hold on to the way of life they have chosen. This book does a great job of showing they diversity among the Amish and some of the problems they encounter.

The author has come a long way since the first book in this series which I thought was forced and formulaic.This book is informative and a tight, well-written mystery and well worth reading. ... Read more